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Shark Night
From bestselling and award-winning author R. L. Stine, Shark Night is a terrifying seafaring adventure that will leave readers gasping for more.
After an accident with the original diver, Carlo finds himself alone in a giant water tank holding a camera. A twenty-foot-long hammerhead shark is about to be lowered into the tank with him …
Carlo is helping his mom film a documentary for the Danger Channel. A twelve-year-old battling a shark! It’ll be a sensation! But don’t worry, the hammerhead is the gentlest of sharks, and this one is old and nearly toothless, so he should be fine.
But Carlo is still paralyzed with fear, and as the shark is lowered into the tank he realizes something isn’t right …
They sent down the WRONG shark!
After an accident with the original diver, Carlo finds himself alone in a giant water tank holding a camera. A twenty-foot-long hammerhead shark is about to be lowered into the tank with him …
Carlo is helping his mom film a documentary for the Danger Channel. A twelve-year-old battling a shark! It’ll be a sensation! But don’t worry, the hammerhead is the gentlest of sharks, and this one is old and nearly toothless, so he should be fine.
But Carlo is still paralyzed with fear, and as the shark is lowered into the tank he realizes something isn’t right …
They sent down the WRONG shark!
1 pages, Audio CD
First published July 2, 2024
21 people are currently reading
3900 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 - 30 of 129 reviews
June 2, 2024
Child me loved R. L. Stine (it was the first author I binge read) so I am excited to see him start to write again. While this book was more of an adventure than a horror story I still found it to be a fun ride. While I didn’t find it to be particularly twisty and I saw the ending coming it was still a fun, quick read. Liam’s mother is a filmmaker determined to do a project for Shark Week. She’s ecstatic when she is approved and Liam and his little sister get to watch the filming. But nothing about this adventure goes Liam’s way and after an accident he finds himself in the tank ready to film and swim with sharks. This was a fun middle grade story that I think kids and adults who are kids at heart will truly enjoy.
March 27, 2025
Seven-year-old Nolan occasionally takes a break from YouTube and Fortnite to read with me, and this is his first book review. Over the past year we have checked out a number of RL Stine’s Goosebump books from the library and enjoyed them all. Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing gave us a review copy of “Shark Night” and Nolan accepted his job as a book critic.
A twelve-year-old boy named Liam finds himself in the middle of an action-packed adventure when he helps his mother on a documentary shoot for the Danger Channel's Shark Week. The show’s elevator pitch: a kid is put into a water tank to film a shark. Unbeknownst to the audience, the shark is an old, gentle hammerhead shark– certainly not a real threat. An early chapter ends with Liam screaming underwater, “Wrong shark! You sent down the WRONG SHARK!”
The story's pacing was incredibly fast, a non-stop roller-coaster of twists and turns. Chapters would end with cliffhangers such as “...five minutes later, something terrible happened.” Titles for sections begin foreshadowing more suspense: “How Do You Scream Underwater?”
From my point-of-view, I could see Nolan hanging on every word. Sometimes I have to gauge how his patience is going, how many chapters we can cover in a sitting, but this book held his attention pretty well.
Nolan gave the book a great review! He particularly enjoyed Liam’s relationship with his pesky sister. Rosa, who he found to be both a helpful sidekick and an occasional annoyance (no doubt drawing inspiration from his own sister). He highlighted the scene when Rosa pushed Liam into the pool and enjoyed the unexpected dangers popping up just when you thought it was safe. He also appreciated that the children often outsmart the adults in the book.
Overall, we highly recommend “Shark Night.” For us, it was a nice change-up from the Goosebumps style of horror we have been reading. That being said, we hit the library the other day and Nolan chose "Goosebumps: Hall of Horrors,” so Halloween springs eternal here.
We thank Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss for providing an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. #SharkNight
A twelve-year-old boy named Liam finds himself in the middle of an action-packed adventure when he helps his mother on a documentary shoot for the Danger Channel's Shark Week. The show’s elevator pitch: a kid is put into a water tank to film a shark. Unbeknownst to the audience, the shark is an old, gentle hammerhead shark– certainly not a real threat. An early chapter ends with Liam screaming underwater, “Wrong shark! You sent down the WRONG SHARK!”
The story's pacing was incredibly fast, a non-stop roller-coaster of twists and turns. Chapters would end with cliffhangers such as “...five minutes later, something terrible happened.” Titles for sections begin foreshadowing more suspense: “How Do You Scream Underwater?”
