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Goosebumps HorrorLand #1
Revenge of the Living Dummy
It's a whole new ride from master of horror and bestselling author R.L. Stine--with a story so fiendish that it can't be contained to just one book!
Fright-master R.L. Stine invites you on an all-new, all-terrifying adventure!Britney Crosby thinks her cousin Ethan is pretty weird--and she happens to be right. Ethan won't stop tormenting Britney with an old ventriloquist's dummy. And the puppet has plans for Britney, too! Next, someone will be offered a vacation at a popular "scream park." An entire week for free? You'd have to be a real dummy to refuse that! But some guests aren't allowed to escape HorrorLand after just six days and seven frights...
Fright-master R.L. Stine invites you on an all-new, all-terrifying adventure!Britney Crosby thinks her cousin Ethan is pretty weird--and she happens to be right. Ethan won't stop tormenting Britney with an old ventriloquist's dummy. And the puppet has plans for Britney, too! Next, someone will be offered a vacation at a popular "scream park." An entire week for free? You'd have to be a real dummy to refuse that! But some guests aren't allowed to escape HorrorLand after just six days and seven frights...
162 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
263 people are currently reading
3580 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 407 reviews
August 7, 2019
Twelve-year-old Britney has a cousin called Ethan who is going to stay with Britney's family for a few weeks. Britney isn't looking forward to Ethan's visit at all, she never liked him, he is very naughty and weird. When Ethan arrives he has a strange looking ventriloquist dummy with him. Ethan is very good at making the dummy talk, Britney can never even see Ethan's lips moving. It seems that Ethan's dummy (named Mr. Badboy, a.k.a. Slappy) is alive, evil, and really doesn't like Britney at all.
This was a really entertaining and easy to read kids book. It was funny at times but it also had some chilling moments. The characters were interesting. At the end of the book there was also a short story ("Enter Horrorland") with Britney receiving an invitation to bring her family and friend Molly to the scary Horrorland Theme Park. (And what a crazy and creepy park it was! )
This was a fast and fun read for children that adults can also enjoy!
This was a really entertaining and easy to read kids book. It was funny at times but it also had some chilling moments. The characters were interesting. At the end of the book there was also a short story ("Enter Horrorland") with Britney receiving an invitation to bring her family and friend Molly to the scary Horrorland Theme Park. (And what a crazy and creepy park it was! )
This was a fast and fun read for children that adults can also enjoy!
December 18, 2022
I read all 25 Goosebumps HorrorLand and Hall of Horrors books in one movie-length vlog on YouTube, check it out: https://youtu.be/DsKCfCAAt7g
September 17, 2023
وقتی برای اولین بار به کتابهای استاین نمره دادم، تازه وارد گودریدز شده بودم. هنوز عزت نفس کافی برای بیان علایقم رو نداشتم و به تمام کتابها یک یا دو ستاره و اگر خیلی برام خاطرهانگیز بود سه ستاره دادم.
الان حال ندارم عوضشون کنم وگرنه تکتکشونو میکردم پنج ستاره.
چون چی ارزشمندتر از چیزیه که استاین بهم داد؟ چی ارزشمندتر از اینه که صبح زود بیدار میشدم که استاین بخونم؟ و از بس عاشقشون بودم به کل دوستام میدادم بخونن؟ چی ارزشمندتر از این که هرکدوم رو پونزده بیست بار خوندم. خاطراتم اونقدر بهشون چسبیده که الان وقتی مجموعه پارک وحشت رو بازخوانی میکنم (الان که ریویو رو مینویسم رسیدم جلد چهارده) یادم میاد که به عنوان بچهی دوازده سیزده ساله چه احساساتی رو تجربه کرده بودم. احساساتی که سالها فراموش کردم. جوگیر شدم داستانی مثل این مجموعه بنویسم. شوخیهای استاین رو دزدیدم و به دوروبریهام گفتم. مثل «فردی مارتینز» دنبال تونل مخفی گشتم. به روح بودن دوستهام شک کردم. یادم میاد پشت نیمکت مدرسه عرق ریختم چون احساسِ «مت» رو داشتم زمانی که خون هیولا خورده بود. روی جدول پارک وردهایی خوندم که باعث شدن «جک» بتونه پرواز کنه. سر کلاس از معلمم پرسیدم «مارکو» قدرت جادوییش رو داره، مال من چیه؟ برای «جاناتان چیلر» غصه خوردم. بهخاطر سیاه بودن موهام مثل «ابی» وحشت کردم. و مثل شونزده بچهی بدشانس پارک ترس و لرز، پشتم لرزید.
