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Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story
Rick Scroogeman hates Christmas. He can't stand the carols and the pageants. He can't stand the lights and the mistletoe. But what he hates the most is having to watch the old movie A Christmas Carol every year at school. Since his name is Scroogeman, all of his classmates start calling him Scrooge. And he hates being called Scrooge.
But everything starts to change when three ghosts visit him. At first, he thinks it's a dream. But then he realizes that it might be a nightmare. A nightmare that could become real.
Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story is a funny, scary middle-grade send up of A Christmas Carol, about a boy who hates Christmas, from bestselling Goosebumps author R. L. Stine.
But everything starts to change when three ghosts visit him. At first, he thinks it's a dream. But then he realizes that it might be a nightmare. A nightmare that could become real.
Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story is a funny, scary middle-grade send up of A Christmas Carol, about a boy who hates Christmas, from bestselling Goosebumps author R. L. Stine.
185 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2016
22 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,680 books18.7k 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 128 reviews
December 14, 2016
Mischievously good xmas book!
LI’L HUMBUGS!!!
This is a re-imagination written by R.L. Stine (famous creator of Goosebumps) of the classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which certainly is no short of re-imaginations like the one with The Muppets or the live-action film Scrooged starring Bill Murray, and just like those, this book is a really good approach.
The classic book of A Christmas Carol isn’t only a xmas tale but also a ghost story, so it was natural that R.L. Stine would do a tribute creating his own particular interpretation, that I think it’s quite appealing to kids, but also to any adult who may want to read it.
It’s undeniable that Ebenezer Scrooge (along with The Grinch) is a timeless representation of the people without a clear understanding of what Christmas really means, and in this book, R.L. Stine gives us once again the complicated character in a depiction that I’m sure everybody will approve like a proper way.
So, Scrooge borns once again in modern age, but he’s still a kid.
MEET: RICK SCROOGEMAN
He is a young kid who is aware of the classic story by Dickens, giving an unique angle to the story.
He attends the Oliver Twist School, and his classmates’ names are crafty wordgames taken from the Dickens’ lore, so this book isn’t only a tribute to A Christmas Carol but also an eulogy to the whole Charles Dickens’ work, so either way, if you are fan of usual R.L. Stine's books or if you are fan of Charles Dickens' classic tale, even if you are just looking for a cool xmas book to read, certainly you'll be able to enjoy this a lot.
Rick Scroogeman has a problem…
…he is a bully, but he doesn’t know it.
I think that many people would think how the heck he isn’t aware that he’s a bully, but I understand the situation, maybe not with bullies, but I’m sure that everybody had to deal with cumbersome persons, that you tend to avoid as much as possible, since it seems that they always find something to complicate other people’s lives, but when you get to know them, they aren’t mean in a intentional way (of course, that doesn’t justify them), but it’s clear that they aren’t aware in a conscious plane, that what they do, makes uncomfortable those around them.
Obviously, not all bullies aren't aware of what they do to other people, in this loving world, there are many mean people, I guess that if they are aware of that they are hurting others, there is very little to do about them, so luckily, Rick Scroogeman is the kind of bullies with hope for redemption.
However, unless they got the visitations of three ghosts, maybe they won’t change, since they really don’t know that they are hurting the feelings of others. Nobody wants to be a bad person (without counting real criminal cases) so it’s normal that certain people just don’t recognize themselves as those that the rest wants to avoid most of the time.
R.L. Stine makes a bold move (just like Dickens did) using the “villain” (or more likely the antagonist) of the story as the main character in the tale.
The narrative style is quite engaging, and I’m sure that this book can be useful to many people, either if they have to deal with a bully…
…or if they are the bully.
LI’L HUMBUGS!!!
This is a re-imagination written by R.L. Stine (famous creator of Goosebumps) of the classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which certainly is no short of re-imaginations like the one with The Muppets or the live-action film Scrooged starring Bill Murray, and just like those, this book is a really good approach.
The classic book of A Christmas Carol isn’t only a xmas tale but also a ghost story, so it was natural that R.L. Stine would do a tribute creating his own particular interpretation, that I think it’s quite appealing to kids, but also to any adult who may want to read it.
It’s undeniable that Ebenezer Scrooge (along with The Grinch) is a timeless representation of the people without a clear understanding of what Christmas really means, and in this book, R.L. Stine gives us once again the complicated character in a depiction that I’m sure everybody will approve like a proper way.
So, Scrooge borns once again in modern age, but he’s still a kid.
MEET: RICK SCROOGEMAN
He is a young kid who is aware of the classic story by Dickens, giving an unique angle to the story.
