The Attack of the Aqua Apes

Ghosts of Fear Street #3

by R.L. Stine, A.G. Cascone

Using water from the Fear Street Lake to grow brine shrimp, Scott and Glen are pleased when the tiny creatures start out as cute little pets, but things turn deadly when the Aqua Apes grow into sharp-fanged monsters. Original.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Horror Thriller, Fantasy

121 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.

R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.

Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.

http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy finds an ad for aqua apes (a stand-in for Sea Monkeys) and sends off for them. However, a friend talks him into using water from Fear Lake to grow the aqua apes. That turns out to be a bad ideas as something unexpected (totally expected by the readers) happens which results in a reign of terror in the boy's house. As usual, R. L. Stine's work is fun to read because the action and the energy of the characters are always running at 110%.

[Weathervane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best books of this type have a prominent human element, so I was wary of the "uh-oh monster!" premise, which tends to bypass character entirely. Luckily the central pairing, two best buds, has enough charm and combative spirit to keep the story entertaining, even if it is another "Gremlins" retread. We feel the potential consequences if our favourite ape manages to wreck the house, and so the danger is real -- if comically light. Because of this threat, though, I was disappointed when we didn't get to see the results of its realization. The ape caused more damage than they conceivably could have repaired, so it would've been appropriate to have seen at least a severe grounding. Still, not bad.

[itchy · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was only one aqua ape

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Attack of the Aqua Apes
Scott sees an ad in a comic book that claims “You have the power to create life.” He shows it to his friend Glen Brody. The ad shows a mad scientist peering into a giant tank of water full of strange looking creatures. The creatires are called “aqua apes”. You grow them from magic crystals. The ad promises a money back guarantee. Scott wants to order them. Glen says no way. Scott wants a creepy store to tell like everyone else on Fear Street.

He finally gets Glen to pay for half but he says he’s not holding his breath on getting his money back from the company (if it doesn’t work). Scott will have to pay him back. Scott says fine. When Scott gets the package, he gets the feeling Glen is right about him getting ripped off. There are goofy-looking creatures on the box with antennae and pink and blue bows tied to them. They’re swimming around in a fish bowl with silly smiles. The tank isn’t as big as the on in the ad. It can barely hold a gold fish and it’s plastic. The ape food and magic crystals are smaller than a sugar packet. Also the apes only grow half an inch. They’re supposed to use distilled water, but decide to go use some water from the Fear Street Woods Lake.

They dip the tank into the ice-cold water. Its not smelly or weird. It’s clear which disappoints Scott. Then they pour the crystals in the crystals. Scott’s fingertips start to tingle and shake. His fingers stick to the tank. Then the tank starts to crackle with electricity. Scott could see tiny lightning bolts shooting through the water. The water bubbled and churned. He starts to scream but there’s no sound and the shock stops.

When they get back to Scott’s house, Scott sees that the aqua apes are alive. Even tho they’re only little white specks no bigger than dust specks in a beam of sun light. They’re wiggling in different directions. Then bubbles start to shoot up from a large black crystal. They watch it for a while but it just fizzes. Later that night, the tank’s light keeps switching on and off. Scott gets up and the light stays on. The black crystal is now bubbling rapidly. The water turns dark. There’s a bang. Lightning shots through the water. Then the lid shots up to the ceiling. When he turns on the light, everything looks normal.

When he looks in the tank the batteries are oozing an oily liquid. He checks on the apes. They’re ok but all huddled together. The black crystal is gone. The next morning the apes have grown. He starts to hear a tapping sound coming from the tank. An Aqua Ape is pressed against the glass and tapping on it. It really does look like a monkey and its staring at him. He tells the ape he has to go but he’ll be back. The Aqua Ape waves at him. Scott and Glen go to check out the tank after school, bu tthere’s no ape there that’s bigger than the rest.

They watch one that looks like a fish swim to the top and back down to the bottom but ust as the smaller ape reached the bottom of the tank, Scott saw a big brown hairy fist shoot out from inside the crater and grab it and crush it. Scott decides to see if he’s hungry, but the ape doesn’t come out. Somethiing shoots up from the crater and water starts to shoot up out the tank. He’s trying to come out of the tank. He eats all the food and all the other apes. He’s grown three times the size of what he was that morning. Glen calls him a pig-monkey. Scott says he didn’t mean to. He probably just couldn’t tell the difference between the flakes and the apes. Scott decides to name him Mac-the name for the dog he’ll never get to have-.