چی ارزشمندتر از اینهاست؟
الان حال ندارم عوضشون کنم وگرنه تکتکشونو میکردم پنج ستاره.
چون چی ارزشمندتر از چیزیه که استاین بهم داد؟ چی ارزشمندتر از اینه که صبح زود بیدار میشدم که استاین بخونم؟ و از بس عاشقشون بودم به کل دوستام میدادم بخونن؟ چی ارزشمندتر از این که هرکدوم رو پونزده بیست بار خوندم. خاطراتم اونقدر بهشون چسبیده که الان وقتی مجموعه پارک وحشت رو بازخوانی میکنم (الان که ریویو رو مینویسم رسیدم جلد چهارده) یادم میاد که به عنوان بچهی دوازده سیزده ساله چه احساساتی رو تجربه کرده بودم. احساساتی که سالها فراموش کردم. جوگیر شدم داستانی مثل این مجموعه بنویسم. شوخیهای استاین رو دزدیدم و به دوروبریهام گفتم. مثل «فردی مارتینز» دنبال تونل مخفی گشتم. به روح بودن دوستهام شک کردم. یادم میاد پشت نیمکت مدرسه عرق ریختم چون احساسِ «مت» رو داشتم زمانی که خون هیولا خورده بود. روی جدول پارک وردهایی خوندم که باعث شدن «جک» بتونه پرواز کنه. سر کلاس از معلمم پرسیدم «مارکو» قدرت جادوییش رو داره، مال من چیه؟ برای «جاناتان چیلر» غصه خوردم. بهخاطر سیاه بودن موهام مثل «ابی» وحشت کردم. و مثل شونزده بچهی بدشانس پارک ترس و لرز، پشتم لرزید.
چی ارزشمندتر از اینهاست؟
October 15, 2014
Rating: 3/5
In Revenge of the Living Dummy, Britney finds herself in a very bad situation. Her pain of a cousin comes to stay with her family, and he brings along his hideous dummy Mr. Badboy. Britney is infuriated by the things Ethan, her cousin, does with his doll but soon she begins to wonder if it's not Ehtan but the doll that is evil.
Slappy is one of my favorite monsters created by R.L. Stine. I am not ashamed to admit I am terrified by any kind of dolls, so Slappy is one of personal horrors. But in this book he didn't live up to my expectations. Still it was a fun read.
After the story with Slappy comes to an end the Horrorland storyline begins. Britney receives an invitation to visit Horrorland with her best friend Molly. I really love that there is going to be a whole different story in Horrorland that will span throughout the books. I am diving straight to the next one.
In Revenge of the Living Dummy, Britney finds herself in a very bad situation. Her pain of a cousin comes to stay with her family, and he brings along his hideous dummy Mr. Badboy. Britney is infuriated by the things Ethan, her cousin, does with his doll but soon she begins to wonder if it's not Ehtan but the doll that is evil.
Slappy is one of my favorite monsters created by R.L. Stine. I am not ashamed to admit I am terrified by any kind of dolls, so Slappy is one of personal horrors. But in this book he didn't live up to my expectations. Still it was a fun read.
After the story with Slappy comes to an end the Horrorland storyline begins. Britney receives an invitation to visit Horrorland with her best friend Molly. I really love that there is going to be a whole different story in Horrorland that will span throughout the books. I am diving straight to the next one.
July 8, 2021
Book Blog | Bookstagram
Someone needs to open an actual Horrorland that's open all year. One of you do it? I would, but I have a lot on my plate at the moment.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded up for the nostalgia.
Someone needs to open an actual Horrorland that's open all year. One of you do it? I would, but I have a lot on my plate at the moment.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded up for the nostalgia.
April 26, 2017
Goosebumps on audiobook is life changing. Spooky scary voices, haunting sound effects, truly a worthwhile experience for any goosebumps fan.