From my point-of-view, I could see Nolan hanging on every word. Sometimes I have to gauge how his patience is going, how many chapters we can cover in a sitting, but this book held his attention pretty well.
Nolan gave the book a great review! He particularly enjoyed Liam’s relationship with his pesky sister. Rosa, who he found to be both a helpful sidekick and an occasional annoyance (no doubt drawing inspiration from his own sister). He highlighted the scene when Rosa pushed Liam into the pool and enjoyed the unexpected dangers popping up just when you thought it was safe. He also appreciated that the children often outsmart the adults in the book.
Overall, we highly recommend “Shark Night.” For us, it was a nice change-up from the Goosebumps style of horror we have been reading. That being said, we hit the library the other day and Nolan chose "Goosebumps: Hall of Horrors,” so Halloween springs eternal here.
We thank Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss for providing an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. #SharkNight
July 26, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Shark Night is a fast, fun and engaging scary story for kids, by legendary children's author, R.L. Stine.
I listened to this audiobook, fabulously narrated by Ramon de Ocampo, and highly recommend that as a format. Told via 1st-person POV, de Ocampo truly brought MC, Liam, to life. It really felt like you were listening to Liam tell his story.
Liam's Mom is a Documentary Filmmaker who specializes in Nature Docs. Her latest assignment involves making a film for the Danger Channel for Shark Week.
She comes up with a great idea to submerge a diver into a tank, along with a big shark, to see what happens. I mean, what could go wrong?
After the original diver is injured, Liam is forced to fill in, because Stine's parental characters always make the worst decisions ever. We all know this.
On the day of filming, everything possible goes wrong and Liam founds himself swept out to sea, forced to fight for his life. Will he be able to figure out a way out of this?
This was a lot of fun. It gets wild. I was completely entertained. I laughed out loud, cringed, yelled at some of the characters and couldn't believe how quickly it read.
This does feature a classic Stine ending, and another frequent feature of Stine books, a bratty younger sibling.
While, personally, I wish that the ending could have gone in a different direction, I still do appreciate the story as a whole. It works. Kids will love this.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. I love to keep up with Stine's latest releases and this one delivered!
Shark Night is a fast, fun and engaging scary story for kids, by legendary children's author, R.L. Stine.
I listened to this audiobook, fabulously narrated by Ramon de Ocampo, and highly recommend that as a format. Told via 1st-person POV, de Ocampo truly brought MC, Liam, to life. It really felt like you were listening to Liam tell his story.
Liam's Mom is a Documentary Filmmaker who specializes in Nature Docs. Her latest assignment involves making a film for the Danger Channel for Shark Week.
She comes up with a great idea to submerge a diver into a tank, along with a big shark, to see what happens. I mean, what could go wrong?
After the original diver is injured, Liam is forced to fill in, because Stine's parental characters always make the worst decisions ever. We all know this.
On the day of filming, everything possible goes wrong and Liam founds himself swept out to sea, forced to fight for his life. Will he be able to figure out a way out of this?
This was a lot of fun. It gets wild. I was completely entertained. I laughed out loud, cringed, yelled at some of the characters and couldn't believe how quickly it read.
This does feature a classic Stine ending, and another frequent feature of Stine books, a bratty younger sibling.
While, personally, I wish that the ending could have gone in a different direction, I still do appreciate the story as a whole. It works. Kids will love this.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. I love to keep up with Stine's latest releases and this one delivered!
July 15, 2024
"You don’t make any sense, she shot back. You were in the water too long. Your brain is soggy."
Sharks are creatures that a lot of humans are afraid of. Me being one of those humans. I saw ‘Jaws’ at a young age and I never wanted to step back into the water. There’s something about being ripped apart by something that lurks in the deep that just freaks me out. Ummm… No, thanks!
Stine does it again with another fun and freaky story. This time he makes us come face to face with a real fear. I was on edge the entire time and it made me enjoy this a lot more.
Liam is a lot braver than I because I would never get into the water with a shark. Well, you know what I mean. Yes, I’ve been in the ocean but I’ve never had a shark dropped into a tank I was swimming in. I’m not a loon.
Shark Night was a lot of fun. It brought me face to face with sharks and I lived to tell the tale. I just love a good Stine story. Who am I kidding? I love all of his books.
Sharks are creatures that a lot of humans are afraid of. Me being one of those humans. I saw ‘Jaws’ at a young age and I never wanted to step back into the water. There’s something about being ripped apart by something that lurks in the deep that just freaks me out. Ummm… No, thanks!