The crater in the tank cracks and Mac is standing in the middle. He’s now the size of a mouse. They decide they have to find a bigger place for him. So, they put him an aquarium where Scott used to have a turtle. Mac seems to like his new home. They go to find some water. They compare him to one of the monkeys in the Wizard of Oz. When they get back to the room, they’re shocked to find that all the aquarium’s contents are on the floor. Mac is now the size of a gerbil. On the bottom of the aquarium sat one of Scott’s most prized possessions—a real silver dollar, dated 1879. And right next to it was his watch—the watch his parents had given him for his last birthday. Some pennies, a pencil sharpener, a pack of gum, and a glow-in-the-dark rubber ball were in there too. They realize Max can get out; Scott tries to get his stuff out of the water but Mac bites him. Then he runs up his sleeve. He yells for Glen to get him out. He feels like he’s on fire. Glen instructs him to take off his sweat shirt. He’s not on the shirt. He’s on his chest. Since, Glen won’t touch him, Scott touches him and realizes his fur feels like any other animal. Glen then touches him and admits he didn’t think they’d get anything like this when they ordered the kit. Mac jumps off Scott’s shift and onto the floor. He looks at them. Scott rolls the ball to Mac. Mac looks at it and rolls it back. He’s strong!

Mac likes the game but won’t fetch. When he gets tired, he climbs back into the aquarium. He starts to puff back up. Being out of the aquarium has worn him out and they decide to let him rest. They decide to go to the arcade. Mac’s tank doesn’t have a let but they decide he’ll be alright. At the arcade, Scott finds Mac in his pocket (smaller). He jumps into one of the coin slots. But quarters start popping out. Max has broken the machine. The manager sees them and is headed toward them. He asks what they think they’re doing.

The Aqua Ape comes out but charges away. The manager is distracted by picking up all the quarters. Mac is lost in all the kids. Mac disappears into the coin slot of a pin ball machine. Mac then drops to the floor. But then Big Bruno comes over to them, sees Mac, tells them no pets allowed, and tries to stomp him into the floor. Scott plows into Big Bruno and Glen grabs Mac. They dash to the bus stop. Mac’s now shrived and wheezing. When they put him back in his aquarium he starts to change, He’s now the size of a rabbit. Scott puts a dictionary on top of the tank. A little later on, he notices the dictionary is gone.

It's on the floor. He puts it back on top of the aquarium and adds an encyclopedia. He vows not to leave the room and stay awake that night to keep checking on Mac. That night in a trance, Scott goes to Fear Lake. He hears a voice that says “You have the power to create life”. The sky all of a sudden light up with lightening. He hears the voice again and it’s coming from the lake. Something is pushing him faster and faster toward the lake. When he gets to the lake he notices the water is churning. Then he sees a monster rising from the lake. It’s Mac. He’s dark, hairy, and huge with pointed teeth and wings. He yanked Scott six feet off the ground. He wakes up to find it’s a nightmare. He then hears screams like in the dream. It’s Kelly’s. He and his mother race for her room. He sees the dictionary and encyclopedia on the floor.

When he gets to Kelly’s room her hair is tied up in knots. Max is no where to be seen. Then he sees Mack crawling out from Kelly’s pillow. Kelly’s mom says they’ll have to cut it. The ape claps. Scott says they should put some peanut butter in it. Trying to get them to leave the room. Mac is about to crawl up his father’s pj leg but when Scott tries to dive for him-when Kelly pushes him off the bed- he winks at Scott and disappears down a air vent. Scott and Glen find him the next day in one of the cabinets. He’s opened every single box and tried everything but the prunes. Scott tries to grab Mac but he’s too fast for him. They both try to grab him but he gets away.

Mac has trashed Scott’s father’s study. Then they find Kelly’s dress for the dance destroyed. Beads are on the floor. Stains are all over the dress. The decide to try to chase Mac into the basement. It works and then they see they’ve smooshed him under the garage door. It starts to rain. Mac starts to puff back up. Then he jumps back up to his feet. Mac then starts to hurl tools at Scott (and swipe at him) and Glen when Scot tries to catch him-by pretending to pet him-. Scott’s mother comes home, discovers the dress, and tells him he’s going to pay for it. They try to tell her about the ape but of course she doesn’t believe it.

