fanboyriot's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I hated the writing style of this one, and all the lines that were like: “now you probably think this about me” every five seconds were annoying. It was literally just a kid getting bullied and harassed the entire book. It had no other plot points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Gaslighting
Minor: Toxic friendship
kxmichi's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
alexchandler's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
melhara's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Growing up, I've always avoided reading Goosebumps because the covers were terrifying (I also avoided watching the TV show for the same reason). No matter how much my friends tried to convince me to read them (my friends all loved Goosebumps and they had all assured me that the stories weren't scary at all) I'd stubbornly refuse to give the series a chance.
Well, 20+ years later, I finally mustered the courage to give one of these books a shot.
This was a rather strange novel with severe bullying - Ricky is constantly teased and tormented at school (and the teachers don't seem to care at all). When his bullies got him fired from the school newspaper, he decides to enact revenge against the editor of the school newspaper who fired him. (instead of the bullies...) His strange idea for revenge was to sneak a message into the school newspaper, calling all creeps to call the editor. But his plan backfired - the editor caught the message and changed it to Ricky's phone number.
Overall, this was an entertaining story and the twist/ending wasn't bad. I just couldn't help but feel saddened by Ricky's situation and his missed opportunity to really bond with his new friend, Iris!
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Part of a personal challenge to read all of my boyfriend's and his sister's childhood books before we donate and give them away.
Well, 20+ years later, I finally mustered the courage to give one of these books a shot.
This was a rather strange novel with severe bullying - Ricky is constantly teased and tormented at school (and the teachers don't seem to care at all). When his bullies got him fired from the school newspaper, he decides to enact revenge against the editor of the school newspaper who fired him. (instead of the bullies...) His strange idea for revenge was to sneak a message into the school newspaper, calling all creeps to call the editor. But his plan backfired - the editor caught the message and changed it to Ricky's phone number.
Overall, this was an entertaining story and the twist/ending wasn't bad. I just couldn't help but feel saddened by Ricky's situation and his missed opportunity to really bond with his new friend, Iris!
----------------------------------------------
Part of a personal challenge to read all of my boyfriend's and his sister's childhood books before we donate and give them away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
odinblindeye's review against another edition
3.0
Goosebumps. This is the series that kept me reading through my childhood. More than any other series, Goosebumps kept me interested in reading, and R.L. Stein is a wonderful children's writer. I applaud his efforts, and can't express enough my gratitude for the series.
devianjanny's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0