Stine does it again with another fun and freaky story. This time he makes us come face to face with a real fear. I was on edge the entire time and it made me enjoy this a lot more.
Liam is a lot braver than I because I would never get into the water with a shark. Well, you know what I mean. Yes, I’ve been in the ocean but I’ve never had a shark dropped into a tank I was swimming in. I’m not a loon.
Shark Night was a lot of fun. It brought me face to face with sharks and I lived to tell the tale. I just love a good Stine story. Who am I kidding? I love all of his books.
November 10, 2024
R. L. Stine was a gateway to reading when I was younger, so Shark Night was a fun read and a nice trip down memory lane.
August 18, 2024
This was fun. Didn’t quite give me the nostalgiac goosebumps vibes I was going for, but my kid (11) adored it, and she’s really the audience for it. (Side note: she hated the somewhat ambiguous ending. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree there.)
This is about a kid whose mom is a TV writer? I think? Desperate for work. So she proposes something called Shark Night, to the Danger Channel, where they throw a kid, sans cage, in a pool with a hammerhead shark.
It is somehow her own son who winds up being the unlucky kid doing this show. Cue the chaos.
Despite the name, there weren’t enough sharks in it for me. I kinda caught on as to what was going on about halfway through, which is fine. It felt chaotic and lacking in direction in places. Not really that scary ever.
But overall a fun night time read.
This is about a kid whose mom is a TV writer? I think? Desperate for work. So she proposes something called Shark Night, to the Danger Channel, where they throw a kid, sans cage, in a pool with a hammerhead shark.
It is somehow her own son who winds up being the unlucky kid doing this show. Cue the chaos.
Despite the name, there weren’t enough sharks in it for me. I kinda caught on as to what was going on about halfway through, which is fine. It felt chaotic and lacking in direction in places. Not really that scary ever.
But overall a fun night time read.
July 29, 2024
ʀʟ sᴛɪɴᴇ ɪs sᴏ sᴜᴄᴄᴇssғᴜʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟᴇss ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʜɪs sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴜsᴘᴇɴᴅ ᴅɪsʙᴇʟɪᴇғ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ᴛʜɪs ғᴇᴇʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ғᴏʀᴍ ᴠᴇʀsɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ʜɪs ɢᴏᴏsᴇʙᴜᴍᴘ sᴇʀɪᴇs. ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛʟʏ, ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴏғ ʜɪs ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs ᴅᴏ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ! ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ ʙʏ ʀᴀᴍᴏɴ ᴡᴀs sᴛᴇʟʟᴀʀ! ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴊᴏʙ ᴏғ ᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴍɪᴄᴀʟ. ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴇɴᴄᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ sɪʟʟʏ ғᴏʀ ʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏғ ᴀ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴇʀᴍ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɢᴇ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ ᴀs ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛ 🙃 ʜɪs ᴄᴀᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴀʙʟᴇ - ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴏʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ! ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ ғᴜɴ sᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇᴇɴ ᴏʀ ᴀ ɴᴏsᴛᴀʟɢɪᴄ ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛ 😎
📖 ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @BlackstonePublishing ᴀɴᴅ @Netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ 📖
📖 ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @BlackstonePublishing ᴀɴᴅ @Netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ 📖
July 4, 2024
This was quite a good book I must say! It started out a bit juvenile but eventually had me squirming in my seat a little. The illustrations are horrible but the story had so many twists and turns, I genuinely had no idea where it was headed. R.L. Stine always keeps me guessing…
July 7, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this one! The audio by Ramón de Ocampo was pretty solid!
The premise for this is that Liam’s mother is a screenwriter for tv. Her big idea gets picked up for the latest Shark Night on the Danger Channel and her big promise is that Liam will NOT have to be the kid inside the tank. Naturally, we know that’s not going to be true.
As usual, this has all the silliness, the cliffhanger endings, and all the possible scares it could…just like the Goosebumps books. I’m just always curious as to why these separate releases aren’t just GB. He has a very signature style anyway. I wonder if it’s a Stine or a publisher thing.
This was enjoyable and silly and quick, exactly what I’d want and expect from a Stine read. The only snag for me was the fact that it’s literally called Shark Night (both the book and the channel’s special) and yet the shark has the most limited page time? Especially when other ‘things’ have more.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-shark-...
The premise for this is that Liam’s mother is a screenwriter for tv. Her big idea gets picked up for the latest Shark Night on the Danger Channel and her big promise is that Liam will NOT have to be the kid inside the tank. Naturally, we know that’s not going to be true.