March 25, 2016
I really liked this book. But i did not like the twist at the end it just did not make sense
April 1, 2017
I read this myself and I was surprised: I actually got sincerely creeped out! I'm looking forward reading through this box set .
September 9, 2025
This is the first instalment in the Goosbumps HorrorLand series.
Goosebumps made up a large part of my childhood - both the books and the TV adaptation. I was excited to see how I would find Stine's writing as an adult, and definitely not part of the target audience, as well as the newer Horrorland series. I can confirm I had so much fun and can definitely envision my younger self being delightfully terrified by the contents here!
Goosebumps made up a large part of my childhood - both the books and the TV adaptation. I was excited to see how I would find Stine's writing as an adult, and definitely not part of the target audience, as well as the newer Horrorland series. I can confirm I had so much fun and can definitely envision my younger self being delightfully terrified by the contents here!
February 20, 2023
This is my first goosebumps book and my first horror book as well. And I think it's pretty good for a beginner and children. I didn't love it but I definitely got thrilled and a little scared while reading this. So, I would recommend it.
April 23, 2019
*Read as an audio-book*
So I'm going to give the next book a shot in hopes it's more ...everything than this one.
The first and majority part of this book didn't take place in Horrorland and, while I understand the importance of setting up the plot, I felt it took a little too long.
As almost always in Goosebumps books the parents are frustrating. However, this time around it was bordering on emotional abuse. I understand that Ethan is in need of a place to stay but the only reason we're given is that his parents have gone away for awhile and don't know when they'll be back. I couldn't even figure out an undertone of why they had left. But Brittany's parents are apparently the only ones who can take him in and all they tell her is that she has to be the adult between the two of them. I would understand this except that Ethan has physically hurt both Brittany and her best friend Molly before, giving them bruises and making them bleed every time he's previously visited. I get that this is his only option but these parents owe it to their daughter to sit her down and give her an adult talk about why this has to happen and assure her they won't let any harm come to her. They owe it to their nephew to make it clear that they are there for him no matter what his parents are going through but their daughter should also be a major priority for them instead of constantly brushing off her concerns, punishing her for things that are clearly not her fault, and only ever telling her to be the adult about her interactions with her cousin. She's eleven in a standard household. Being an adult is not going to come naturally to her when she's being antagonized by someone she's had such a terrible history with.
I'm probably overthinking this however Slappy stories have always come with an undertone of being in an abusive relationship. He's almost like a child's allegory for an abusive boyfriend who takes over your life and isolates you from everyone who knows and loves you. With that constant it's hard not to see a continuation of that in how Brittany's parents constantly get onto her for every little thing and brush off her every concern to the point of being more frustrating than the dummy is frightening.
So I'm going to give the next book a shot in hopes it's more ...everything than this one.
The first and majority part of this book didn't take place in Horrorland and, while I understand the importance of setting up the plot, I felt it took a little too long.
As almost always in Goosebumps books the parents are frustrating. However, this time around it was bordering on emotional abuse. I understand that Ethan is in need of a place to stay but the only reason we're given is that his parents have gone away for awhile and don't know when they'll be back. I couldn't even figure out an undertone of why they had left. But Brittany's parents are apparently the only ones who can take him in and all they tell her is that she has to be the adult between the two of them. I would understand this except that Ethan has physically hurt both Brittany and her best friend Molly before, giving them bruises and making them bleed every time he's previously visited. I get that this is his only option but these parents owe it to their daughter to sit her down and give her an adult talk about why this has to happen and assure her they won't let any harm come to her. They owe it to their nephew to make it clear that they are there for him no matter what his parents are going through but their daughter should also be a major priority for them instead of constantly brushing off her concerns, punishing her for things that are clearly not her fault, and only ever telling her to be the adult about her interactions with her cousin. She's eleven in a standard household. Being an adult is not going to come naturally to her when she's being antagonized by someone she's had such a terrible history with.
I'm probably overthinking this however Slappy stories have always come with an undertone of being in an abusive relationship. He's almost like a child's allegory for an abusive boyfriend who takes over your life and isolates you from everyone who knows and loves you. With that constant it's hard not to see a continuation of that in how Brittany's parents constantly get onto her for every little thing and brush off her every concern to the point of being more frustrating than the dummy is frightening.