They find Mac in the bathroom in the toilet. After a struggle, they’re able to flush him down t When they think he’s gone the toilet top blows open. Glen goes to find something to clean up the bathroom. The toilet cracks back open and Mac dives out at Scott. His wings are the size of a bats. Scott is able to knock Mac out with a frying pan and they look for something to put him in. They figure if they keep him out of water long enough he’ll dry up again. They put him in a cookie jar and tape him up. Three days later, Scott shakes the jar in Glen’s ear and they hardly hear anything. Glen says they should just throw it away. Scott says they have to look. Glen says he might just be trying to sike them out. But the only thing in the jar is a black crystal. They decide not to do anything with the crystal. Scott sticks the jar in his closet. Scott tries to show Glen an ad about Wonder Worms and says they have to get them. Then he says gotcha. Scott gets his jacket to go to the mall. The cookie jar is no where to be seen. His mom has cleaned his closet. Scott yells out for his mom. He asks if she’s cleaned his room. She says yes. He asks if she’s seen a jar in the closet. He asks if she’s opened it. She says there was nothing in it but some crumbs. He asks what she did with it. She says it’s in the dish washer. They already hear water sloshing. They see Mac’s monkey claw emerge and he’s not waving.

Rating: 5 So far this series is turning out to be bland. This one was dry and didn’t give me any thoughts just as the one before it.

[Austin Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

The "Attack" of the Aqua "Apes" by A.G. Cascone, the 3rd book in the GOFS series. Oh boy.

Let's start off with the positives:
I kind of liked the premise to this: Two kids mail-order some sea-monkeys and don't follow the instructions when setting up the aquarium, resulting in a mutation of the creature, and further resulting in some mayhem.
I also kind of liked the twist ending to this - it got me to smirk.
That's it. Those are the things this book has going for it.

The negatives:
Starting off, the title of the book is a bit misleading. There's only one "ape" (sea-monkey) that mutates and grows in size, and the title suggests it to be a vicious monster of some kind - rather, the ape runs around the house and makes a mess of things. That's what happens.

Both the writing and the story itself is way too simplistic. There's no attempt at characterization, real plot or mystery - and there's not an ounce of ambition or creativity to be found here.
The main characters fill the aquarium with the wrong kind of water and the one sea-monkey/ape eats the others and grows to the size of... well, an actual monkey, I guess. The description regarding it wasn't exactly very good. "It's about the size of a mouse... now about the size of a hamster... now about the size of a gerbil... Oh my!"
It ends up escaping the aquarium and causing mayhem around the house and getting our two main characters in trouble. That's the conflict of this book.
There is nothing else at stake here. The ape creature never really attacks anyone.

Pretty much everything about this was just bland. What might have been an interesting idea is given the play-it-safe/formulaic treatment. It reminds me a lot of the one other Cascone book I've read so far: Terror in Tiny Town - which essentially has the same concept of kids going up against small creatures/villains in the home environment with nothing really at stake. But there was nothing about this book that made this idea seem fresh or engaging.
This might be my least favorite GOFS so far.

The twist ending I mentioned that was a bit funny involves the characters thinking they've defeated the ape. If he's out of water for too long, he starts to get weak and shrivel up, but even if he's injured or dead, water can seemingly revive him.
Well, at the end, they think they've killed it and they stashed him in a cookie jar. The final twist is that their mom throws the cookie jar in the dishwasher, therefore reviving the creature and they see his arm poke out through the dishwasher.
Actually, it doesn't really sound that funny now.
This book stinks. It keeps from getting a straight 1 simply because I've read worse. While this one is pretty boring and not well-written, there's not a lot in here that's offensively or annoyingly bad. It's just bland as hell.
1.5 / 5

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading Stine books from childhood is like opening a Twinkie or pack of Gushers. Does it taste brilliant to your adult palate? Not usually, but the rush you feel is of memories cascading back in like Proust eating the madeleine. I remember sitting on my great-grandfather's guest bedroom duvet, reading this book and munching a Christmas cookie while playing Pokémon Blue on my brand-new Game Boy Color... oh, the book? Well, a tween gets his arm nearly torn off by an aqua ape, so that's something. Otherwise, kind of a clear rip-off of "Gremlins."

[Vir - Física Lectora · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the few books of Ghosts of Fear Street that I did not read in my childhood. It was fun to reconnect with this kind of stories, with the absurd horror that characterizes R. L. Stine.

Uno de los pocos libros de Fantasmas de Fear Street que no leí en mi infancia. Fue divertido volver a reencontrarme con este tipo de historias, con el horror absurdo que tanto caracteriza a R. L. Stine.