He attends the Oliver Twist School, and his classmates’ names are crafty wordgames taken from the Dickens’ lore, so this book isn’t only a tribute to A Christmas Carol but also an eulogy to the whole Charles Dickens’ work, so either way, if you are fan of usual R.L. Stine's books or if you are fan of Charles Dickens' classic tale, even if you are just looking for a cool xmas book to read, certainly you'll be able to enjoy this a lot.
Rick Scroogeman has a problem…
…he is a bully, but he doesn’t know it.
I think that many people would think how the heck he isn’t aware that he’s a bully, but I understand the situation, maybe not with bullies, but I’m sure that everybody had to deal with cumbersome persons, that you tend to avoid as much as possible, since it seems that they always find something to complicate other people’s lives, but when you get to know them, they aren’t mean in a intentional way (of course, that doesn’t justify them), but it’s clear that they aren’t aware in a conscious plane, that what they do, makes uncomfortable those around them.
Obviously, not all bullies aren't aware of what they do to other people, in this loving world, there are many mean people, I guess that if they are aware of that they are hurting others, there is very little to do about them, so luckily, Rick Scroogeman is the kind of bullies with hope for redemption.
However, unless they got the visitations of three ghosts, maybe they won’t change, since they really don’t know that they are hurting the feelings of others. Nobody wants to be a bad person (without counting real criminal cases) so it’s normal that certain people just don’t recognize themselves as those that the rest wants to avoid most of the time.
R.L. Stine makes a bold move (just like Dickens did) using the “villain” (or more likely the antagonist) of the story as the main character in the tale.
The narrative style is quite engaging, and I’m sure that this book can be useful to many people, either if they have to deal with a bully…
…or if they are the bully.
May 14, 2022
A middle-grade ode to Charles Dickens that not only references A Christmas Carol, but Bleak House, The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and more.
Rick Scroogeman is our pre-teen stand-in for the infamous Ebenezer. He is characterized as a bully, only it's more unusual than that. Bullies tend to terrorize with purpose. Rick is just really annoying, with a complete lack of understanding that his obnoxious behavior harms others. He may be somewhere on the spectrum of psychopath. Sadly, he's still a realistic portrayal of everyday kids (and adults) that I know.
Following the classic Dickens formula, Scroogeman is visited by three ghosts who attempt to change his behavior. It seems a hopeless cause, however, as his psychology is too far gone. But the ghostly visions escalate in horror, demanding Scroogeman face the grave reality and consequences of his objectionable acts.
As always, Stine delivers a highly readable tale. Somehow he manages to keep you on your toes while following an age-old formula that's familiar territory even to most twelve year-olds. At times, Rick is almost too annoying to read -- but perhaps that is the point. Hopefully school pranksters and bullies will read this book and recognize their faults rather than get ideas for future shenanigans.
Not my favorite adventure from Mr. Stine, but certainly a fine handling of the premise. I'm a sucker for all holiday-themed reads and this one fits the bill.
Rick Scroogeman is our pre-teen stand-in for the infamous Ebenezer. He is characterized as a bully, only it's more unusual than that. Bullies tend to terrorize with purpose. Rick is just really annoying, with a complete lack of understanding that his obnoxious behavior harms others. He may be somewhere on the spectrum of psychopath. Sadly, he's still a realistic portrayal of everyday kids (and adults) that I know.
Following the classic Dickens formula, Scroogeman is visited by three ghosts who attempt to change his behavior. It seems a hopeless cause, however, as his psychology is too far gone. But the ghostly visions escalate in horror, demanding Scroogeman face the grave reality and consequences of his objectionable acts.
As always, Stine delivers a highly readable tale. Somehow he manages to keep you on your toes while following an age-old formula that's familiar territory even to most twelve year-olds. At times, Rick is almost too annoying to read -- but perhaps that is the point. Hopefully school pranksters and bullies will read this book and recognize their faults rather than get ideas for future shenanigans.
Not my favorite adventure from Mr. Stine, but certainly a fine handling of the premise. I'm a sucker for all holiday-themed reads and this one fits the bill.
May 30, 2025
With his 2016 middle grade Christmas ghost story Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story, R.L. Stine does definitely (and indeed fortunately) textually show that his annoyingly entitled and full of himself first person narrator Rick Scroogeman is a total and absolute bully and in fact also the worst kind of bully since Rick is textually being presented by Stine as actually believing that his relentless and constant campaign of terror against his classmates, his family etc. is not nastiness at all, but simply good fun (as well as due to him supposedly not being able to help himself, that the horrid and ridiculous behaviour is somehow beyond Rick Scroogeman's control and as such of course excusable and forgivable). And yes, I do appreciate the Dickensian school and character names encountered in Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story (although I do wonder if the intended audience, if ten to twelve year olds would even realise this and catch on so to speak), how Scroogeman is just as nasty kid and not some sad and misunderstood "poor" victim (even with a deceased father, with Rick hating Christmas due to his surname and having been born on Christmas Day), and indeed, that the A Christmas Carol like visits of three spirits certainly has some promise.