July 12, 2014
This was alot of fun! Went to the library earlier to grab the next three. :) I love how this one read just like the original books. And the HorrorLand part was awesome.
May 30, 2023
I mean this was fine. I just hate how awful the parents were as well as her cousin. It’s basically the same story as the other one I read with a little changes. I did like the horror land story though.
March 28, 2022
I listened to the audiobook. I like how the main antagonist of the book isn't slappy but rather . I had my suspicions when Ethan was playing pranks well into the book despite claiming he was terrified of the dummy and not sure what to do. It was more clear when the writing said the spell would both put him to sleep and to awaken him.
I read goosebumps as a kid, but I never read the horrorland. I was a bit confused with the horrorland on the last third or so of the book. I guess horrorland is a serial story that continues a little bit with each book?
On the downside, you should never deface photographs if your pets who passed away. WTF man?
I read goosebumps as a kid, but I never read the horrorland. I was a bit confused with the horrorland on the last third or so of the book. I guess horrorland is a serial story that continues a little bit with each book?
On the downside, you should never deface photographs if your pets who passed away. WTF man?
January 5, 2022
I think it was a very spook-tacular book! I would recommend to people who love scary books. Spoiler alert: I love when they go to horror land and their parents just dissappear and find their dad's camera which has a blurry picture of slappy! Love the twist!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2025
After an encounter with a haunted ventriloquist's dummy, a girl goes to theme park full of animatronic dummies. Not a good choice, it turns out.
Not bad. Might be scary for really small younkers.
Not bad. Might be scary for really small younkers.
June 5, 2012
PART 1: Britney Crobsy and her friend, Molly Molloy, stumble onto 2 extraordinary dolls. One can steal minds and the other is a frightening dummy that may be just a practical joke from Britney's cousin, Ethan. If it IS a pratical joke though, why does the dummy talk and hurt people?
PART 2: After solving the mystery and getting rid of the dolls, the two are invited for a FREE week-long stay at the Horrorland Theme Park ("The Scariest Place on Earth!") They endure several scary things...but they can't all be true, can they?
PART 3: Get a glimpse at the breakfast menu at Horrorland.
PART 2: After solving the mystery and getting rid of the dolls, the two are invited for a FREE week-long stay at the Horrorland Theme Park ("The Scariest Place on Earth!") They endure several scary things...but they can't all be true, can they?
PART 3: Get a glimpse at the breakfast menu at Horrorland.
March 4, 2017
4.5 stars for the audio- loved the voice, effects, music.
4 stars for the Slappy story. His horrible humor actually made me laugh our loud while listening to it. Wish that little brat Ethan got his comeuppance, lol.
3 stars for the Horror land story. i liked the story itself. but. IDK, it actually felt like too abrupt when it went from Slappy to Horrorland. By the end I understood the Slappy tie-in, but until then I was like ?? when it went from Slappy to Horrorland. felt too much like two separate books smashed together.
so all of that in mind, I think 4 stars overall is fair.
4 stars for the Slappy story. His horrible humor actually made me laugh our loud while listening to it. Wish that little brat Ethan got his comeuppance, lol.
3 stars for the Horror land story. i liked the story itself. but. IDK, it actually felt like too abrupt when it went from Slappy to Horrorland. By the end I understood the Slappy tie-in, but until then I was like ?? when it went from Slappy to Horrorland. felt too much like two separate books smashed together.
so all of that in mind, I think 4 stars overall is fair.
February 7, 2024
Galen read on February 4, 2024
How many stars? “500!”
“It was good and kind of creepy. It got kind of weird when we knew the dummy, Slappy/Mr Badboy, is actually alive. But it was actually really good!”
—————————
I read on February 7, 2024
This was pretty good. I’d have been creeped out when I was little. I remember hating Slappy.
How many stars? “500!”
“It was good and kind of creepy. It got kind of weird when we knew the dummy, Slappy/Mr Badboy, is actually alive. But it was actually really good!”
—————————
I read on February 7, 2024
This was pretty good. I’d have been creeped out when I was little. I remember hating Slappy.
January 24, 2014
so this book is a start off of the new gossebump seires i liked it!!!! this new seires is all wraped around the horror land park!!! theres tons of twist and turns so go read it!!!
