The Bugman Lives

Ghosts of Fear Street #10

by R.L. Stine (Series Author)

Here lies the Bugman. Woe to anyone who wakes him. Janet didn't mean to disturb the Bugman. It was an accident. She was just mowing the lawn when she ran over his tombstone.

Now insects attack her everywhere she goes. Wasps, bees, ants. Even a huge, hairy tarantula. Janet is afraid the Bugman is back from the grave -- and out for revenge.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Supernatural, Horror Thriller

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

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

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 3 out of 5]

R. L. Stine has a very creative and warped mind to come up with this stuff.

[Alejandro Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! I’m glad to say this was a great book that had an actual shocking twist in it—hidden in plain sight, too. To kick off positives, said twist was quite shocking indeed and made complete sense in retrospective—and no, it’s not “Who is the Bugman?” It’s something different that is uniquely not advertised, unlike how whodunnit stories and things like it have a clear reveal. That was unique and not even a trope twist, and it was great. Glaze sesh’ over… there’s some disturbing scenes in here that will gross/creep you the fuck out, some involving bugs and some involving the Bugman himself. The pacing is consistent and the semi-smaller page count works with it. The characters are relatively good and the writing is solid—thankfully unlike the book before this, Revenge of the Shadow People lol. There’s solid moments like the standoff towards the end with said huge twist, and the reveal of who the Bugman is (an obvious reveal but that’s not an issue). Oh, almost forgot—this book has a PROLOGUE? And it’s not just called a chapter number, no, it’s a literal prologue with huge implications. There’s a negative that comes with it, but I liked the second half of the prologue with its bittersweet ending and goof-la-boof sendoff. Yeah, I said goof-la-boof. Crucify me. Now for the negatives… Carl and the first half of the prologue. But mostly Carl. Our good friend Carl is an annoying sack of shit who adds nothing to the book besides plot exposition. He’s just one of those, ya know? And the first half of the prologue put me through five stages of grief with (almost) one of the worst tropes I’ve ever seen in media—and then saying, “nah just fucking—this ain’t one of those stories!” Saved by the bell ahh ending… but yeah, had a panic attack reading that. Fuck that page and a half. Overall, 9/10. Shockingly good. Read this bro.

[Weathervane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bugman lives.

He lives indeed.

[Maria Lago · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lo compré por el título, pero es bastante flojete. Pena.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice short read down memory lane. The BugMan Lives is the first Ghosts of Fear Street book I’ve read since I was a kid. Nothing particular blew me away with it, but it still had some entertaining scenes.

If you don’t like bugs this may not be a pleasant read!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never read this one as a kid.

I have a super weak stomach, so I’m rating this low for the simple fact that it just absolutely grossed me out.

[Amethyst · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice short read!

[Angie Titus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dated and very weird. I didn't like the ending, but the story was okay.

[Nerd Does stuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really weird and surprisingly short

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know what age these are written for (I definitely understand they are kids' books), but the writing was not of a caliber that I would have chosen at the age I was reading these types of chapter books.

The book was definitely spooky and I would not recommend for a child that is easily frightened - I wouldn't want my son reading them.

I have to say the ending was a surprise, but that's all I have to say that is good about this book.

I know I am going to end up on a bunch of children's hate lists for this review... but I don't understand the popularity of R.L. Stine.

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I keep doing this to myself? This is one I remembered from my childhood for the colorful and exciting book cover, but not for the book inside. Reading through, it's as breezy and inconsequential as usual, but the central mad-scientist is a Cronenberg knockoff who, one pleasantly gruesome transformation sequence aside, fails to live up to the hype of the front cover.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are going into any of the Ghosts of Fear Street books expecting a nice scare, you're reading the wrong books. They are still a fun read though.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

big fan of r.l. stine since i was little.this one okay though.

[Sam C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me crave green juice.