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Give Yourself Goosebumps #19
Escape from Camp Run-For-Your-Life
You are invited to choose from over 20 spooky endings. You're at sports camp, but the athletic competitions are very weird.
137 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1997
95 people are currently reading
896 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 - 29 of 33 reviews
September 12, 2016
This was my first gamebook and also introduced me to the Goosebumps series. It was very fun and got me into that spooky spirit. Can't wait to read some more of them.
June 26, 2022
R.l.Stine has written a ton of camp stories in the Goosebumps franchise and every one of them is at least worth reading .Welcome To Camp Nightmare being my favorite of the bunch and Welcome To Camp Slither or Fright Camp being my least favorite, but are still worth reading. Camping and Goosebumps go hand in hand. So when I started Escape From Camp Run For Your Life ,I didn't know what to expect .One of the best covers in the Give Yourself Goosebumps series, but that can sometimes mislead readers.Escape From Camp Run For Your Life starts with you being excited because you get to go to camp. All of your other friends have already gone to camp, so your excited to learn you will be going there instead of your grandparents farm for the summer. Your uncle Ed is taking you and on the way ends up going the wrong way. You both end up seeing an old man in front of a weird beat up old house and he gives you directions to camp. The camp your going to now is camp running leaf instead of the initial camp Pendleton .when you arrive at camp you can either go on a hike to find some bones inside Zombie Cave to get a badge ,or you can compete in some sports such as hurdling over fire pits or swimming with alligators .I personally liked the selection story line better I just wish certain aspects were explored more. There's certain beings in this book we don't learn alot about and I was actually curious about them. The zombie story line was ok very gory and pretty dark .We even get a death of a federal agent which I thought was really dark. There's even some good humor in here .One of my favorite endings is being chased off the side of a mountain from a goat .It's hilarious. Escape From Camp Run For Your Life isn't the best of the Give Yourself Goosebumps, but it's pretty good. I give it a 3.5 out of five.This is my first decimal review .haha
August 26, 2024
Now, when I went into this book, I expected it to be a little above average. I’ve been on an average streak of GYGs as of late and wanted this to break that, since I heard it was a well liked one. And holy shit was this above average. The best GYG I’ve ever read kind of above average! Jumping only into positives for once, with maybe a nitpick, this one had some gruesome moments and was above the usual scare level. There are a couple moments in the book that are disturbing, like the scene in the cave involving a skeleton, and the zombies designs (they’re on the cover, it’s not a spoiler), and even the kids being overtaken for say. The book has really creepy moments thanks to those, and the scare level is taken up a notch with the obstacle course scene and the zombie mountain storyline. Next big upside, there were no bad endings at all. This raised the score a TON. I have only seen a couple books with very few bad endings, but this one had none. To be fair, there are some that aren’t very good—but there’s some great endings in here, believe me. Another thing which is a personal preference is the tie in with Aliens. I’ll keep it vague because I really don’t want to spoil where and how that ties into the book, but it’s one of my favorite uses of them in all of Goosebumps. That’s saying something! And all in all, the storylines were both cool, the plots of each were well executed, the book was extremely entertaining, and the characters are solid. If I had anything negative to say, it’s Kim, the typical annoying side character in every GB book ever. But she isn’t too bad, but her whole character is centered around being a whiny brat, which is a bit annoying. That out of the way—I will round the book up to a 10/10. The first that I’ve given to a GYG, might I say. New GYG champion has risen. And yes, there’s a lot of running at Camp Run-For-Your-Life.
September 20, 2010
I like this book so far because it's interesting. The author was really creative when he was writing.
Read
April 4, 2011I read this a long time ago. It's one of those "go to page 12 if you want to... Or go to page 72 if you want to..." I would spend all day reading it.
March 19, 2020
I landed on page 103. I mean there were so many options, I will have to read this one again to see what else could happen to "me," but for now, I think I got eaten by an alligator.
September 24, 2018
Escape from Camp Run For Your Life
Plot: While everyone else I know is going to summer camp, where will I be spending the summer? At my Grandparents farm (YAWN). The story me (and the real me) are BORED already. (Plus, the real me isn’t all that hot on animals). That is until my parents get called away to a fossil dig in Mongolia. Leaving me to go to one of the best sports camps in the world (Pendleton) The real me doesn’t think this is much of an improvement but the story me is all excited. Our Uncle Ed decides to take us because he’s hot on sports too, but drives in the wrong direction. But we do get there and the camp is now called Camp Running Leaf (why do they insist on giving Camps Indian sounding names?) The Director whose name is Rex, seems to have a split personality. One minute he’s friendly but as soon as my Uncle leaves he switches up. He gives me two events to choose from.
HIKING WE WILL GO
Even though this is a sport’s camp nothing about the real me is into sports. Don’t play them. Don’t watch them. So hiking seems like the better choice of the two.
I meet some other kids and one of them (Samantha) starts telling us that some kids don’t come back from the woods (RED LIGHT RED LIGHT) The book me laughs it off. The real me doesn’t. The book me is determined to win the Outdoor Medal and think Sam just wants it for herself and is trying to psych us out. The real me not so sure.
Coach Krump explains how to get the medal. We have to be able to read a map, get around in the wilderness, reach Zombie Cave on Zombie Mountain and pull a bone as proof you were there. Oh and there’s this pain in the butt girl Kim that we know from school that shows up. (As long as she stays out my way don’t see a problem).
'
As an oh and by the way warning he tells us to watch out for Zombies. (and this now turns into an episode of The Walking Dead. Do we get a rifle?) We get a brief lesson from Krump on what a zombie is (as if ANYBODY in this century wouldn’t) A kid mentions the Cemetery Man (myth or fact) And like Cinderella we have to be back by midnight (and if we don’t?). If we don’t we get disqualified. We do get a survival kit.
We have to pair up. The only one left is Kim (sighing well there goes my plan).
There are two routes one leads over a mountain. The other lead’s around a river. I’ll take the river. (cause climbing a mountain, sure way to leave to my death).
Kim starts shrieking about every little thing (which ok to be fair I’d shriek at a snake my dang self). But then she sees a zombie. (But is it really a zombie). Book me thinks it’s another hiker.
There’s a boat that says PRIVATE PROPERTY, but there are rapids ahead. I decide to continue to keep walking. (I honestly just want to make it out of this story alive).
We reach the Mountain but Kim rushes up to it and disappears. Then we disappear also and fall down down down. We are now in a pit. We follow a tunnel and end up in a area that looks like a science lab and in it, there’s a cage. Full of zombies.
As we turn to leave a figure blocks our path. It’s the Cemetery Man. Turns out the Zombies are his and it’s a trap. He opens the cage. Turns out Zombies eat brains because they think it’ll make them smarter and next up on the menu is MINE!
Rating 6 Not the worse ending for a short story. I usually test a couple but I think I’ll keep this one. I just don’t want to go back and do the selection event or climb the mountain. Somehow, I knew I wasn’t gonna make it past this first Camp event. Which probably is why I’ve never been interested in going to Camp. But creatively if I had to go out I think having a cage full of Zombies make a meal of my brains I ZOMBIE style a pretty good one. I never thought about the reason they eat brains is that they think it’ll make them smarter. CLEVER! It would have been fun if the Coach would have turned out to be the Cemetery Man and been waiting in the cave to "welcome" me.
Plot: While everyone else I know is going to summer camp, where will I be spending the summer? At my Grandparents farm (YAWN). The story me (and the real me) are BORED already. (Plus, the real me isn’t all that hot on animals). That is until my parents get called away to a fossil dig in Mongolia. Leaving me to go to one of the best sports camps in the world (Pendleton) The real me doesn’t think this is much of an improvement but the story me is all excited. Our Uncle Ed decides to take us because he’s hot on sports too, but drives in the wrong direction. But we do get there and the camp is now called Camp Running Leaf (why do they insist on giving Camps Indian sounding names?) The Director whose name is Rex, seems to have a split personality. One minute he’s friendly but as soon as my Uncle leaves he switches up. He gives me two events to choose from.
HIKING WE WILL GO
Even though this is a sport’s camp nothing about the real me is into sports. Don’t play them. Don’t watch them. So hiking seems like the better choice of the two.
I meet some other kids and one of them (Samantha) starts telling us that some kids don’t come back from the woods (RED LIGHT RED LIGHT) The book me laughs it off. The real me doesn’t. The book me is determined to win the Outdoor Medal and think Sam just wants it for herself and is trying to psych us out. The real me not so sure.
Coach Krump explains how to get the medal. We have to be able to read a map, get around in the wilderness, reach Zombie Cave on Zombie Mountain and pull a bone as proof you were there. Oh and there’s this pain in the butt girl Kim that we know from school that shows up. (As long as she stays out my way don’t see a problem).
'
As an oh and by the way warning he tells us to watch out for Zombies. (and this now turns into an episode of The Walking Dead. Do we get a rifle?) We get a brief lesson from Krump on what a zombie is (as if ANYBODY in this century wouldn’t) A kid mentions the Cemetery Man (myth or fact) And like Cinderella we have to be back by midnight (and if we don’t?). If we don’t we get disqualified. We do get a survival kit.