As usual, this has all the silliness, the cliffhanger endings, and all the possible scares it could…just like the Goosebumps books. I’m just always curious as to why these separate releases aren’t just GB. He has a very signature style anyway. I wonder if it’s a Stine or a publisher thing.
This was enjoyable and silly and quick, exactly what I’d want and expect from a Stine read. The only snag for me was the fact that it’s literally called Shark Night (both the book and the channel’s special) and yet the shark has the most limited page time? Especially when other ‘things’ have more.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-shark-...
July 11, 2024
This one went in a completely different direction from where I thought it was going but I'm fine with that as I thought for sure we were going to spend the entire book building up to one event which is shown to us in the beginning but fortunately we got to that point quite quickly. From there going forward this went to some random, fun places and definitely veered into being an adventure based horror story. Also how awesome is the cover? (3.5 rounded down).
July 18, 2024
This one is such a letdown for me. Slime Doesn't Pay, while not great, is the superior title from Blackstone Publishing in my opinion.
Shark Night just felt like a bunch of random scenes thrown together with terrible illustrations to fill page space, juvenile writing (moreso than usual for Stine) - and a predictable twist ending. This just wasn't very good.
Shark Night just felt like a bunch of random scenes thrown together with terrible illustrations to fill page space, juvenile writing (moreso than usual for Stine) - and a predictable twist ending. This just wasn't very good.
June 21, 2024
I’ve read a lot of R.L. Stine’s middle grade books and generally have a fun time, so of course when I saw there was a new release set for July 2024 I just had to get my hands on it! Stine’s audiobooks are always of good production quality and have talented narrators, this one is no exception. And even the stories that aren’t my favorite are typically a fun listen. The main characters in this book were enjoyable to hang with and I think kids with siblings will likely find their relationship relatable. There is also a TON of action in this one! The story itself though was not a favorite, unfortunately. It was pretty all over the place and doesn’t make much sense until the very end, which I didn’t care for much. The book was SO fast paced, which I typically enjoy, but in this instance I would have enjoyed the story better had it been slowed down a bit. The listener is never given a moment to take a breath and sit with the characters, it’s constantly one insane thing after the next. By the last quarter of the book it just felt like too much to me. I suppose that pace will work well for some people but it’s not my personal preference. Again, I still had a pretty fun time listening though. Stine books are always easy reads for me and great for when I want something quick and silly. This particular one is also great for summer, lots of beachy vacation vibes! I think many kids & adults will have a fun time with this one overall, it’s a wild time! Just don’t take it too seriously or expect good parenting.
Thanks SO much to Blackstone Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for access to an ALC. Much appreciated!!!
Thanks SO much to Blackstone Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for access to an ALC. Much appreciated!!!
July 4, 2024
I haven’t read YA in forever but with a reading slump coming on, and an R. L. Stine book coming across my NetGalley dashboard - it felt meant to be. Growing up, Goosebumps (especially choose-your-own-adventure) were my absolute FAVORITE. I was just thinking the other day that I would love to revisit some of them as an adult. It’s crazy but I can still picture a lot of the specific covers from my favorites and snippets of titles and stories.
Shark Night was a super fun break to my usual reading and even featured SHARKS which I am a huge fan of. When 12-year-old Liam agrees to help his mom with a nature documentary, he is assured he will be in a tank with an elderly, harmless hammerhead shark. Unfortunately for him, that is NOT the shark that ends up in the tank with him.
While this one gets a bit ridiculous, I could absolutely see myself as a kid enjoying this one. This was such a fun break from my usual reading that I may seek out more Stine books or similar to try out!
**Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC of this toothy title!**
Shark Night was a super fun break to my usual reading and even featured SHARKS which I am a huge fan of. When 12-year-old Liam agrees to help his mom with a nature documentary, he is assured he will be in a tank with an elderly, harmless hammerhead shark. Unfortunately for him, that is NOT the shark that ends up in the tank with him.
While this one gets a bit ridiculous, I could absolutely see myself as a kid enjoying this one. This was such a fun break from my usual reading that I may seek out more Stine books or similar to try out!
**Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC of this toothy title!**
June 18, 2024
It's a classic R.L. Stine! It's fun, thrilling with just a little bit of silliness. Really great middle grade for those who want a fun shark story with some bonus thrills. Quick and easy to read, you can't help but to love Stine's books!