February 16, 2019
A spooky, fun ride.
February 25, 2019
very scary. always made me cry:
October 22, 2023
Growing up, I loved the Goosebumps books and the television series. I couldn't find the t.v. series on cable, but our library did have VHS copies. My favourite? Horrorland. The downside? They only had the first two episodes of the Horrorland run and it ends in a brutal cliffhanger. I should really look it up online now that we have the power of the internet, but where's the fun in that?
So, lucky me, I found a Goosebumps book that will not only help me reach my goal of reading all of the Goosebumps book but it ALSO has Horrorland. Colour me surprised!
Slappy is back being a terror to kids, doing what he does best. I enjoyed this quick story but I felt like there could have been a little more terrorizing from Slappy to show how truly wild he is. Then throw in the first intro to Horrorland (two stories in one, baby!) and you've got a great read. Now it means I have to continue finding this flash fiction series to continue reading about the horrors that started my obsession with Halloween.
Overall, great horror read for a middle grader.
Four out of five stars.
So, lucky me, I found a Goosebumps book that will not only help me reach my goal of reading all of the Goosebumps book but it ALSO has Horrorland. Colour me surprised!
Slappy is back being a terror to kids, doing what he does best. I enjoyed this quick story but I felt like there could have been a little more terrorizing from Slappy to show how truly wild he is. Then throw in the first intro to Horrorland (two stories in one, baby!) and you've got a great read. Now it means I have to continue finding this flash fiction series to continue reading about the horrors that started my obsession with Halloween.
Overall, great horror read for a middle grader.
Four out of five stars.
July 6, 2023
Got the audio for this one with the $10 credit I got from audible for the beta rewards. Read it for my Goosebumps July!
This is book 1 of Goosebumps HorrorLand, which is another spinoff series. It was cool because the novel itself is a complete story featuring Slappy, but then it also included the short story ‘Enter Horrorland’ which sets up the creepy, spooky, and genuinely horrific horror park. I will admit to being confused though, because I definitely missed the cue for the short story in the audio.
Britney doesn’t like spending time with her rude, troublemaker cousin Ethan, but she’ll definitely dislike spending time with Slappy even more.
Personally a 3.5/5*, I’m always down to read more of Slappy.
This is book 1 of Goosebumps HorrorLand, which is another spinoff series. It was cool because the novel itself is a complete story featuring Slappy, but then it also included the short story ‘Enter Horrorland’ which sets up the creepy, spooky, and genuinely horrific horror park. I will admit to being confused though, because I definitely missed the cue for the short story in the audio.
Britney doesn’t like spending time with her rude, troublemaker cousin Ethan, but she’ll definitely dislike spending time with Slappy even more.
Personally a 3.5/5*, I’m always down to read more of Slappy.
Read
December 17, 2021⎧ᴿᴵᴾ⎫i was legitimately scared and wouldn't read unless my brother was in the room lol.
⎧ᴿᴵᴾ⎫also, the production quality?!? the budget was stackeddd. although, some of the music was too loud.
⎧ᴿᴵᴾ⎫i love how the parents went immediately to psychiatric care after they found her at the graveyard.
famous last words: i aM A bAd bOy
⎧ᴿᴵᴾ⎫also, the production quality?!? the budget was stackeddd. although, some of the music was too loud.
⎧ᴿᴵᴾ⎫i love how the parents went immediately to psychiatric care after they found her at the graveyard.
famous last words: i aM A bAd bOy
October 7, 2019
This was a cute, fast paced story that kept me guessing. I had never read any of the Goosebumps series so this was fun.
October 18, 2021
Reread! Childhood favorites
December 27, 2021
Didn't make sense, three different story lines that had nothing to do with eachother and didnt have any conclusions. Signature bs and annoying cast.
July 2, 2025
2.5/5
May 18, 2024
Goosebumps Horror land series is one of the best series in horror. And slappy is one of the most chilling characters which have its special place in this genre's history.
Overall, this book was a thrilling read and I really like the horror land part.
I need to read part 2 immediately, cause This is not the End
Overall, this book was a thrilling read and I really like the horror land part.
I need to read part 2 immediately, cause This is not the End
Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews