Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes

Goosebumps #34

by R.L. Stine

Trouble begins when Joe Burton's dad brings home two new lawn ornaments--ugly lawn gnomes.

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

160 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 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

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

#34 "Keep off their grass!"
Joe's dad loves his tacky lawn ornaments. He loves things like pink flamingos and animal family is made out of plaster. But when he brings home two lawn gnomes the trouble begins. Vegetables squashed in the garden, weird sounds at night and other strange things seem to be pointing to the lawn gnomes as the culprits. But they're only fake ornaments aren't they?

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

And as it goes, I continue on my journey to try to read every Goosebumps book I can get my hands on! I'll be honest though, I don't remember ever picking this one up in my reading journey as a kid. I'm sure I've seen the cover, but I don't remember the story.

My thoughts? Meh. This one was kind of lame. It's not the best book, but it is creepy and spooky. I will give it R.L. Stine that I am sure many other people will find this creepy (especially the middle grade readers, who are the market/audience this book is made for), but I just wasn't all that bothered by it. I was kind of bored, but still intrigued about what was going on. The cliffhanger had me way more interested than the actual story! Either way, still a great addition to the series, but not my favourite.

Two out of five stars.

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, based on this book and the previous The Horror at Camp Jellyjam, I have to conclude that Stine has lost his mind.

Joe is 12 - a goofball, prankster, and general brat. His sister, Mindy, age 14, super-organized. Also rather a brat. Stine has a really hard time creating likable children, I've noticed. Moose is Joe's huge, very physical and energetic best friend. Moose's dad and Joe's dad are next door neighbors who are engaged in a "garden war" involving competing rather seriously as to who can grow the biggest tomatoes, etc.

Joe's dad also loves lawn decorations, and brings home two evil lawn gnomes from the garden store.

Lawn gnomes? That come alive at night? Come on. Give me a break. Their evil deeds involve smashing tomatoes, painting smiley faces on casabas, throwing white paint on a red Jeep, throwing black paint on a house... Devious. o.O

The book is just ridiculous. RIDICULOUS. After Stine's good ideas and fun previous books, it's as if he's just making up the craziest stuff possible.

They are mischief gnomes. And they trap the children in the basement of a lawn store. They are going to torture the children by tickling them, jumping on them using their bodies as trampolines, finding out if the children "bounce," etc. Finally Joe figures out that they are scared of his dog whistle and the children use it to escape.

Beyond lame. o.O

Highlights: a boy named Michael who everyone calls "Moose." I know a guy named Moose in real life, so... A giant rottweiler named Buster.

I really hope these books pick up again. The series seems to have gone off the deep end. o.O

[✦BookishlyRichie✦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The TV episode of this is WAY better than the book and that normally doesn't' get said but in this case, it is true for me. This wasn't creepy or scary at all, I remember picking this up as a kid and then putting it down. Now I remember why haha still love Goosebumps though. :)

[Matteo Fumagalli · Rating 2 out of 5]

RILETTURA, DA ADULTO, DEI PICCOLI BRIVIDI N.15
Joe è un ragazzino paffuto e piuttosto fastidioso. Sua sorella Mindy è precisina, riordina i vestiti nell'ordine cromatico dell'arcobaleno e mangia le pietanze in senso orario. Moose è il migliore amico di Joe e sembra sempre in eccesso di zuccheri.
Questo improbabile trio si ritroverà a risolvere i dispetti sopra le righe di due nani da giardino che il padre di Joe e Mindy, impegnato in un'improbabile gara di giardinaggio con condimento di faide col vicinato, orgogliosamente sfoggia in nome del cattivo gusto.

Il più trash della serie che abbia letto.
Sono convinto che anche Stine stesso lo reputi una cazzatina.
Brividi totalmente assenti in favore di uno sviluppo che gioca sull'ennesimo canovaccio ripetuto duecento volte (succede qualcosa di fastidioso ma assolutamente non pericoloso - es. i pomodori dell'orto spiaccicati - => il ragazzetto cerca di convincere i genitori che sono stati gli gnomi => i genitori non gli credono e incolpano lui e il cane di famiglia).
Le ultime pagine dedicate allo scontro sono desolanti (perché un fischietto per cani dovrebbe funzionare anche sugli gnomi?) e la chiusa è poco ispirata, non all'altezza dei colpi di scena divertenti di Stine.

[Poonam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard the audiobook for this one and it is soo much fun. This is a horror read but it is meant for young kids.
If you want to read something light with thrills I would advise to pick up any book from the Goosebumps series.
The course of the story is very predictable but as the audiobook was soo good I have given this 3 stars- it added to all the thrill ;)

[Ken · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be a weak entry into the series, feels like Stine was being lazy with this one.

Mischievous gnomes felt very similar to Slappy the Dummy.