The narrator was great. There was a lot of energy in the performance which made it really fun to listen to.
Thank you so much Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
The narrator was great. There was a lot of energy in the performance which made it really fun to listen to.
Thank you so much Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
August 22, 2024
The perfect summer goosebumps book. A must-read if you're headed to the beach. This had a few unexpected twists. Kept me intrigued. Tense and fast-paced. And even better: A whole lotta shark.
June 26, 2024
Advance Reader Copy
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this!
“Shark Night” reads just like many of the other R.L. Stine stand-alone novels, fully fleshing out a story, while staying highly entertaining. It’s no wonder that he has stayed relevant within children’s literature, and “Shark Night” shows just why.
To say this is a whirlwind of a story is an understatement. It starts off strong, and literally never lets up; chapter after chapter, this novel brings more and more action and adventure. With that, there are sections of the book that can feel a bit confusing, especially as you make your way to the middle of the book. For those who may not be fully paying attention to what they’re reading may end up being a bit confused if they’re not paying close enough attention.
With that in mind, this was still a very, very fun and entertaining read. I had such a good time getting to go back into one of Stine’s worlds, which makes me miss reading some of his classic novels like “Beach House” or “The Babysitter”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this!
“Shark Night” reads just like many of the other R.L. Stine stand-alone novels, fully fleshing out a story, while staying highly entertaining. It’s no wonder that he has stayed relevant within children’s literature, and “Shark Night” shows just why.
To say this is a whirlwind of a story is an understatement. It starts off strong, and literally never lets up; chapter after chapter, this novel brings more and more action and adventure. With that, there are sections of the book that can feel a bit confusing, especially as you make your way to the middle of the book. For those who may not be fully paying attention to what they’re reading may end up being a bit confused if they’re not paying close enough attention.
With that in mind, this was still a very, very fun and entertaining read. I had such a good time getting to go back into one of Stine’s worlds, which makes me miss reading some of his classic novels like “Beach House” or “The Babysitter”.
July 20, 2024
I love R.L. Stine and his stories with a depth that reaches far into the origins of my childhood.
To be able to read his newest publication brought me a lot of joy and a good amount of healthy nostalgia as I was transported to a simplistic horror story designed to unsettle yet not quite terrify. Great for kids getting in to the horror genre.
Perhaps everyone can relate to being scared of sharks at some point in their lives - they are scary creatures.
Of course popular media like Jaws or The Meg exacerbate these fears into hysteria, creating the level of fear we know of today.
In reality, sharks are wonderful and necessary animals whose presence is required to promote a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
I love a good shark story, but I will always remember the logic over the fear.
***Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Netgalley and to R.L. Stine for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.
To be able to read his newest publication brought me a lot of joy and a good amount of healthy nostalgia as I was transported to a simplistic horror story designed to unsettle yet not quite terrify. Great for kids getting in to the horror genre.
Perhaps everyone can relate to being scared of sharks at some point in their lives - they are scary creatures.
Of course popular media like Jaws or The Meg exacerbate these fears into hysteria, creating the level of fear we know of today.
In reality, sharks are wonderful and necessary animals whose presence is required to promote a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
I love a good shark story, but I will always remember the logic over the fear.
***Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Netgalley and to R.L. Stine for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of Shark Night by R.L. Stine.
I read book by R.L. Stine in the good old days. It was fun to revisit the author and to have my kids listen to the book. The narrator did a great job at all of the different voices. We had a great time listening to the adventure.
It is not a spooky book, just a little heart pounding shark terror. We laughed, enjoyed the thrill of the shark swim and went on a great adventure. We got so mad at Liam's sister. she volunteers him for everything. She is so mean.
Thanks for the enjoyable ride!
I read book by R.L. Stine in the good old days. It was fun to revisit the author and to have my kids listen to the book. The narrator did a great job at all of the different voices. We had a great time listening to the adventure.
It is not a spooky book, just a little heart pounding shark terror. We laughed, enjoyed the thrill of the shark swim and went on a great adventure. We got so mad at Liam's sister. she volunteers him for everything. She is so mean.
Thanks for the enjoyable ride!
July 2, 2024
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
The narrator was a perfect fit for this story! He’s engaging and easy to listen to, especially for younger readers. I was so excited to get an early listen for an RL Stine book and it brought me right back to childhood. The twists were plentiful and even as an adult I found myself trying to solve the mystery! If you have a younger reader or still love Stine’s work like myself, I’d definitely recommend reading this book!
