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!
----------------------------------------------
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 against another edition
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
stinalee's review against another edition
2.0
I never read Goosebumps books when I was younger because I thought they were "scary." As an adult who has read good young adult "scary", these are weak. The stories aren't very fleshed out, and the endings are abrupt and frustrating. I guess you can't expect much from a series that is churned out quickly.
laughinglibra84's review against another edition
5.0
This has always been my favorite Goosebumps classic story. When I saw the television episode of this, I was sold on the series.
colej67's review against another edition
4.0
I was in the mood to read books from my childhood so I ended up checking out some Goosebumps books. I don't remember reading this particular one as a kid but that series as a whole reminds me of childhood so much. Some of the writing struck me as unauthentic to how children really talk but I was really invested emotionally. The ending was the best part in my opinion. It was darkly comic in a way that I didn't expect and really appreciate.
glennas94's review against another edition
3.0
Currently rereading my original Goosebumps collection
Another strange entry in the series, Calling All Creeps! tells the story of Ricky who decides to get revenge on a girl from school by writing a prank article in the school newspaper. But, of course, it backfires and he finds himself in the midst of purple, lizard monsters. This one is funny at times and it follows the same basic structure as the rest of the series. Strongly disliked the ending. Could've been much more.
Read from December 27, 2014 - December 27, 2014
Another strange entry in the series, Calling All Creeps! tells the story of Ricky who decides to get revenge on a girl from school by writing a prank article in the school newspaper. But, of course, it backfires and he finds himself in the midst of purple, lizard monsters. This one is funny at times and it follows the same basic structure as the rest of the series. Strongly disliked the ending. Could've been much more.
Read from December 27, 2014 - December 27, 2014
feralasar's review against another edition
4.0
Tbh I wanted to read this book simply because I saw an old review on it on a website called bogleech.com, and thought the premise was so outrageous/hilarious I just had to read it.
And I wasn't disappointed as this book was hilarious, and that ending? Holy crap did that work out a big chuckle out of me. I would say more, but I can't think of anything; so this review is short.
And I wasn't disappointed as this book was hilarious, and that ending? Holy crap did that work out a big chuckle out of me. I would say more, but I can't think of anything; so this review is short.
discocrow's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of the Goosebumps that I actually remembered reading as a child. The cover was fun - it had dinosaurs on it - and I recalled the contents as being rather amusing. What I didn't recall, or perhaps even realize as a kid, was just how disturbing the book actually was. Likely without realizing it, [a: R.L. Stine|13730|R.L. Stine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1194380070p2/13730.jpg] wrote a rather good book detailing just how devastating the effects of bullying can be. In a post Columbine culture, with school shootings widely reported on, this book can raise more than a little it of unease in the older reader.
Our main character, Rick, is being mercilessly bullied by the bulk of the school. He's set up in a variety of ways, blamed for the actions of other, mocked mercilessly, and even beat up relatively often. Ricky the Rodent, Sicky Ricky, creep, jerk - the insults abound, and continue unabated even as he's trying to impress the new girl. Unsurprisingly, pushed past his limit, he decides to get revenge on Tasha - the author of many of his woes. Unfortunately, she's onto him, and thwarts his little addition to the front page of the paper... and Creeps, the dinosaurid Creatures on the cover, begin contacting him thinking he is their Commander.
This book is intensely creepy if only for the above-mentioned problems I listed before. Bullying, and the way it permanently damages a good number of people, is now part of our consciousness and Ricky's vow of vengeance is more a creepy sort of metaphor than the more light-hearted romp it is meant to be. I highly doubt kids would see it that way (I certainly didn't), but as an adult... well, the book is more unsettling than intended. At the very least it should open the conversation up between parent and kid on bullying and its effects, etc. which is nearly always a good thing.
Our main character, Rick, is being mercilessly bullied by the bulk of the school. He's set up in a variety of ways, blamed for the actions of other, mocked mercilessly, and even beat up relatively often. Ricky the Rodent, Sicky Ricky, creep, jerk - the insults abound, and continue unabated even as he's trying to impress the new girl. Unsurprisingly, pushed past his limit, he decides to get revenge on Tasha - the author of many of his woes. Unfortunately, she's onto him, and thwarts his little addition to the front page of the paper... and Creeps, the dinosaurid Creatures on the cover, begin contacting him thinking he is their Commander.
This book is intensely creepy if only for the above-mentioned problems I listed before. Bullying, and the way it permanently damages a good number of people, is now part of our consciousness and Ricky's vow of vengeance is more a creepy sort of metaphor than the more light-hearted romp it is meant to be. I highly doubt kids would see it that way (I certainly didn't), but as an adult... well, the book is more unsettling than intended. At the very least it should open the conversation up between parent and kid on bullying and its effects, etc. which is nearly always a good thing.