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Goosebumps re-read full of so many of the things that make me love these books: sibling rivalry, coming-of-age, non-believer parents, dogs, and things that go bump in the night or when adults are not looking!

I have always loved gnomes and so this was a treat to revisit. I forgot how it ended and the twist of it all, so I was pleasantly surprised on those last couple of chapters! Definitely one I recommend that stands out in the series as a whole - 4 stars!

[Vimaroba · Rating 2 out of 5]

ugh i might change this to a 3 when im off my period

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, the Goosebump days. I would borrow so many of these from the library they seriously considered extending my limit of books checked out at one time. R.L. Stine you were a reprieve from a harsh and dreary childhood in which my mind wandered far away from the troubles of the day. I stole books into my bed and read far into the night by the faintest of lights. I might have better eyesight were it not for you; however, I regret not one page or line.

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 2 out of 5]

Αυτό το βιβλίο είναι η απόδειξη πως ο Stine κάπου στην πορεία των "Ανατριχίλων", βαρέθηκε τη ζωή του... Δεν μπορώ να εξηγήσω διαφορετικά για ποιο λόγο να δέχτηκε να κυκλοφορήσει το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο που είναι μακράν από τα χειρότερά του. Είπαμε, παιδική λογοτεχνία τρόμου, αλλά οι συγκεκριμένοι νάνοι που ζωντανεύουν τη νύχτα και πολτοποιούν τομάτες, δεν θα τρόμαζαν ούτε το κουνέλι μου.

[Kathryn Ford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uh yeah this is why lawn gnomes have no place in a garden.
This book wasn't particularly well written. The characters were over dramatic. It also wasn't scarey at all. I'd advise giving this one a skip.

[Sarah Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deserves more than 5 starts
Literally enjoyed
Unexpected ending and a nice one!
Perfect for every age!
Recommend highly
Happy Reading❤️🖤👍

[Mikala · Rating 3 out of 5]

TICKLE TICKLE TICKLE 😬

Reading notes along the way...

◘ Okay this one is definitely on the silly side.

◘ The two gardener dads in this read like some kind of cheesy hallmark movie cliché.

◘ This book is cheesy lol (...but i guess isn't that part of what makes Goosebumps fun?)

◘ Okay what is happening in this audiobook 🤦‍♀️ lol. Theres some weird circus tune song playing and the dad is singing??? If there were ANY creepy whatsoever present in this one they just died with THAT scene.

◘ Awwwww this scene with the "mischievous elves" omg is too cute it's making me instantly love this one now 😅 They have no choice they have to do mischief 🤣😭

◘ EXCELLENT...if you like Jim Henson, this original 90s audiobook version is REQUIRED READING....these gnomes read just like one of Jim Henson's creatures!!!! it HAS to be the 90s cassette audio though, I can't vouch of the new ones.

[Salembrocolilectora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Segundo libro de la Mansión Encantada.
Es un libro de terror para niños y yo grité varias veces! Tiene un ritmo ágil, una historia sencilla, pero muy entretenida y que me hará mirar con recelo a los gnomos de jardín.

[Zoey De Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts off strong with the estalished setting where there is this conflict with the main character's dad and their next door neighbor, Mr McCall on the gardening contest they attended that goes nowhere in the conclusion but only just to introduce the titular characters which is the gnomes and they're eerie enough, reminds me of the Night of the Living Dummy books and I like those books, so how it is done here is really great until the conclusion but that main plot is just mediocre in comparison to the sidelined plot that I really, really do wanted to go somewhere atleast for the ending bit which is the gardening contest which spawns lots of great scenes with the adult characrters which is the dad, Jeffrey and the neighbor, Bill McCall and it's very unique how their first names is mentioned lots of times throughout the story compared to the other GB books which mentions little to none (which is just Mr. and Mrs. add in surname)

Probably the best written adult characters i've seen in any GB books as they're all just there and be ignorant. while the adult characters in here aren't even good people in terms of their alignment, they're just very entertaining to follow and I am just disappointed how after the main conflict which is the titular gnomes, the adult characters primarily Mr. McCall didn't get any payoff or anything, even the gardening contest, I guess I am just expecting that throwaway background conflict alot of attention and that's how Stine himself treated that.

3.5 / 5

Not a bad book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. This was fun once the story got going but it took a bit to get there. Mostly it was the bickering siblings early on that put me off. Once the horror started I had a good time.

[M. Cadena · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books are so bad, I love them

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

One thing that has long impressed me about R.L. Stine is the variety of descriptions he gives for the characters in his stories. No two people are ever described in quite the same way in the Goosebumps books; they're tall, rail-thin and wear all pink, making them look like a flamingo, or are the only short, pudgy, dark-haired member of their family surrounded by tall, skinny blondes, or they have any of a practically endless variety of other characteristics that allow the reader to clearly and memorably envision them, having enough information to go on to form a mental picture that matches up with what the author had in mind. Few other storytellers are as consistently good at establishing this sort of character description as R.L. Stine, and that's one of my favorite elements of his writing.

Joe Burton's life isn't entirely normal―after all, his father is a gardening fanatic, and has a collection of lawn ornaments strewn about the front yard―but things take a paranormal turn for the bizarre when a couple of ugly, squat lawn gnomes are added to the rest. Joe and his dog, Buster, are already on thin ice with their neighbor, Mr. McCall, after several unwanted canine visits to Mr. McCall's pristinely kept garden, and it only gets worse as the incidents continue and begin to intensify. By turns Joe and Buster are blamed for the damage, but Joe has no explanation for who else could be causing the trouble, so he has little recourse but to endure the punishments issued to him and his dog. Imagine Joe's shock when he finds physical evidence pointing directly to a culprit who couldn't have possibly committed any acts of vandalism...his father's lawn gnomes. Who would believe that a pair of carved figures from a garden store could be smashing melons and splashing paint on cars? Does even Joe believe it's possible? Somehow, Joe is going to have to prove, both to himself and all those who think he is the guilty party, that his dad's lawn gnomes are responsible for it all. How, though, could he possibly prove such an outlandish claim?

As is the case with all Goosebumps books, I had a good time reading Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes. R.L. Stine's writing is always a lot of fun, and his stories never seem to end up where one thinks they're headed. This is a creative, fun book that I've had the pleasure of reading multiple times now, but it never gets old. There's a good chance that I would give one and a half stars to Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes.

[Storm Arashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was bored and needing some nostalgia so I wound up listening to this on audibook..... Took me back to childhood when I was sitting on my couch late at night reading these books. I loved that the narrators all had different voices and that were was even music scores. Added to it if you ask me. Not as scary as I remember it but it was still a fun experience.

[Shadyside Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was an originally going to rate this 3 stars because the story got a bit repetitive and predictable but then I got about 3/4 of the way through and the book took an unexpected turn! Such a great twist and a blast to finish reading!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book freaked me out and made scared of lawn gnomes! Loved it! ❤🤣

[Annie Bernt · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILERS!

The gnomes are iconic, and the kids are all foolish except for Mindy. If you didn’t like Mindy you just can’t handle a bad bitch with a potential autism diagnosis. I’ve never related to a character more, personally.
The gardening dads could have an enemies to lovers trope going on.
As for the gnomes, these guys are BEYOND crazy town. They wreak havoc for a couple days by demolishing the gardening dads’ produce, flinging paint on cars and houses, and ruining all our main character’s relationships with his family and best friend by pinning these acts on HIM. My man was framed by gnomes—more specifically known in this book as MISCHIEF ELVES—and STILL trusted them enough to attempt to free their 6 other buddies from some old lady’s basement??? Beyond foolish. Obviously the *mischief* elves tricked our main character into breaking into this old lady’s basement to be sacrificed by what is actually 6 *HUNDRED* other gnomes (plot twist!!!!); and their methods for torture are cruel and unusual to say the least:

“Dribble them! A dribbling contest!”
“No—bounce them against the wall. Bounce and catch!”
“No! Fold them into tiny squares! I love it when we fold humans into tiny squares!”
“Tickle them!”
“Tug of war! Tug of war!”

AND THEN THEY START CHANTING:

Tickle! Tickle! Tickle!
Dribble! Dribble! Dribble!
Fold them! Fold them! Fold them!
Tug of war! Tug of war! Tug of war!
Trampoline! Trampoline!

I’m speechless. Overall, this book is what I imagine it’s like to be in a family with 10+ siblings.

[Carmine R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gusto estetico e pollice verde

Vero che molte persone abbiano un tremendo gusto estetico, il quale si esplica con decorazioni kitsch e statue di dubbio gusto da esporre nel proprio giardino.
Ed è ovvio che tali statue godano di sguardi vuoti e sorrisi mefistofelici (chiaramente quando tutto va bene).
La storiella gioca bene sulla suggestione verso i nani da giardino e diverte con i soliti incidenti trash in cui vengono incolpati tutti e qualunque cosa (pure il cane), tranne i diretti responsabili.
Trashata di tutto rispetto, bravo Stine.

[Shruti (Hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I never read this book - even as a 10 year old I had standards and so when I saw gnomes I knew that of all the stupid things in this world, lawn gnomes(!); are not worth reading about. Go trip on your shoe for fun. Read about lamps instead.
0 out of 5 lame ornaments.

[Anne Herondale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second Goosebumps book for our book club! It was lamest than the first and didn't enjoy it as much so here's a 3-star rating

[Dayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. Sigh. LOL

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a fun read. I'm not a huge fan of revenge, so wasn't so sure about that but the whole lawn gnome thing was great and that's the big focus. I liked how people had to band together in this one too, less egging on each other are more we are in this together. That really worked for me. Fun read.

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

the titular villains actually refered to themselves as elves!