The narrator was a perfect fit for this story! He’s engaging and easy to listen to, especially for younger readers. I was so excited to get an early listen for an RL Stine book and it brought me right back to childhood. The twists were plentiful and even as an adult I found myself trying to solve the mystery! If you have a younger reader or still love Stine’s work like myself, I’d definitely recommend reading this book!
December 19, 2024
Like everyone else, I read the Goosebumps books in middle school. The Fear Street Cheerleaders series was my personal favorite. With that said, I think this is a fun read for anyone who is currently in middle school or anyone who has a nostalgic attachment to R. L. Stine, however, I don’t think this is on the same level as many of the Goosebump books. This book leads more on the adventure side than the horror side. The audio narration helped bring Liam to life, and I think that is the best way to consume this book. Also, the ending was extremely Stine-esque.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
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June 23, 2025Every adult in this book is a psychopath. The plot was ridiculous. However, my 10 yr old and I had a great time reading this.
July 13, 2025
Why wasn't he angry?
I have to admit to only finishing this book because
1. It's short
2. I wanted to talk about why I hated it.
R.L.Stine doesn't always write brilliant books but you are usually safe presuming you'll at least enjoy his middle-grade horror. I can't say that Shark Night fits this 'rule'. It has, in equal parts, a poor story and frustrating characters. Carlo, the protagonist, is very, very dumb. He's excruciatingly dumb. Not because his character is supposed to be genuinely stupid, but because the 'reveal' is so obvious and the stakes are so low, that the story needs him to be completely useless and incapable of figuring anything out to progress. I would not have finished Shark Night had I been the target audience. I would have been bored and too annoyed with the characters (Carlo's sister is also quite irritating).
Also, there's f-all sharks. Most of the story is about sneaking around a hotel.
I have to admit to only finishing this book because
1. It's short
2. I wanted to talk about why I hated it.
R.L.Stine doesn't always write brilliant books but you are usually safe presuming you'll at least enjoy his middle-grade horror. I can't say that Shark Night fits this 'rule'. It has, in equal parts, a poor story and frustrating characters. Carlo, the protagonist, is very, very dumb. He's excruciatingly dumb. Not because his character is supposed to be genuinely stupid, but because the 'reveal' is so obvious and the stakes are so low, that the story needs him to be completely useless and incapable of figuring anything out to progress. I would not have finished Shark Night had I been the target audience. I would have been bored and too annoyed with the characters (Carlo's sister is also quite irritating).
Also, there's f-all sharks. Most of the story is about sneaking around a hotel.
July 16, 2024
💫[instagram]💫[storygraph]💫[YouTube]💫[Supernova Blog]💫
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💬: -
📖Genres: middle grade, horror, humor
📚Page Count: 225
🎧Audiobook Length: 03h 09min
👩🏾🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5
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Shark Night by R. L. Stine is a story about Carlo, who's mom is a t.v show producer. Carlo's mom comes up with this wild t.v show idea to have a kid in a large water tank film a shark that they release. At first Carlo thinks he won't have to be the one in the tank, but he's wrong. Trying to calm his nerves, he grips his camera and then realizes that the producers didn't lower down the harmless and toothless hammerhead shark like they promised, they released a more deadly shark! Now Carlo is terrified, will he survive?
This was okay, it reminded me of some of the Goosebumps books I read when I was a kid. I think I enjoyed the Goosebumps series better but this was still okay. There are a lot of wacky characters and situations that Carlo gets into so I think any middle grader reading this will be entertained.
The audio book narration was great, Ramon de Ocampo did a really good job narrator all the characters. They also helped keep the story interesting.
This book was okay. I'm giving this 3 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5 Stars
Thank you [NetGalley.com], R.L. Stine (the author), and Blackstone Publishing (publisher) for the arc (advanced reader's copy) of the audiobook.
---
💬: -
📖Genres: middle grade, horror, humor
📚Page Count: 225
🎧Audiobook Length: 03h 09min
👩🏾🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5
----
Shark Night by R. L. Stine is a story about Carlo, who's mom is a t.v show producer. Carlo's mom comes up with this wild t.v show idea to have a kid in a large water tank film a shark that they release. At first Carlo thinks he won't have to be the one in the tank, but he's wrong. Trying to calm his nerves, he grips his camera and then realizes that the producers didn't lower down the harmless and toothless hammerhead shark like they promised, they released a more deadly shark! Now Carlo is terrified, will he survive?
