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Goosebumps #1
Welcome to Dead House
Josh and Amanda just moved into the oldest and weirdest house on the block. It might even be haunted.
But their parents don't believe them. You'll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends.
So Josh and Amanda do. But these creepy new friends are not exactly what Mom and Dad had in mind...
Because they want to be friends...FOREVER....
But their parents don't believe them. You'll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends.
So Josh and Amanda do. But these creepy new friends are not exactly what Mom and Dad had in mind...
Because they want to be friends...FOREVER....
123 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1992
1890 people are currently reading
27004 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,679 books18.6k followersRobert 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,154 reviews
May 8, 2018
Alright ladies and gentlemen,
The first book of the fabled classic Goosebumps.
The house is a freebie. Is haunted.
The entire town is, as well. Two siblings discover that fears do come true.
Very well drawn up from the master of scare Mr. Stine.
The story bears a classic uniqueness of Stine but a cliffhanger ending is his trademark.
Turning back my high-school library years, it made my bone chill, yet again.
Take all the stars!
The first book of the fabled classic Goosebumps.
The house is a freebie. Is haunted.
The entire town is, as well. Two siblings discover that fears do come true.
Very well drawn up from the master of scare Mr. Stine.
The story bears a classic uniqueness of Stine but a cliffhanger ending is his trademark.
Turning back my high-school library years, it made my bone chill, yet again.
Take all the stars!
Read
April 27, 2023I’m not rating it since I know I loved it when I was younger, but I’ve moved on from stories like that. It was nice to revisit an old favorite though.
September 4, 2016
Goosebumpy alright!
This is the first book of the original book series of “Goosebumps”
CREEPY GOOD BOOK
Obviously I wasn’t expecting a scary bloody tale, since this is Goosebumps, not H.P. Lovecraft, but I am glad to say that the book is quite well written, with an engaging narrative and a kinda of “cliffhanger” or “shocking last line” on each chapter making you to keep reading.
I found ingenious that the main character (and narrator of the story) is a teenage girl, due this is the first book of a series (that eventually became so popular and bestseller) having young audience as main targets, so the boys will pick the book since it’s terror, and the girls will pick the book since a girl is the main characters (without messing the topic with clichés of “women read romance”, “men read terror”, since I know for sure that it’s not the case) but as a business decision for a key first book in a series in this kind of genre and target audiences, I thought that it was well chosen.
It was a book quick to read and I enjoyed a lot, it’s not something that it will give you nightmares but certainly it will give you…
…goosebumps!
And at the end, that’s the whole purpose of this series.
WELCOME TO DARK FALLS
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that any town named “Dark Falls” isn’t a good place to go to live, but…
…hey! If our heroes wouldn’t go there, we wouldn’t have a story to read, right?
Meet The Benson Family: Dad, Mom, Amanda (the main character) (12 years old) and Josh (11 years old) along with their dog Petey (I guess they were huge fans of The Little Rascals).
They got a letter explaining that certain distant relative (that they never heard before (aaaha!) died and he left them his old house as inheritance.
Of course, the house is on Dark Falls, and you can bet that the dang house has two Windows at front just like the Amityville House!!!
But who cares? Free house!
So, everybody packin’ folks! Since Dark Falls, here we go!
Soon enough Amanda starting to notice here and there, strange happenings.
Yep. Free house. Aha.
But, don’t be so harsh on them! As I say, if they wouldn’t decided to live in that creepy house, we wouldn’t have this book to read.
Thanks Benson Family!
Good luck and I hope seeing you…
…alive…
…again…
Free house. Dang!
This is the first book of the original book series of “Goosebumps”
CREEPY GOOD BOOK
Obviously I wasn’t expecting a scary bloody tale, since this is Goosebumps, not H.P. Lovecraft, but I am glad to say that the book is quite well written, with an engaging narrative and a kinda of “cliffhanger” or “shocking last line” on each chapter making you to keep reading.
I found ingenious that the main character (and narrator of the story) is a teenage girl, due this is the first book of a series (that eventually became so popular and bestseller) having young audience as main targets, so the boys will pick the book since it’s terror, and the girls will pick the book since a girl is the main characters (without messing the topic with clichés of “women read romance”, “men read terror”, since I know for sure that it’s not the case) but as a business decision for a key first book in a series in this kind of genre and target audiences, I thought that it was well chosen.
It was a book quick to read and I enjoyed a lot, it’s not something that it will give you nightmares but certainly it will give you…
…goosebumps!
And at the end, that’s the whole purpose of this series.
WELCOME TO DARK FALLS
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that any town named “Dark Falls” isn’t a good place to go to live, but…
…hey! If our heroes wouldn’t go there, we wouldn’t have a story to read, right?
Meet The Benson Family: Dad, Mom, Amanda (the main character) (12 years old) and Josh (11 years old) along with their dog Petey (I guess they were huge fans of The Little Rascals).
They got a letter explaining that certain distant relative (that they never heard before (aaaha!) died and he left them his old house as inheritance.
Of course, the house is on Dark Falls, and you can bet that the dang house has two Windows at front just like the Amityville House!!!
But who cares? Free house!
So, everybody packin’ folks! Since Dark Falls, here we go!
Soon enough Amanda starting to notice here and there, strange happenings.
Yep. Free house. Aha.
But, don’t be so harsh on them! As I say, if they wouldn’t decided to live in that creepy house, we wouldn’t have this book to read.
Thanks Benson Family!
Good luck and I hope seeing you…
…alive…
…again…
Free house. Dang!
July 14, 2015
When it comes to horror movies I like them the same way I like my pizza- extra cheesy. However, the same cannot be said of my horror books.
Back when I was a
There was one summer in particular where I discovered the wonderful stories of R.L. Stine. I saw the covers with the bumped up letters and scary images and knew I had to have them all. And so my love of the macabre was born.
While the neighborhood kids all played outside on the playground or at summer recreation or spent their day running under the hose, I could be found with my nose in a book. This is not to say, however, that I didn’t horse around when the time was right. There was horsing around aplenty. But, what I remember most is sitting under a tree, behind the garage, on my aunt’s fence, or holed up in the little tube at the playground reading as fast as my eyes would let me. I think I read every issue of Goosebumps available in that summer.
And it is that summer that I remember most fondly.
After losing my father to cancer about a year and a half ago, I have been on a bit of a quest. I’ve been trying to relive my youth in an attempt to rediscover myself; redefine myself in light of the overwhelming realities I’ve had to face.