We have to pair up. The only one left is Kim (sighing well there goes my plan).
There are two routes one leads over a mountain. The other lead’s around a river. I’ll take the river. (cause climbing a mountain, sure way to leave to my death).
Kim starts shrieking about every little thing (which ok to be fair I’d shriek at a snake my dang self). But then she sees a zombie. (But is it really a zombie). Book me thinks it’s another hiker.
There’s a boat that says PRIVATE PROPERTY, but there are rapids ahead. I decide to continue to keep walking. (I honestly just want to make it out of this story alive).
We reach the Mountain but Kim rushes up to it and disappears. Then we disappear also and fall down down down. We are now in a pit. We follow a tunnel and end up in a area that looks like a science lab and in it, there’s a cage. Full of zombies.
As we turn to leave a figure blocks our path. It’s the Cemetery Man. Turns out the Zombies are his and it’s a trap. He opens the cage. Turns out Zombies eat brains because they think it’ll make them smarter and next up on the menu is MINE!
Rating 6 Not the worse ending for a short story. I usually test a couple but I think I’ll keep this one. I just don’t want to go back and do the selection event or climb the mountain. Somehow, I knew I wasn’t gonna make it past this first Camp event. Which probably is why I’ve never been interested in going to Camp. But creatively if I had to go out I think having a cage full of Zombies make a meal of my brains I ZOMBIE style a pretty good one. I never thought about the reason they eat brains is that they think it’ll make them smarter. CLEVER! It would have been fun if the Coach would have turned out to be the Cemetery Man and been waiting in the cave to "welcome" me.
December 31, 2022
It’s Fun
My kids asked me to read Camp Run-For-Your-Life after becoming big fans of Choose your Own Adventure books. This one is ok as far as the overall story and branching choices go. I personally feel as if this one just does not hold up to the same level as the other Goosebumps Choose Your Own Scare books. I remember not liking this one as much as the others when I was a kid as well. Overall I would still recommend this for all Goosebumps and Choose Your Own Adventure fans.
My kids asked me to read Camp Run-For-Your-Life after becoming big fans of Choose your Own Adventure books. This one is ok as far as the overall story and branching choices go. I personally feel as if this one just does not hold up to the same level as the other Goosebumps Choose Your Own Scare books. I remember not liking this one as much as the others when I was a kid as well. Overall I would still recommend this for all Goosebumps and Choose Your Own Adventure fans.
June 9, 2025
Tag yourself: I'm Kim
These stories aren't necessarily about character development so much as the focus is on creating a more thorough atmosphere. What I like about these goosebumps books is that the more combinations of adventures you go through, the more world-building you get to experience.The camp that you can see unfold before you if you choose "the hike" option has everything I like in horror motif.
I also liked the meta, self-aware moments and every gruesome death finishes with an associated pun.
I just didn't care for "the Selection" storyline and horrors.
These stories aren't necessarily about character development so much as the focus is on creating a more thorough atmosphere. What I like about these goosebumps books is that the more combinations of adventures you go through, the more world-building you get to experience.The camp that you can see unfold before you if you choose "the hike" option has everything I like in horror motif.
I also liked the meta, self-aware moments and every gruesome death finishes with an associated pun.
I just didn't care for "the Selection" storyline and horrors.
September 15, 2025
YES! Loved this one. It had all the elements of a perfect Goosebumps story and then some.
Escape from Camp Run-For-Your-Life follows you as you go to a sports camp for the summer. Upon arriving, you find yourself at a different camp but no worries they just changed the name! Upon arriving you learn that their are zombies and even a cemetery man in the midst. You still embark on the journey and boy do you encounter quite the creatures along the way and the twist was done well for middle grade horror. This story had the perfect amount of spooky!
Escape from Camp Run-For-Your-Life follows you as you go to a sports camp for the summer. Upon arriving, you find yourself at a different camp but no worries they just changed the name! Upon arriving you learn that their are zombies and even a cemetery man in the midst. You still embark on the journey and boy do you encounter quite the creatures along the way and the twist was done well for middle grade horror. This story had the perfect amount of spooky!
July 7, 2018
This is a chose your adventure book, and I haven’t read one of these since I was a kid. My daughter wanted me to read it with her, so we went through a few of the stories. It was pretty fun, simple, not too much plot or anything, but good for a fun quick read for kids who like strange stories.
December 21, 2019
Ini jenis Goosebumps yang pembaca memilih sendiri jalan ceritanya. Di Escape from Camp Run-For-Your-Life ada dua plot besar yaitu menjelajah hutan dan diserang zombie atau masuk camp olahraga untuk kemudian berakhir menjadi budak alien. Seru dan mengingatkan masa kecil dulu.