This was okay, it reminded me of some of the Goosebumps books I read when I was a kid. I think I enjoyed the Goosebumps series better but this was still okay. There are a lot of wacky characters and situations that Carlo gets into so I think any middle grader reading this will be entertained.
The audio book narration was great, Ramon de Ocampo did a really good job narrator all the characters. They also helped keep the story interesting.
This book was okay. I'm giving this 3 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5 Stars
Thank you [NetGalley.com], R.L. Stine (the author), and Blackstone Publishing (publisher) for the arc (advanced reader's copy) of the audiobook.
June 1, 2024
This is cute and fun but not Stine’s best work. This and a lot of his recent stuff is more of a kids adventure novel than kids horror, and I wish he would get back to what he does best because he’s so uniquely good at it.
Still, it’s a fun and clever story and while I didn’t love the goofy reality tv part of the plot, it’s a solidly plotted adventure.
The end is really, really predictable (another thing Stine usually does a far better job at), but I loved the kids’ misadventures at the hotel, and my kids still enjoyed the story even if it wasn’t their favorite of his work either.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Still, it’s a fun and clever story and while I didn’t love the goofy reality tv part of the plot, it’s a solidly plotted adventure.
The end is really, really predictable (another thing Stine usually does a far better job at), but I loved the kids’ misadventures at the hotel, and my kids still enjoyed the story even if it wasn’t their favorite of his work either.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
July 3, 2024
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for an early audiobook of Shark Night!
The audio production SLAYS, definitely recommend reading this one on audio for a good time.
Shark Night goes off the rails; so much so, it makes this book feel a bit messy. However, everything does tie together, making it all a lot more cohesive. & I think children would absolutely love the adventure they go on. I have /some/ questions based on the plot & characters (like, what kind of mother?!), but that’s just the adult in me. In the end, this is a silly adventure written by R.L. Stine and that’s that on that.
The audio production SLAYS, definitely recommend reading this one on audio for a good time.
Shark Night goes off the rails; so much so, it makes this book feel a bit messy. However, everything does tie together, making it all a lot more cohesive. & I think children would absolutely love the adventure they go on. I have /some/ questions based on the plot & characters (like, what kind of mother?!), but that’s just the adult in me. In the end, this is a silly adventure written by R.L. Stine and that’s that on that.
May 19, 2024
R.L. Stine is known for creating novels that will give us Goosebumps, pun intended, and this is no different with his latest offering, Shark Night. His newest novel is a heart-pounding adventure with twists and turns that will surprise even the most experienced reader.
In Shark Night, twelve-year-old Carlo is thrust into helping his mom film a television show for the Danger Channel's Shark Night. However, things turn out to be even more frightening when he is lowered into the thank with the wrong shark. What unfolds is a gripping adventure that leaves you guessing with each page turn.
While the premise of Shark Night seemed simple at fist glance, but Stine weaves a complex and thrilling story that goes far beyond the boy in a shark tank synopsis read. The twists and turns that lie ahead kept us on edge and was truly engaging from start to finish.
Stine's writing style in Shark Night is reminiscent of his iconic Goosebumps series, with its fast-paced narrative and suspenseful moments that have both young and old readers wanting to read with the lights on. His knack for building suspense and delivering on unexpected twists once again shines through in this book. Its definitely a must read for young and adult readers.
As someone who grew up in the generation of devouring R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books, we found ourselves delighted by the throwback to my childhood with Shark Night. This book could've easily slide into the classic series, a true testament to the skill of Stine even all these years later. Proving why his books are beloved by people of all ages, race and gender.S
hark Night by R.L. Stine is more than a young adult book. It's a book filled with danger, excitement and unexpected surprises. Fans of Goosebumps as well as more advance novels can get something out of this latest offering from the legendary author. It was nothing groundbreaking, but surely entertaining. We were happy to dive in and survive Shark Night.
In Shark Night, twelve-year-old Carlo is thrust into helping his mom film a television show for the Danger Channel's Shark Night. However, things turn out to be even more frightening when he is lowered into the thank with the wrong shark. What unfolds is a gripping adventure that leaves you guessing with each page turn.
While the premise of Shark Night seemed simple at fist glance, but Stine weaves a complex and thrilling story that goes far beyond the boy in a shark tank synopsis read. The twists and turns that lie ahead kept us on edge and was truly engaging from start to finish.