Reading Goosebumps was just one item on a list of several meant to help me through this journey. And oh! What a treat this truly was. I was immediately taken back to those summer days that felt endless. It was as if I had stepped into a time machine. I found myself laughing like a child again; my youth restored. I was able to find what had fascinated me so much as a kid again and that was an experience all in its own.
The book itself is 100% a cheese-fest. I refuse to sugar coat it. The writing caused me to roll my eyes through most of it, the storyline so obvious and the characters…well they were cookie-cutouts at best. But, I can’t completely throw this book under the bus. The memories it brought up, the feeling I had in my soul, the laughter that poured out of me at the silliness of it all- those things are worth more than any money in the world.
I look forward to reading more of these and hope that they still bring me the joy that they once did- even if it comes in a different form.
September 10, 2025
Im the girl who read the girly books as a child. Always wanted to read this iconic series. I actually enjoyed this first book and tried not to be too harsh but just enjoy the easyness, no brain work and as my older self...a very quick and light read.
November 1, 2023
Another series of books that I missed out on in my younger years. Glad to finally start this entertaining series!
October 19, 2024
Welcome to Dead House is the first installment in R.L. Stine's Classic Goosebumps series. Originally published in 1992, this story channels all the vibes of the series.
We follow brother and sister, Josh and Amanda, who are moving into a new home in the town of Dark Falls with their parents and the family dog.
From the start, the kids aren't having a good time. The dog keeps fleeing in terror, Amanda is seeing people who aren't there and Josh is just grumpy about the move in general.
Their parents think the dog's and kids' reactions, are just due to the disruption of their regular life. They're in a new, strange place and the house is old, it's gonna have some creaks and groans. They'll get over it.
They try to settle in the best they can. Josh and Amanda are even able to befriend some local kids, who although a little odd, seem nice overall.
Even with others in the neighborhood accepting their arrival, the siblings can't quite shake the feeling that something is off. There's too many eerie things happening and yeah, the other kids are saying weird things and continue acting strangely. What gives?
It turns out, Dark Falls has a dark history with dark secrets, but will Josh and Amanda succumb to its dark aims?!
I have been feeling nostalgic lately for the Middle Grade and YA Horror of my younger years. When I saw that my library had the 2015-audio version of this book available yesterday, on a whim I decided to listen to it.
It was so fun and I easily listened to it in a couple hours.
There's an overall feeling of menace in this story that legitimately gave me the creeps. I would think that some kids would be scared by this one, but in a fun way. It's not gory, or overly descriptive in the Horror aspects, but still very compelling.
I would recommend this one to Readers of all ages. It has Stine's goofy-brand of Dad humor sprinkled throughout. A few times I rolled my eyes, but often I laughed out loud.
Overall, I am super glad I gave this one a listen and plan to pick up more of the Classic Goosebumps series very soon!
We follow brother and sister, Josh and Amanda, who are moving into a new home in the town of Dark Falls with their parents and the family dog.
From the start, the kids aren't having a good time. The dog keeps fleeing in terror, Amanda is seeing people who aren't there and Josh is just grumpy about the move in general.
Their parents think the dog's and kids' reactions, are just due to the disruption of their regular life. They're in a new, strange place and the house is old, it's gonna have some creaks and groans. They'll get over it.
They try to settle in the best they can. Josh and Amanda are even able to befriend some local kids, who although a little odd, seem nice overall.
Even with others in the neighborhood accepting their arrival, the siblings can't quite shake the feeling that something is off. There's too many eerie things happening and yeah, the other kids are saying weird things and continue acting strangely. What gives?
It turns out, Dark Falls has a dark history with dark secrets, but will Josh and Amanda succumb to its dark aims?!
I have been feeling nostalgic lately for the Middle Grade and YA Horror of my younger years. When I saw that my library had the 2015-audio version of this book available yesterday, on a whim I decided to listen to it.
It was so fun and I easily listened to it in a couple hours.
There's an overall feeling of menace in this story that legitimately gave me the creeps. I would think that some kids would be scared by this one, but in a fun way. It's not gory, or overly descriptive in the Horror aspects, but still very compelling.
I would recommend this one to Readers of all ages. It has Stine's goofy-brand of Dad humor sprinkled throughout. A few times I rolled my eyes, but often I laughed out loud.
Overall, I am super glad I gave this one a listen and plan to pick up more of the Classic Goosebumps series very soon!
December 22, 2016
There's something off about the old house Amanda's dad inherited from a deceased uncle he's never heard of.
A cold breeze made me shiver. It was actually a beautiful, hot summer day. But the closer we got to the house, the colder I felt.
Welcome to Dead House offers a satisfying blend of camp and creepiness:
I started up the stairs and then stopped.
Above me on the landing stood a strange girl, about my age, with short black hair. She was smiling down at me, not a warm smile, not a friendly smile, but the coldest, most frightening smile I had ever seen.
And the book hints at the comedic slant R.L. Stine later brought to the series:
"Where is everyone?" I asked, looking up and down the empty street. "It's really dead around here, huh?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. I guess you could say that."
Welcome to Dead House may not be an extraordinary read for adults, but as a child this book, and the other books in the series, were irresistible and incontrovertibly spooky. They made reading fun and the act of buying a new book something to look forward to with great anticipation.
A cold breeze made me shiver. It was actually a beautiful, hot summer day. But the closer we got to the house, the colder I felt.
Welcome to Dead House offers a satisfying blend of camp and creepiness:
I started up the stairs and then stopped.
Above me on the landing stood a strange girl, about my age, with short black hair. She was smiling down at me, not a warm smile, not a friendly smile, but the coldest, most frightening smile I had ever seen.
And the book hints at the comedic slant R.L. Stine later brought to the series:
"Where is everyone?" I asked, looking up and down the empty street. "It's really dead around here, huh?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. I guess you could say that."
Welcome to Dead House may not be an extraordinary read for adults, but as a child this book, and the other books in the series, were irresistible and incontrovertibly spooky. They made reading fun and the act of buying a new book something to look forward to with great anticipation.
August 10, 2019
I probably won't give any of these full reviews, but I grew up on the Goosebumps series and adored it so much that I've decided to pick it back up from the beginning. I'll probably only be reading the "main"/original series, but we'll see.