[Serena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh, not for me target-wise nor interest-wise. Learnt something new about what I like at least, I guess

[Zee · Rating 2 out of 5]

i used to be so freaked out by monkeys because of this book lmao

[Alejandro Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

What the actual fuck did I just read? I can’t exactly lie and say I didn’t expect this outcome, but I am indeed disappointed. Just imagine one of those famous baby Shrek skit videos only he’s evil and this is what you get. However, I don’t despise this. Not even remotely. First off, I like Mac a lot. He’s a cute and lovable antagonist that just runs around causing mayhem. He goofy, too, since he’s a literal ape that originated in water. Bizarre. The characters are okay, the mayhem is solid in the first half, and the dream sequence that comes outta nowhere is awesome. And I guess the pacing and concept is solid. But the book falls flat in execution: NOTHING. FUCKING. HAPPENS. The first half builds up Mac as this apparent threat, to which he is, but nothing more. There’s no reveals, no story beats, and no plot to follow. It’s just “hey, let’s stop Mac!” For 60 pages straight and it’s borderline boring, and absolutely is it exhausting. The only thing that happens is slight foreshadowing to Mac’s final form—which contributes absolutely nothing to the story. The sister is annoying but thankfully doesn’t appear much, the story lacks much of anything to love, and the title lies when it implies an ARMY and we get just a single one running around. Bazzinga. Overall, 4/10. If you wanna exhaust yourself with constant violence, this book is a step-by-step guide!

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing an ad for Aqua Apes in a comic book (Stine's version of sea monkeys), and despite his friend Glenn's protestations, Scott orders the Aqua Ape kit. When it arrives, it looks nothing like the ad, and since he has no distilled water to use, as the instructions indicate, Scott gets the wild idea to use water from the nefarious Fear Lake. After doing so, the apes begin to swim about. Suddenly, a larger, dark ape appears and devours the whole tank. And begins growing larger and larger. At first it seems like it may become more of a pet. But as its antics become more vicious, Scott and Glenn don't know if they'll ever be able stop it.
This was one of the better books of Stine's earlier days, having been written in the third person instead of first person like the majority of his stories, it makes for a better perspective. One of the better of Stine's books that I've read.

[Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't the worst book he's done, but it did lack a lot. Especially the characters were boring asf. The whole book is about 2 main characters running around taking care of a baby growing killing ape that swimmes in water to survive. This book reminds me of watch em' grow by m.d.spenser, and his was horrible as well.

[Ian Nol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not expecting a ton from a book called Attack of the Aqua Apes, but it would be nice if it delivered on its title and cover by having plenty of rampaging Aqua Ape action. Unfortunately, Attack of the Aqua Apes falls short.
In-depth Review: https://phantomwhispersfiction.substa...

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent tween scary book about two friends who send off for aqua apes, only instead of distilled water they use water from Fear Lake. They unleash a monster and have to figure out how to make it go away. A little bit of humor, a little bit of scaring. Also, it's a pretty quick read.

[Garth Smiley · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it did sort of make me wanna order some Sea Monkeys, that was mostly to distract me from the snoozefest that was this book. Another 1 star book, I'm giving the sympathy point to. AQUA APES AREN'T SCARY!

[Divia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast paced enjoyable story about two 12-year-old boys who bought Aqua Apes and used Fear Street Lake's cursed water to bring them to life. It's ambiguous if it is the lake or if it is the black crystal itself. Either way, another weird story for a resident of Fear Street.

[Derek Garrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out great and interesting and exciting! But as the book went on, it felt like the writer had no idea what they wanted to do, so they basically recycled the same thing over and over throughout the entire second half of the book. The twist at the end wasn't bad though

[Sergio Javier · Rating 5 out of 5]

este fue mi primer librito de terror, que leí hasta el cuarto capítulo de este librito hace 21 años atrás. pero me costó volver a encontrar y leer este librito. es una obra de arte. se los recomiendo leer.

[Arishba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as scary as some of RL Stine's other books.

[Amethyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice short read. It's nice to read books from my childhood.

[Gabs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0

[Yeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ta nói tò mò ko bao giờ có cái kết tốt lành :))))

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read July 2023
(Reread) Gremlins meets Sea Monkeys. I won’t claim it’s one of Stine’s best but honestly, this was fun!

[Martina Valenzuela · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5
De los protagonistas más insoportables y estúpidos que leí.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one!