Stine's writing style in Shark Night is reminiscent of his iconic Goosebumps series, with its fast-paced narrative and suspenseful moments that have both young and old readers wanting to read with the lights on. His knack for building suspense and delivering on unexpected twists once again shines through in this book. Its definitely a must read for young and adult readers.
As someone who grew up in the generation of devouring R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books, we found ourselves delighted by the throwback to my childhood with Shark Night. This book could've easily slide into the classic series, a true testament to the skill of Stine even all these years later. Proving why his books are beloved by people of all ages, race and gender.S
hark Night by R.L. Stine is more than a young adult book. It's a book filled with danger, excitement and unexpected surprises. Fans of Goosebumps as well as more advance novels can get something out of this latest offering from the legendary author. It was nothing groundbreaking, but surely entertaining. We were happy to dive in and survive Shark Night.
June 1, 2024
This was a fun, fast paced, twisty story. It brought me back to when I was a kid reading the original goosebumps books. The narrator did a fabulous job! He really brought Liam to life! I could really feel his fear, especially at the end!
There is so much going on in this story. A complex web of characters and events. I was impressed with how well everything came together at the end.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed R.L. Stine’s original Goosebumps books in the past! I think this book will be a hit with young readers.
There is so much going on in this story. A complex web of characters and events. I was impressed with how well everything came together at the end.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed R.L. Stine’s original Goosebumps books in the past! I think this book will be a hit with young readers.
July 11, 2024
R.L. Stine strikes again in this fintastically frightful story. Just when you think the twists have ended… they attack again. Liam’s mom has a wildly horrific pitch for a tv show where unsuspecting swimmers are met with a shark. They film their reactions and go viral. When the star of the show breaks his ankle… Liam is thrust into the limelight and into the shark tank. Things get twisty and a little chaotic after the first few moments of filming. Read on to find out how!
August 10, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks, R.L. Stine, and Ramon de Ocampo (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Shark Night in exchange for an honest review.
As a lover of horror and a fan of Goosebumps, I was excited to see something about sharks, although I don't appreciate when sharks are shed in a negative light. Still, this makes for a fun middle grade/young adult semi-horror story.
Shark Night follows Carlo, whose mom is making a documentary on sharks. He's not exactly agreeable when it comes to being the one placed in the cage for the documentary. He's only twelve after all! But a kid with a shark seems like an excellent way to get high ratings.
It's supposed to be a hammerhead, relatively docile for a shark. Instead, Carlo finds himself face-to-face with a bull shark, known for their aggressive ferocity. When Carlos cage breaks and he finds himself on an island, he wonders how things turned to such a mess.
In an adventure of facing fear and coping with unfortunate situations, this novel is quick, quirky, and fun for a middle grade audience. It offers some instances of a fourth wall break that add a little extra fun, and the character and scenarios he is placed in are both realistic and ridiculous at the same time. Another fun novel from the brilliant writer of young readers horror.
As a lover of horror and a fan of Goosebumps, I was excited to see something about sharks, although I don't appreciate when sharks are shed in a negative light. Still, this makes for a fun middle grade/young adult semi-horror story.
Shark Night follows Carlo, whose mom is making a documentary on sharks. He's not exactly agreeable when it comes to being the one placed in the cage for the documentary. He's only twelve after all! But a kid with a shark seems like an excellent way to get high ratings.
It's supposed to be a hammerhead, relatively docile for a shark. Instead, Carlo finds himself face-to-face with a bull shark, known for their aggressive ferocity. When Carlos cage breaks and he finds himself on an island, he wonders how things turned to such a mess.
In an adventure of facing fear and coping with unfortunate situations, this novel is quick, quirky, and fun for a middle grade audience. It offers some instances of a fourth wall break that add a little extra fun, and the character and scenarios he is placed in are both realistic and ridiculous at the same time. Another fun novel from the brilliant writer of young readers horror.
December 31, 2024
Netgalley ARC review
Nostalgic read for the adult and action packed thriller for a young chapter reader. I read this with my son, and I wasn’t faking it when I gasped along with him. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat and lived going back into this childhood favorite
I anticipate that in an effort to cope with the stress of reality I will be diving back into the authors and series of my childhood in the coming years. BRING ON THAT NOSTALGIA
Nostalgic read for the adult and action packed thriller for a young chapter reader. I read this with my son, and I wasn’t faking it when I gasped along with him. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat and lived going back into this childhood favorite
I anticipate that in an effort to cope with the stress of reality I will be diving back into the authors and series of my childhood in the coming years. BRING ON THAT NOSTALGIA
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