January 16, 2024
i remember reading a couple endings as a kid. i don’t get why uncle ed is a good guy in one ending and a bad guy in the other, eh. was fun to get a good ending my first read around though. good way to kill an hour but it gets boring after a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2024
Aku cuman bisa memilih 5 kali sebelum tewas karena kebodohanku sendiri. Karena saking memalukannya, aku cuman bisa tertawa dan miris ingin menangis.
Perjalanan ceritanya di sini bagus karena sudah terasa cukup panjang dan lumayan memuaskan sebelum akhirnya tamat karena salah memilih.
Perjalanan ceritanya di sini bagus karena sudah terasa cukup panjang dan lumayan memuaskan sebelum akhirnya tamat karena salah memilih.
August 26, 2025
This one got me so competitive. I NEEDED to win. I really didn’t want to die, especially because I was so certain about all of the decisions I made. Eventually, I did get a happy ending, but it was so stressful to get there.
February 22, 2018
Great book. So many good endings.
September 4, 2022
So fun!!!!!! Even though I died…LOL
December 29, 2023
may I offer you a trying time in this egg?
September 2, 2024
A very short and fun little choose your own adventure book.
I got through two endings out of twenty to kick start the spooky season with something easy.
I got through two endings out of twenty to kick start the spooky season with something easy.
October 12, 2024
the only time of year i can get away with reading a goosebumps book 🎃
December 13, 2024
In my adventure I choose to let Uncle Ed molest me
January 1, 2025
Immediately died. Will take this into consideration for future hikes.
June 1, 2025
The endings were wild with this one, it was very unhinged but also entertaining.
August 16, 2025
Hehe these were the only Goosebumps books I read as a kid. Very fun to go back to and explore all the choices and endings!
May 9, 2017
i didn't really like it much sorry.
May 30, 2021
I realise this is a kid’s book, but I had it as a kid and I thought i’d give it a read as an adult to see if I still enjoy it.
I do not. The book is written as if the author is describing you. For example, page one:
“All right” you say to yourself. Ten minutes ago it looked as if you were facing another boring day at home...
I’m not a huge fan of the narrative, however it may appeal to children as it could spark their imaginations quite easily. They’re are many different endings in this book, some where you escape, some where you do not, but no matter the outcome, it probably takes around ten minutes to go from beginning to the end. Probably good to kill an hour, but not much good after that. If I was to recommend a horror book for children, I’d probably steer clear of the “Give Yourself Goosebumps” series and go for the normal Goosebumps series as that will provide them with entertainment over a longer period of time.
That being said however, how you go about writing a book like this, I’ll never know. So I have to give it to the author for carrying the story while flicking forwards and backwards through the book. Must be a nightmare to put together.
If you have a child who seems to enjoy Halloween-y stuff, this book may provide maybe an hour of entertainment, otherwise better to go with one of the classic Goosebumps books.
I do not. The book is written as if the author is describing you. For example, page one:
“All right” you say to yourself. Ten minutes ago it looked as if you were facing another boring day at home...
I’m not a huge fan of the narrative, however it may appeal to children as it could spark their imaginations quite easily. They’re are many different endings in this book, some where you escape, some where you do not, but no matter the outcome, it probably takes around ten minutes to go from beginning to the end. Probably good to kill an hour, but not much good after that. If I was to recommend a horror book for children, I’d probably steer clear of the “Give Yourself Goosebumps” series and go for the normal Goosebumps series as that will provide them with entertainment over a longer period of time.
That being said however, how you go about writing a book like this, I’ll never know. So I have to give it to the author for carrying the story while flicking forwards and backwards through the book. Must be a nightmare to put together.
If you have a child who seems to enjoy Halloween-y stuff, this book may provide maybe an hour of entertainment, otherwise better to go with one of the classic Goosebumps books.
July 29, 2009
Ah, the beauty of R.L. Stine books. In this one, you go to a summer sports camp run by aliens who are looking for the perfect human specimen to serve their brutal overmasters, while the rest of the campers will be relegated to slave labour. You can also take a nice relaxing hike in zombie infested woods, take up several regular sports which have been turned into lethal games (Javelin throw becomes Javelin catch) all while trying to escape the horror of Camp Run for Your Life.
July 24, 2024
This book was actually better than I expected. The overall atmosphere was suitably creepy and the story was just better written than some of the other GYG books. The story is about a haunted camp where everyone is acting strange. You will either end up investigating alien activity or facing down carnivorous zombies on a mountain. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 33 reviews