[Joseph Clausi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good and interesting start to the book. Just keeps getting better as you read more!

[§amantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Angie Titus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! It was fun.

[Elisa Manigrasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carino.
Un'irritante scimmia dispettosa e violenta🤷🏼‍♀️

[Yoyomaus Die Büchereule · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als Scott in einem Magazin blättert, entdeckt er eine Anzeige über kleine Wassermonster, denen man selbst das Leben schenken und sie bei ihrem Wachstum beobachten kann. Sofort ist er Feuer und Flamme. Das wäre genau das, um endlich auch einmal etwas in der Schule erzählen zu können. Schließlich ist allen rund um die Fear Street schon etwas aufregendes oder skurriles widerfahren, nur eben Scott kann noch gar nichts berichten und das wurmt ihn. Er überredet seinen Freund Glen gemeinsam mit ihm in die Wassermonster zu investieren und dieser gibt seinen Teil wiederwillig dazu. Als das Paket endlich da ist, ist die Freude recht schnell verflogen, denn das Paket sieht gar nicht so aus, wie in der Anzeige und man braucht zum Ansetzen destilliertes Wasser, was die beiden nicht haben. Scott kommt die zündende Idee. Das Wasser aus dem Teich nahe des Fear-Street-Waldes sollte genau das sein, was richtige Wassermonster brauchen. So machen sich die Freunde auf den Weg und besorgen es. Nachdem sie die Kristalle der Tiere ins Wasser gegeben haben, beginnt das Wasser zu brodeln und kurz darauf entdecken sie viele kleine Wassertierchen, eines jedoch ist besonders groß und scheint ihnen immer zuzuwinken. Was Scott und Glen zu Beginn noch begeistert verwandelt sich aber immer mehr in ein Grauen, das ihnen das Leben zur Hölle macht.

R.L. Stine hat mit dieser Geschichte wirklich ein schönes Jugendbuch geschrieben. Es ist spannend die Geschichte von Scott, Glen und ihrem Wassermonster Mac zu verfolgen. Es ist zwar nicht wirklich gruselig, aber es ist witzig und dadurch, dass man nie weiß, was Mac wohl als nächstes tun wird, muss man es einfach immer weiter lesen. Bereits, als die Jungen zu dem Teich im Wald gehen, ahnt der Leser schon, dass das alles kein gutes Ende nehmen wird oder mindestens etwas sehr gruseliges passiert. Zu Beginn ist man zusammen mit den Jungen begeistert, was sich da in dem keinen Aquarium tut, doch spätestens, als die Jungen die Sache dann nicht mehr kontrollieren können, wird einem beim lesen schon ein bisschen mulmig, da man auch Mitleid mit den beiden Jungen hat. Trotzdem ist es auch ein bisschen eigene Dummheit was die beiden da machen. Sie wissen, dass unheimliche Dinge geschehen, wenn man sich dem Gruselwald und der Fear Street nähert und doch legen sie es darauf an, nur damit sie auch etwas zu erzählen haben - allen voran aber Scott. Dass er damit nicht nur sich, sondern auch seine Familie in Gefahr bringt scheint dem Jungen zu Beginn gar nicht klar zu sein.
Die Idee, auf der die Geschichte beruht ist an sich gar nicht so schlecht. Jeder von uns hat schon einmal in einer Zeitschrift eine Anzeige oder eine Beigabe für Urzeittierchen gehabt - welche ja immer als die Dinosaurier des Aquariums bezeichnet werden. Ein Teenie, der so etwas schon einmal mit erlebt hat, der weiß, wie fasziniert man von den kleinen Wesen ist und wie man sich freut, wenn diese wachsen. Somit kann man sich also gut in die Protagonisten hinein versetzen. Und wer mit der Geschichte richtig mitfiebert, der wird sich auch, wenn er noch einmal so ein Glas züchtet, noch einmal an die Geschichte zurück denken. Das finde ich richtig stimmig.

Empfehlen möchte ich das Buch allen Jugendlichen, die mutig sind und sich gern gruseln, aber auch allen Erwachsenen, die eine witzige Geschichte für Zwischendurch suchen.

Idee: 4/5
Gruselspaß: 3/5
Spannung: 4/5
Charaktere: 4/5

Gesamt: 4/5

Gebundene Ausgabe
Verlag: Loewes Verlag,Bindlach (2003)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3785548249
ISBN-13: 978-3785548240
Größe und/oder Gewicht: 18,4 x 12,8 x 1,8 cm