This was so much more fun than I remembered it being. I know I read this a few times as a kid, and read it again in my teens to find it boring, but I couldn't put it down today and had a blast revisiting Stine's writing style and his weird little ideas. It's predictable as anything, of course, reading this as an adult (even if I didn't know for sure that I was remembering the twist correctly), but the characters are fun, the plot is quick-paced, and there's the classic "shocker" ending Stine's always been so well-known for.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited as heck to pick up book 2 soon! :P
This was so much more fun than I remembered it being. I know I read this a few times as a kid, and read it again in my teens to find it boring, but I couldn't put it down today and had a blast revisiting Stine's writing style and his weird little ideas. It's predictable as anything, of course, reading this as an adult (even if I didn't know for sure that I was remembering the twist correctly), but the characters are fun, the plot is quick-paced, and there's the classic "shocker" ending Stine's always been so well-known for.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited as heck to pick up book 2 soon! :P
October 25, 2021
The very first book in the Goosebumps series.
I was intrigued by these books when I was young, I would see them in the library and check them out just because the cool looking covers and not read them when I got home; I guess I wasn't ready back then. Well I had the curiosity but following through and actually read, not yet. I was too stuck on graphic novels. Lol.
Okay on with the review, this first one was a bit of lag in the first chapters but it was a cool little exciting read in the end and actually really creepy for a children's horror novel.
Overall, I'm glad I decided to give Goosebumps a try and I'll definitely read the second book at some point.
I was intrigued by these books when I was young, I would see them in the library and check them out just because the cool looking covers and not read them when I got home; I guess I wasn't ready back then. Well I had the curiosity but following through and actually read, not yet. I was too stuck on graphic novels. Lol.
Okay on with the review, this first one was a bit of lag in the first chapters but it was a cool little exciting read in the end and actually really creepy for a children's horror novel.
Overall, I'm glad I decided to give Goosebumps a try and I'll definitely read the second book at some point.
May 4, 2011
I read this because I promised my 11 year old that I would read it with him. He hates to read anything that isn't a comic book, or at the very least, in graphic novel format. Since he loves all things creepy, I thought that this would be a great way to finally get the kid to read something with actual chapters!
I think this is probably as close to perfect as it gets for a reluctant reader like my son. The chapter are short (two or three pages at the most), and yet packed with super-creepy stuff. Nothing too graphic or gory, but still scary enough to keep a kid like mine interested. I think this book is a great introduction into the horror/paranormal genre for older children.
I think this would probably be suitable for ages 10 and up.
I think this is probably as close to perfect as it gets for a reluctant reader like my son. The chapter are short (two or three pages at the most), and yet packed with super-creepy stuff. Nothing too graphic or gory, but still scary enough to keep a kid like mine interested. I think this book is a great introduction into the horror/paranormal genre for older children.
I think this would probably be suitable for ages 10 and up.
September 2, 2020
RILETTURA, DA ADULTO, DEI PICCOLI BRIVIDI N.6
Se uno zio di cui non ricordate assolutamente la parentela vi cedesse GRATIS una fatiscente villa in un luogo che si chiama CASCATA TENEBROSA reagireste con gioia e gaudio? Io no, ma il padre della famigliola protagonista del romanzo eccome. Nonostante in città NON CI SIA NESSUNO. O meglio, qualcuno c'è, ma più che fissare dalla finestra non fa.
Tra quelli che ho letto è assolutamente il più horror e dark della serie. Una zombie-ghost horror story capace di terrorizzare i giovanissimi lettori (mi sarei scagazzato io all'epoca).
Riletta da adulto e con tanti film e libri horror sul groppone, non fa assolutamente lo stesso effetto.
Anzi, le prime 100 pagine sono piuttosto pallosette con momenti di suspense adrenalinico del tipo "ommioddio ci sono i jeans piegati sul letto, ma chi li avrà messi lì? Forse la mamma ma non ne sono sicura". I morti che ti stirano i vestiti mi mancavano. Adoro.
Fatto sta che nelle ultime 60 pagine il racconto finalmente prende ritmo e innesta una trovata di paura dietro l'altra, fino all'indovinato colpo di scena/bad ending finale, anche se un po' telefonato.
(SPOILER):
- Ma veramente sarebbe bastato buttar giù un albero per sconfiggere i cattivi?
- Ma se tutti gli abitanti della città sono morti a causa di una nube di gas tossico...chi li ha seppelliti? Perché ci sono le tombe?
Se uno zio di cui non ricordate assolutamente la parentela vi cedesse GRATIS una fatiscente villa in un luogo che si chiama CASCATA TENEBROSA reagireste con gioia e gaudio? Io no, ma il padre della famigliola protagonista del romanzo eccome. Nonostante in città NON CI SIA NESSUNO. O meglio, qualcuno c'è, ma più che fissare dalla finestra non fa.
Tra quelli che ho letto è assolutamente il più horror e dark della serie. Una zombie-ghost horror story capace di terrorizzare i giovanissimi lettori (mi sarei scagazzato io all'epoca).
Riletta da adulto e con tanti film e libri horror sul groppone, non fa assolutamente lo stesso effetto.
Anzi, le prime 100 pagine sono piuttosto pallosette con momenti di suspense adrenalinico del tipo "ommioddio ci sono i jeans piegati sul letto, ma chi li avrà messi lì? Forse la mamma ma non ne sono sicura". I morti che ti stirano i vestiti mi mancavano. Adoro.
Fatto sta che nelle ultime 60 pagine il racconto finalmente prende ritmo e innesta una trovata di paura dietro l'altra, fino all'indovinato colpo di scena/bad ending finale, anche se un po' telefonato.
(SPOILER):
- Ma veramente sarebbe bastato buttar giù un albero per sconfiggere i cattivi?
- Ma se tutti gli abitanti della città sono morti a causa di una nube di gas tossico...chi li ha seppelliti? Perché ci sono le tombe?
July 8, 2025
“Welcome to Dead House” is the second book by R.L. Stine that I have ever read, and here is a few things that I have already determined as to why he is as popular as he is:
1) It's common knowledge that kids don't listen to parents, but Stine knows that parents don’t listen to kids either, or, if they do, they really can’t do anything to help. Parents are basically ineffectual creatures, as kind and loving as they are sometimes. Truth is: kids are on their own out in the world.
2) Stine knows something that most, if not all, adults tend to forget or ignore: kids are a lot smarter than they are given credit for. They have to be, after all. (See #1.)
3) Stine understands kids’ basic fear and mistrust of all adults. Let’s face it: your parents are no good against zombies, killer dolls, or blob monsters. That’s a given. But even worse than ineffectual parents are those other adults. You know: your science teacher, your church pastor, the garbage man, that old creepy guy who lives two doors down. They all have something to hide, and you know it. No adult can adequately be trusted.
4) Stine tells it like it is. He isn’t going to sugarcoat it for the “sensitive” kids. Those kids are always the first ones to be slaughtered anyway. No, Stine’s target audience may be kids ages 9 to 13, but he’s not gonna dumb anything down. (See #2.) He’s also not gonna necessarily end everything on a happy note. Because that ain’t real life, kids. It’s best that you learn that lesson now…
5) Stine is actually a decent writer. He'll probably never win a Pulitzer, but he’s writing at a reading level for middle school age children and tweens, and that doesn’t mean his stories can’t be enjoyed by older kids or adults. Stine is a ten times better writer than James Patterson any day of the week. Indeed, I think Stine could hold his own against Stephen King or Brian Keene, and I think those guys are the best in the horror biz. For what he does, Stine does it really well, and I’m a converted Stine fan.
1) It's common knowledge that kids don't listen to parents, but Stine knows that parents don’t listen to kids either, or, if they do, they really can’t do anything to help. Parents are basically ineffectual creatures, as kind and loving as they are sometimes. Truth is: kids are on their own out in the world.
2) Stine knows something that most, if not all, adults tend to forget or ignore: kids are a lot smarter than they are given credit for. They have to be, after all. (See #1.)
3) Stine understands kids’ basic fear and mistrust of all adults. Let’s face it: your parents are no good against zombies, killer dolls, or blob monsters. That’s a given. But even worse than ineffectual parents are those other adults. You know: your science teacher, your church pastor, the garbage man, that old creepy guy who lives two doors down. They all have something to hide, and you know it. No adult can adequately be trusted.
4) Stine tells it like it is. He isn’t going to sugarcoat it for the “sensitive” kids. Those kids are always the first ones to be slaughtered anyway. No, Stine’s target audience may be kids ages 9 to 13, but he’s not gonna dumb anything down. (See #2.) He’s also not gonna necessarily end everything on a happy note. Because that ain’t real life, kids. It’s best that you learn that lesson now…
5) Stine is actually a decent writer. He'll probably never win a Pulitzer, but he’s writing at a reading level for middle school age children and tweens, and that doesn’t mean his stories can’t be enjoyed by older kids or adults. Stine is a ten times better writer than James Patterson any day of the week. Indeed, I think Stine could hold his own against Stephen King or Brian Keene, and I think those guys are the best in the horror biz. For what he does, Stine does it really well, and I’m a converted Stine fan.
June 12, 2024
I read this for my children's materials class and decided it would be fun to listen to it on audiobook. I've read a lot of the goosebumps books because they were my favorites as a child. I think I may actually go ahead and do a re-read of the rest of the series. This one was not that scary although I did enjoy the ending. It focuses on two kids who move with their family to a new house. Unfortunately, there is a twist associated with the new house and the families that live in this new town. I thought that the plot was a little predictable, but for the most part it was enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series. If you haven't given these a try before on audio I would really recommend it.
June 4, 2015
So, my friend Stepheny put it out there that she wanted to read these this summer and was all...
I raised my hand. Because when I was a kid, I LOVED these books. They came out around the time I turned 10, and I was that kid who read anything and everything I could. I was the girl who WANTED reading homework. I looked forward to the Scholastic Book Fair all year long. I did the summer reading program and read circles around my classmates. By the time these books were being published, I was already reading the gamut, from Beverly Cleary to Stephen King and Dean Koontz to Little Women. If it was printed, I'd try to read that shit.
But I love horror and always have. (I remember watching Tales from the Crypt while my mom got ready to to go work at her 3rd shift security job - and I couldn't have been older than 7. Pet Sematary came out around the same time, and that shit traumatized me. The cat. And Zelda. *shudder* That freaks me out to this day!) So these books, along with the Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, were great. They were my bus-ride-to-school reads. A little aside here: My bus driver loved listening to the radio on her route, and she loved hip-hop and R&B. So I have strange associations between 90s hip-hop music and middle-grade horror stories. I can't hear the song "My Lovin'" by En Vogue without picturing this:
It's stuck in my brain for life.
Anyway, so I read a lot of these books as a kid, and they were fun, light, nominally scary stories that were easily accessible. You never really feel like anything truly bad is going to happen because they were aimed at people of my age group (at the time) and nothing bad happens to kids. It's against the rules! It was the horror I wanted to read, but without the trauma of actual horror. It didn't keep me up at night, like Child's Play did. That fucking DOLL. Ruined dolls for me forever.
Reading this now, it's even more clear that these are innocent books geared towards kids who like to be scared but don't want to risk too much. There's an out built in to every story. This one was the house that they conveniently didn't sell yet before moving to the Mystery Uncle's estate house. So you know right then that there's little risk to the family - they can always just pick up and go home.
These books don't really hold up to much scrutiny though. I mean, for one, if a mysterious uncle left me a house that is 4 hours away, in a town I'd never heard of, I think I'd need to do a little bit more research than a single, hectic, sullen-tween-dragging walk-through. I'd need to investigate the schools and the neighborhood at a minimum, because they are supposed to actually LIVE there after they move. But right there, things would fall apart. Because there'd be nothing to investigate. There are no neighbors, and there are no teachers or students - not even a creepy lunch lady!
But OK, they do the walk-through and decide to move, because the house is paid for and they wouldn't have a mortgage anymore and dad would totally be able to dedicate his time to writing full time. Right on. Except... Why not sell the house you just got gifted, and use that money to pay off your own house, so you don't have to uproot your whole family and move to the corner of Nowhere and Nothing? Well, I mean, of course, besides the fact that there wouldn't be much of a story if they did that.
Anyway, so they pick up and move, and then things get all weird. There's ghostly footsteps and whispers in the house, and it's cold, and dreary, and "drafty". The kids, Amanda and Josh meet some weird neighborhood kids who play softball and promptly go home for lunch at 11:30am every day, and who all seem to have lived in the house that the main characters now live in. And then the dog goes missing.
Now this dog is very undoglike. I mean, it barks and runs, but if I didn't know better, I'd think that this dog was supposed to be human. They talk to it and treat it like human, which is understandable, because I talk to my cats like they are little furry humans... but my cats still act like cats - even when I anthropomorphize their behavior in my head. But this dog.. I think he thought he was human, too. It was just... not doggy enough to be real, and it was distracting and kind of obnoxious. This dog was like a precocious 4 year old child.
But anyway, Petey the dog goes missing, and the whole world collapses... and then this story takes a hard left turn from Campy Good Time Rd onto What The Hell Is Going On Blvd. The last quarter of this book RACES along, and compared to the previous 75%, which was a bit draggy and repetitive and slow, it just feels like the end is supposed to show up so suddenly that we overlook any of the stuff that it actually consists of.
The explanation for the town weirdness is literally one half of a line of dialogue. That's not counting the current reason for the family being there, which is repeated over and over... but how it all started is of the blink-and-you'll-miss-it variety.
The timeline gets incredibly wonky at the end. One minute it's "after midnight" and the kids leave the house to walk to the cemetery to find the missing dog, because they're sure it will be there. Then, after they've searched for their dog, found him, and also discovered some disturbing things in the graveyard, they run home, where they are ambushed by all the neighborhood kids. It's mentioned then that it's 2 AM, and that their parents should be home from their party (convenient) by now but they aren't and WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?
Then the only other adult in the story shows up and tells the kids that they have to get out of there now, that it's dangerous, and he'll take them to their parents... so they hop in his car, and race back to the cemetery.... At which point apparently it's now daylight. Not dawn's-early-light, but full on daylight... in the course of less than an hour.
It's a strange little story, and like I said, it doesn't really hold up well under scrutiny, but for what it is, and its intended audience, it's not the worst thing I've ever read. It's quick, and light reading, so it's good for an in-between-books filler read.
I raised my hand. Because when I was a kid, I LOVED these books. They came out around the time I turned 10, and I was that kid who read anything and everything I could. I was the girl who WANTED reading homework. I looked forward to the Scholastic Book Fair all year long. I did the summer reading program and read circles around my classmates. By the time these books were being published, I was already reading the gamut, from Beverly Cleary to Stephen King and Dean Koontz to Little Women. If it was printed, I'd try to read that shit.
But I love horror and always have. (I remember watching Tales from the Crypt while my mom got ready to to go work at her 3rd shift security job - and I couldn't have been older than 7. Pet Sematary came out around the same time, and that shit traumatized me. The cat. And Zelda. *shudder* That freaks me out to this day!) So these books, along with the Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, were great. They were my bus-ride-to-school reads. A little aside here: My bus driver loved listening to the radio on her route, and she loved hip-hop and R&B. So I have strange associations between 90s hip-hop music and middle-grade horror stories. I can't hear the song "My Lovin'" by En Vogue without picturing this:
It's stuck in my brain for life.
Anyway, so I read a lot of these books as a kid, and they were fun, light, nominally scary stories that were easily accessible. You never really feel like anything truly bad is going to happen because they were aimed at people of my age group (at the time) and nothing bad happens to kids. It's against the rules! It was the horror I wanted to read, but without the trauma of actual horror. It didn't keep me up at night, like Child's Play did. That fucking DOLL. Ruined dolls for me forever.
Reading this now, it's even more clear that these are innocent books geared towards kids who like to be scared but don't want to risk too much. There's an out built in to every story. This one was the house that they conveniently didn't sell yet before moving to the Mystery Uncle's estate house. So you know right then that there's little risk to the family - they can always just pick up and go home.
These books don't really hold up to much scrutiny though. I mean, for one, if a mysterious uncle left me a house that is 4 hours away, in a town I'd never heard of, I think I'd need to do a little bit more research than a single, hectic, sullen-tween-dragging walk-through. I'd need to investigate the schools and the neighborhood at a minimum, because they are supposed to actually LIVE there after they move. But right there, things would fall apart. Because there'd be nothing to investigate. There are no neighbors, and there are no teachers or students - not even a creepy lunch lady!
But OK, they do the walk-through and decide to move, because the house is paid for and they wouldn't have a mortgage anymore and dad would totally be able to dedicate his time to writing full time. Right on. Except... Why not sell the house you just got gifted, and use that money to pay off your own house, so you don't have to uproot your whole family and move to the corner of Nowhere and Nothing? Well, I mean, of course, besides the fact that there wouldn't be much of a story if they did that.
Anyway, so they pick up and move, and then things get all weird. There's ghostly footsteps and whispers in the house, and it's cold, and dreary, and "drafty". The kids, Amanda and Josh meet some weird neighborhood kids who play softball and promptly go home for lunch at 11:30am every day, and who all seem to have lived in the house that the main characters now live in. And then the dog goes missing.
Now this dog is very undoglike. I mean, it barks and runs, but if I didn't know better, I'd think that this dog was supposed to be human. They talk to it and treat it like human, which is understandable, because I talk to my cats like they are little furry humans... but my cats still act like cats - even when I anthropomorphize their behavior in my head. But this dog.. I think he thought he was human, too. It was just... not doggy enough to be real, and it was distracting and kind of obnoxious. This dog was like a precocious 4 year old child.
But anyway, Petey the dog goes missing, and the whole world collapses... and then this story takes a hard left turn from Campy Good Time Rd onto What The Hell Is Going On Blvd. The last quarter of this book RACES along, and compared to the previous 75%, which was a bit draggy and repetitive and slow, it just feels like the end is supposed to show up so suddenly that we overlook any of the stuff that it actually consists of.
The explanation for the town weirdness is literally one half of a line of dialogue. That's not counting the current reason for the family being there, which is repeated over and over... but how it all started is of the blink-and-you'll-miss-it variety.
The timeline gets incredibly wonky at the end. One minute it's "after midnight" and the kids leave the house to walk to the cemetery to find the missing dog, because they're sure it will be there. Then, after they've searched for their dog, found him, and also discovered some disturbing things in the graveyard, they run home, where they are ambushed by all the neighborhood kids. It's mentioned then that it's 2 AM, and that their parents should be home from their party (convenient) by now but they aren't and WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?
Then the only other adult in the story shows up and tells the kids that they have to get out of there now, that it's dangerous, and he'll take them to their parents... so they hop in his car, and race back to the cemetery.... At which point apparently it's now daylight. Not dawn's-early-light, but full on daylight... in the course of less than an hour.
It's a strange little story, and like I said, it doesn't really hold up well under scrutiny, but for what it is, and its intended audience, it's not the worst thing I've ever read. It's quick, and light reading, so it's good for an in-between-books filler read.
November 19, 2017
“We killed someone who was already dead.”
There, that one sentence just about sums up how ridiculous the concept of this book is.
I remember the time when I first started reading, which was some four years ago. Our school library was so poorly stocked. The only books it held were the many different editions of classic books and THESE. Goosebumps books. I used to read them and love them then, but now, I don’t even want to think I used to love them once.
The Plot
Amanda and Josh are not at all happy with their new house at Dark Falls. The town looks deserted, completely shady and eerie. But their parents insist the house is huge and cool.
Creepy things happen to them, and the kids in the neighborhood act strange. One extraordinarily creepy night, they find that all those friends they made, are already dead. And they want Josh and Amanda dead too..
Thoughts
- At one point, Amanda, the mc, thinks she’s more sensible and patient than her brother, BECAUSE SHE IS A GIRL
- Sounds reasonable right? Duh. I don’t see why boys aren’t considered sensible enough?
-The book was fairly readable, except, the writing was really uncool. Like, look at this –
-Yeah that’s a real paragraph from the book. I CAN’T EVEN..
-Seems like R.L Stine has memorized every bit of how-to-write-a-horror-story manual. He has badly used every supposedly-scary trope there is.
* Dog barking at dead people? ✔
* Gross description of peeling skin and popping eyeballs? ✔
* Melting bodies? ✔
* Dead people afraid of light? ✔
* Venturing to the cemetery at night and considering it ‘adventure’? ✔
* Century-old, nearly-dead trees? ✔
-But what I don’t really understand is the concept. It is ridiculous to say the least. Who on earth would agree moving to a house they supposedly inherited from a non-existent great-uncle? And, dead people living in a town? They aren’t even considered as ghosts. Why are they ‘dead’ then? What does dead mean? How come, they’re not anywhere else? If they’re already dead, what happens when they ‘melt away’? Ugh, questioning the plot devices of this book is sickening.
In short, if you decide to overlook the questionable plot and poor writing, this book might be enjoyable. Probably.
There, that one sentence just about sums up how ridiculous the concept of this book is.
I remember the time when I first started reading, which was some four years ago. Our school library was so poorly stocked. The only books it held were the many different editions of classic books and THESE. Goosebumps books. I used to read them and love them then, but now, I don’t even want to think I used to love them once.
The Plot
Amanda and Josh are not at all happy with their new house at Dark Falls. The town looks deserted, completely shady and eerie. But their parents insist the house is huge and cool.
Creepy things happen to them, and the kids in the neighborhood act strange. One extraordinarily creepy night, they find that all those friends they made, are already dead. And they want Josh and Amanda dead too..
Thoughts
- At one point, Amanda, the mc, thinks she’s more sensible and patient than her brother, BECAUSE SHE IS A GIRL
- Sounds reasonable right? Duh. I don’t see why boys aren’t considered sensible enough?
-The book was fairly readable, except, the writing was really uncool. Like, look at this –
“Your basketball is packed in one of these cartons,” Dad was saying. Then Josh said something. Then Dad said, “How should I know which one?” Then Josh said something. Then Dad said, “No, I don’t have time to look now. Believe it or not, your basketball isn’t at the top of my list.”
-Yeah that’s a real paragraph from the book. I CAN’T EVEN..
-Seems like R.L Stine has memorized every bit of how-to-write-a-horror-story manual. He has badly used every supposedly-scary trope there is.
* Dog barking at dead people? ✔
* Gross description of peeling skin and popping eyeballs? ✔
* Melting bodies? ✔
* Dead people afraid of light? ✔
* Venturing to the cemetery at night and considering it ‘adventure’? ✔
* Century-old, nearly-dead trees? ✔
-But what I don’t really understand is the concept. It is ridiculous to say the least. Who on earth would agree moving to a house they supposedly inherited from a non-existent great-uncle? And, dead people living in a town? They aren’t even considered as ghosts. Why are they ‘dead’ then? What does dead mean? How come, they’re not anywhere else? If they’re already dead, what happens when they ‘melt away’? Ugh, questioning the plot devices of this book is sickening.
In short, if you decide to overlook the questionable plot and poor writing, this book might be enjoyable. Probably.
October 13, 2022
Goosebumps!!!
This story is about a family that inherits an old house from a relative. They moves to the house which is in a weird neighborhood, known as Dark Falls. But Dark Falls has its own secrets, with huge trees and little sunlight.
This is a fun and quick read!
I love reading and watching Goosebumps. I think R.L.Stein has done a great job with the series and is fun read for all!
This story is about a family that inherits an old house from a relative. They moves to the house which is in a weird neighborhood, known as Dark Falls. But Dark Falls has its own secrets, with huge trees and little sunlight.
This is a fun and quick read!
I love reading and watching Goosebumps. I think R.L.Stein has done a great job with the series and is fun read for all!
December 31, 2021
I spent a month re-reading all 62 original Goosebumps books to see if they still hold up today, you can check out my 3.5 hour vlog here: https://youtu.be/2C73xc1FS5o
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
October 24, 2020
وعودة مرة أخرى مع صرخة الرعب ولكن هذه المرة مع قصة قرأتها مُسبقاً.. أعتقد أني قرأتها في المرحلة الأبتدائية أو أول الإعدادية.. وأربعة نجوم هو تقييمي وقتها للرواية.. لو قيمتها على قراءتي الثانية ستكون حوالي نجمتين أو نجمتين ونصف..
ولكن للإنصاف ما زال تسارع الأحداث المُفاجئ الذي يتمز به الكاتب يُبهرني حتى في سني الحالي.. ونهاية الرواية ذكرتني بأن الكاتب متخصص في النهايات الغريبة والغير متوقعة تماماًَ..
في النهاية، قراءة مُفعمة بالنوستالجيا.. خفيفة ومشوقة.. لا بأس بها كل شهر وكل عدد جديد.
November 27, 2018
Τιμή κ δόξα στην ελληνική εφορία που μου επέτρεψε σήμερα το πρωί να το διαβάσω ολόκληρο!!
Και την επιστροφή μου την πήρα και την περιπετειούλα μου απόλαυσα κ καλό καφέ ήπια.. όλα καλά!
Τουλάχιστον ήμουν σε καλύτερη μοίρα από τα παιδιά της περιπέτειας (αν κ εφορία κ σπίτι των νεκρών έναν παράξενο συνειρμό τον κάνει...)
Και την επιστροφή μου την πήρα και την περιπετειούλα μου απόλαυσα κ καλό καφέ ήπια.. όλα καλά!
Τουλάχιστον ήμουν σε καλύτερη μοίρα από τα παιδιά της περιπέτειας (αν κ εφορία κ σπίτι των νεκρών έναν παράξενο συνειρμό τον κάνει...)
October 2, 2016
4 STARS!
Read the original audio book from the 90s on YouTube. It was just as awesome and spooky as I remember it. :)
Read the original audio book from the 90s on YouTube. It was just as awesome and spooky as I remember it. :)
June 8, 2025
This book is where my love horror began! When I first read this as a kid it was absolutely terrifying! It was easily the most scared that any pice of fiction has made me. After that I was hooked on horror books.
It was cool re-reading this. I found it live up to its reputation. It had a lot of ready good suspense moments and was well writing. I was impressed on how clear and direct it was made of the tagged audiences age, it was silly, but not corny. It felt natural.
This was such a fun re-read with so much nostalgia. I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the memories I have that first reading. Instead I was able to appreciate this book in a whole new way. Plus it was really easy to see what it was that scared the s**t out of me all those years ago. 😁
It was cool re-reading this. I found it live up to its reputation. It had a lot of ready good suspense moments and was well writing. I was impressed on how clear and direct it was made of the tagged audiences age, it was silly, but not corny. It felt natural.
This was such a fun re-read with so much nostalgia. I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the memories I have that first reading. Instead I was able to appreciate this book in a whole new way. Plus it was really easy to see what it was that scared the s**t out of me all those years ago. 😁
October 2, 2018
#1 "It will just kill you."
The old house that Amanda and Josh just moved into with their parents is not haunted... Or is it? Things get crazy in this ghostly tale of the ominous haunted house.
As the first book in the series of the Goosebumps franchise, while not my favorite, I'd have to say it's still one of the great ones.
The old house that Amanda and Josh just moved into with their parents is not haunted... Or is it? Things get crazy in this ghostly tale of the ominous haunted house.
As the first book in the series of the Goosebumps franchise, while not my favorite, I'd have to say it's still one of the great ones.
June 3, 2021
I will never be too old to love Goosebumps! This was one of the first ones I read when I was young and reading it again brought back so many good memories. I think this is probably one of my favourite Goosebumps stories, something about it just really hits the spot for me. This story still holds up all these years later, I enjoyed the hell out of my reread of this one! I had forgotten most of the details of the story so it was like I was experiencing it again for the first time and I fell in love with it all over again. It still amazes me how brutal these can be for young teen/middle grade books, I’m not complaining but I am questioning my parents for letting me read these at such a young age.
April 29, 2015
Amanda and Josh didn't want to move to their new house. It's creepy - they see the faces of children in the windows and hear them whispering and giggling in their rooms.
Nobody can turn down a free house, though, and they inherited from their dead uncle in a stroke of luck (I'm not sure "luck" would be the word I'd use).
At least the kids in the neighborhood are nice. Well, except for that time they surrounded the siblings in a circle while holding baseball bats in a threatening manner.
And Petey, the kids' sweet and friendly terrier, seems to hate everyone in town. He barks and growls at everyone, exhibiting behavior he's never shown before.
And why is the town so dark? Yes, it is called Dark Falls, and for good reason. Trees shade every street, yard, and park. There are no streetlamps.
It turns out that
R.L. Stine did a great service to kids everywhere when he created a series of horror books for children. This really filled a great need.
That being said, the books are poorly written. The writing is boring and very simple. (See my status updates for examples). Just because kids are kids doesn't mean they're stupid...kids can appreciate and deserve good writing. Also, Stine tends to end every chapter with a cliffhanger/shock-moment that 90% of the time is revealed to be nothing at the start of the next chapter. For instance, the chapter will end on "The boy crept up behind and grabbed my shoulder." Next chapter, opening sentences - it's her brother. Annoying!
Dialogue is lame, character development is non-existent. A Goosebumps main character could be male, female, 10 or 12 - it makes no difference. Stine writes with only one voice - the kids in this series are interchangeable and forgettable.
So why the two stars? Because Stine's creative and original horror ideas are fun and exciting. Also, he did children a great service by opening up the horror book market to them. Some of his concepts are a little silly, but most are great and really get a kid's imagination working. I always wanted someone to go back and re-write each of the original Goosebumps books in an adult form. That would be awesome and take care of the juvenile writing problem. There's a lot of potential there if Mr. Stine would agree to let an author re-write them for adults.
I also enjoy how Stine doesn't mute the horror too much. There are some genuinely spooky moments in this book. Amanda's creepy dream about her and her family being dead and eating a meal of bones at the dining room table. The part where The fact that every kid in the neighborhood says to the kids "I used to live in your house," when the siblings know that's not possible. And when Amanda and Josh finally These are great horror tropes, and it's fun to introduce them to kids so early. I would say that these books could be read by kids aged 8-11.
Nobody can turn down a free house, though, and they inherited from their dead uncle in a stroke of luck (I'm not sure "luck" would be the word I'd use).
At least the kids in the neighborhood are nice. Well, except for that time they surrounded the siblings in a circle while holding baseball bats in a threatening manner.
And Petey, the kids' sweet and friendly terrier, seems to hate everyone in town. He barks and growls at everyone, exhibiting behavior he's never shown before.
And why is the town so dark? Yes, it is called Dark Falls, and for good reason. Trees shade every street, yard, and park. There are no streetlamps.
It turns out that
R.L. Stine did a great service to kids everywhere when he created a series of horror books for children. This really filled a great need.
That being said, the books are poorly written. The writing is boring and very simple. (See my status updates for examples). Just because kids are kids doesn't mean they're stupid...kids can appreciate and deserve good writing. Also, Stine tends to end every chapter with a cliffhanger/shock-moment that 90% of the time is revealed to be nothing at the start of the next chapter. For instance, the chapter will end on "The boy crept up behind and grabbed my shoulder." Next chapter, opening sentences - it's her brother. Annoying!
Dialogue is lame, character development is non-existent. A Goosebumps main character could be male, female, 10 or 12 - it makes no difference. Stine writes with only one voice - the kids in this series are interchangeable and forgettable.
So why the two stars? Because Stine's creative and original horror ideas are fun and exciting. Also, he did children a great service by opening up the horror book market to them. Some of his concepts are a little silly, but most are great and really get a kid's imagination working. I always wanted someone to go back and re-write each of the original Goosebumps books in an adult form. That would be awesome and take care of the juvenile writing problem. There's a lot of potential there if Mr. Stine would agree to let an author re-write them for adults.
I also enjoy how Stine doesn't mute the horror too much. There are some genuinely spooky moments in this book. Amanda's creepy dream about her and her family being dead and eating a meal of bones at the dining room table. The part where The fact that every kid in the neighborhood says to the kids "I used to live in your house," when the siblings know that's not possible. And when Amanda and Josh finally These are great horror tropes, and it's fun to introduce them to kids so early. I would say that these books could be read by kids aged 8-11.
August 5, 2024
Con mi club de lectura nos propusimos leer un libro de Stine todos los meses, y desde ahí, mi niña interior está como loca. Este fue uno de los últimos, y lo disfruté muchísimo. Este en particular lo quería leer porque es el primero en la colección "Escalofríos", así que me di el gusto. La estrella que le quito es porque el plot twist no fue nada sorpresivo, se veía venir desde las primeras lineas del libro, un poco más, jaja. Más allá de eso, es una historia clásica de fantasmas con los típicos giros de Stine.
May 19, 2019
Yep...I'm 50 years old and I'm reading Goosebumps books. Why not? The stories are fun, a bit creepy, and have a lot of nostalgia for me. Back when my oldest son was little I used to read these books out loud to him. Sometimes he would read to me. :) We did different voices for the characters and acted out the action, often ending up laughing and just having a great time. My son is now a grown man, married, and stationed in San Diego with the US Navy. This year, I promised myself I would read (or re-read) books that I really enjoy, reviewing each one. I decided it was time to revisit the Goosebumps series just for fun, and Mom-nostalgia.
Welcome to Dead House is the first Goosebumps book, published in 1992. At one time, my son had more than 20 of these books. We read and re-read them until he outgrew them and moved on to more in-depth stories. I did not realize how many books the Goosebumps series mushroomed into...several different spin off series....more than 100 books in total. Wow! Add in the television show and a couple movies....and the Goosebumps series really got kids reading and watching horror stories written specifically for them.
In this first story, Josh and Amanda are upset about moving to Dark Falls. They didn't want to leave their friends behind, and the house their family inherited from an uncle is old and creepy. Little do they know just how creepy it is -- but they quickly find out! Turns out Dark Falls is hiding some dark secrets....
Each chapter ends with a mini-cliffhanger....a bit of drama to get kids to want to read the next chapter. Perfect for silent reading, or reading out loud. The earlier books in the Goosebumps series are a bit darker and less humorous than later books. This story has some pretty gruesome and depressing imagery...but nothing graphic or too scary. Moving is often a traumatic and terrifying experience for kids. This story just turns that fear into a creepy story about a town town with dark secrets.
The television series did a two part episode (made for TV movie) on this story. It can be streamed on Netflix for those who want to revisit some R.L. Stine goodness without reading the book. Or better yet read the book....then watch the TV version to see what changes were made. :) Welcome to Dead House is listed under Specials, episodes 11 and 12, on Netflix.
This book made for an enjoyable afternoon's reading.....and some nice memories of time spent reading to my son. :) Dark, but entertaining and fun, story! I'm going to keep reading this series in order just for the fun of it. Great palate cleansers in-between adult fiction. :) I love children's books. There is no reason why adults can't enjoy them too!
Welcome to Dead House is the first Goosebumps book, published in 1992. At one time, my son had more than 20 of these books. We read and re-read them until he outgrew them and moved on to more in-depth stories. I did not realize how many books the Goosebumps series mushroomed into...several different spin off series....more than 100 books in total. Wow! Add in the television show and a couple movies....and the Goosebumps series really got kids reading and watching horror stories written specifically for them.
In this first story, Josh and Amanda are upset about moving to Dark Falls. They didn't want to leave their friends behind, and the house their family inherited from an uncle is old and creepy. Little do they know just how creepy it is -- but they quickly find out! Turns out Dark Falls is hiding some dark secrets....
Each chapter ends with a mini-cliffhanger....a bit of drama to get kids to want to read the next chapter. Perfect for silent reading, or reading out loud. The earlier books in the Goosebumps series are a bit darker and less humorous than later books. This story has some pretty gruesome and depressing imagery...but nothing graphic or too scary. Moving is often a traumatic and terrifying experience for kids. This story just turns that fear into a creepy story about a town town with dark secrets.
The television series did a two part episode (made for TV movie) on this story. It can be streamed on Netflix for those who want to revisit some R.L. Stine goodness without reading the book. Or better yet read the book....then watch the TV version to see what changes were made. :) Welcome to Dead House is listed under Specials, episodes 11 and 12, on Netflix.
This book made for an enjoyable afternoon's reading.....and some nice memories of time spent reading to my son. :) Dark, but entertaining and fun, story! I'm going to keep reading this series in order just for the fun of it. Great palate cleansers in-between adult fiction. :) I love children's books. There is no reason why adults can't enjoy them too!
July 18, 2018
3.5
I feel slightly jipped because it was originally published in 1992 but there were years in the story in here of later, that was obviously changed from the original publishing and it makes me wonder what else, if anything, they might have changed :(. I guess I should have been picky about trying to get first editions after all, dang it. I didn't know they changed things..sorry about the bitterness.
Otherwise it was a nice creepy read. Slightly (but not entirely) predictable. Kind of lackluster ending (or maybe that's just me) but still enjoyed it.
I feel slightly jipped because it was originally published in 1992 but there were years in the story in here of later, that was obviously changed from the original publishing and it makes me wonder what else, if anything, they might have changed :(. I guess I should have been picky about trying to get first editions after all, dang it. I didn't know they changed things..sorry about the bitterness.
Otherwise it was a nice creepy read. Slightly (but not entirely) predictable. Kind of lackluster ending (or maybe that's just me) but still enjoyed it.
August 11, 2023
2.5 stars
The beginning was very cozy and atmospheric and creepy.
The middle section was boring.
And of course we got the usual R.L. Stine fakeout scares all throughout.
I did like some of the more gory parts we got later in the book, particularly in chapter 14.
Other than that, unfortunately, this one is pretty forgettable.
You can check out my full thoughts in my recent reads video: https://youtu.be/ZzIt4_cdmt8
The beginning was very cozy and atmospheric and creepy.
The middle section was boring.
And of course we got the usual R.L. Stine fakeout scares all throughout.
I did like some of the more gory parts we got later in the book, particularly in chapter 14.
Other than that, unfortunately, this one is pretty forgettable.
You can check out my full thoughts in my recent reads video: https://youtu.be/ZzIt4_cdmt8
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