November Book Recommendation
The Goosebumps Stories by R.L. Stine
Halloween may have been and gone, but maybe there’s a few out there who are still feeling in the spooky spirit. If that’s the case, or you’re just a big fan of being terrified then you’re in for a treat with this month’s recommendation. Goosebumps is a series of horror novels that have been running for over thirty years. Ever since he published the first entry and my recommendation, Welcome To Dead House back in 1992, author R.L. Stine has been giving young readers sleepless nights. You may not have heard of him, but ask your adults, they certainly will have.
R.L. Stine is often referred to as ‘Stephen King for kids’, due to his blend of horror with humour, making spooky stories approachable for kids. They’re fast-paced, engaging stories that are easy to get lost in, with clear language and short chapters that encourage readers to keep turning pages. Each book is packed with suspense, twists, and cliffhangers, making it hard to stop reading once you’ve started. There’s no long build-up or overly complex plots to wade through—just immediate, gripping storytelling that grabs your attention. It’s just straight into the scary stuff and no fussing about.
Whether it’s dealing with friendship troubles, family dynamics, or school pressures, there’s always a layer of realism underneath the horror. His characters always have their own relatable problems, making it all the better when bad things happen to them.
Welcome To Dead House
In Welcome To Dead House, already feeling lonely having moved away from their friends to somewhere new, Amanda and Josh think the old house they have come to live in is weird. Spooky. Possibly haunted. And the town of Dark Falls is pretty strange, too. — But their parents don’t believe them. You’ll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends. So Amanda and Josh do. But these creepy new friends are not exactly what their parents had in mind. Because they want to be friends… Forever.
The Series
With plenty of variety across his books—from haunted houses to creepy creatures—there’s always something new to discover in the Goosebumps series. Anyone looking for a quick, entertaining read will find Stine’s books offer the perfect mix of thrills and accessibility.
With over sixty titles, while they may be old, they’re still terrific. And they can be read in any order you want as well, so dip in and out as you please! You’ll find collections readily available as too. So go on and give yourself goosebumps. And whatever you do, don’t look behind you.
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Dan Grabowski is an Amazon best-selling author and has taught in the classroom at primary level previously.