But in my humble opinion and frankly, said above mentioned potential kind of evaporates pretty quickly in Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story since R.L. Stine's descriptions of the ghostly encounters Rick Scroogeman experiences are on the one hand rather too gruesome for me but at the same time pretty textually tedious and not nearly Dickensian enough either. For unlike with Ebenezer Scrooge in A Chsristmas Carol, Rick Scroogeman in Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story is shown by Stine as obviously lacking the sincerity and self-awareness to make his evolution from bully to non-bully feel truly satisfying or enduring (and that Rick's kind of cruel prank at the end of Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story and how lackadaisical, and well, I could not help myself this is described as being demonstrates that Rick Scroogeman is still very much a bully and that his supposed transformation has not really occurred at all or at best will be extremely short-lived and that this makes Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story for me an annoying and silly story with either no positive message or with an intensely negative one and which both my inner middle grade reader and my adult reading self totally and absolutely reject with every fibre of our reading beings).
So only two (and quite generous) stars for Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story from me, and I would also say that the ending of Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story is indeed quite troubling and should also mean discussion and pointing out that Rick Schroogeman was a bully at the beginning of Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story and is also obviously still like that at the end of the story (and that there has obviously not been any true lessons learned by Rick that bullying is wrong and that bullies are horrible).
But in my humble opinion and frankly, said above mentioned potential kind of evaporates pretty quickly in Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story since R.L. Stine's descriptions of the ghostly encounters Rick Scroogeman experiences are on the one hand rather too gruesome for me but at the same time pretty textually tedious and not nearly Dickensian enough either. For unlike with Ebenezer Scrooge in A Chsristmas Carol, Rick Scroogeman in Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story is shown by Stine as obviously lacking the sincerity and self-awareness to make his evolution from bully to non-bully feel truly satisfying or enduring (and that Rick's kind of cruel prank at the end of Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story and how lackadaisical, and well, I could not help myself this is described as being demonstrates that Rick Scroogeman is still very much a bully and that his supposed transformation has not really occurred at all or at best will be extremely short-lived and that this makes Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story for me an annoying and silly story with either no positive message or with an intensely negative one and which both my inner middle grade reader and my adult reading self totally and absolutely reject with every fibre of our reading beings).
So only two (and quite generous) stars for Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story from me, and I would also say that the ending of Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story is indeed quite troubling and should also mean discussion and pointing out that Rick Schroogeman was a bully at the beginning of Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story and is also obviously still like that at the end of the story (and that there has obviously not been any true lessons learned by Rick that bullying is wrong and that bullies are horrible).
December 12, 2024
Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story
by R.L. Stine is a festive fright from the beloved master of children’s horror, best known for the Goosebumps series. This middle-grade tale introduces us to Rick Scroogeman, an unrepentant bully with a mean streak, who harbors a deep hatred for Christmas, mainly because it overshadows his Christmas Day birthday. Rick’s grievances are petty, but his actions are far worse, leaving classmates and teachers alike frustrated, frightened, and fed up with his antics. Despite his cruel behavior, Rick remains oblivious, brushing off his bullying as mere jokes.
Stine’s story is a clever and chilling ode to Charles Dickens, with echoes of A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and more. As in the classic Dickensian fashion, Rick is visited by three spirits determined to force him to confront his misdeeds. But in true Stine fashion, the stakes are darker, and the consequences are more horrifying, delivering a memorable moral with a spooky twist.
Though not my favorite of Stine’s works, Young Scrooge still delivers plenty of creepy charm, making it a perfect holiday read for fans of eerie tales. I especially appreciated Stine’s ability to craft such a loathsome character in Rick, a boy who is both easy to hate and undeniably deserving of his comeuppance. It’s an entertaining and quick read that’s sure to resonate with young readers, especially those who love a seasonal scare.
This review marks my first read for my “5 Before 2025” challenge, and I couldn’t think of a better way to kick it off than with this fun and spooky, holiday-themed book. If you’re looking for a frightful twist on a classic Christmas tale, this one might just do the trick! 🎅🏼✨❄️
Stine’s story is a clever and chilling ode to Charles Dickens, with echoes of A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and more. As in the classic Dickensian fashion, Rick is visited by three spirits determined to force him to confront his misdeeds. But in true Stine fashion, the stakes are darker, and the consequences are more horrifying, delivering a memorable moral with a spooky twist.
Though not my favorite of Stine’s works, Young Scrooge still delivers plenty of creepy charm, making it a perfect holiday read for fans of eerie tales. I especially appreciated Stine’s ability to craft such a loathsome character in Rick, a boy who is both easy to hate and undeniably deserving of his comeuppance. It’s an entertaining and quick read that’s sure to resonate with young readers, especially those who love a seasonal scare.
This review marks my first read for my “5 Before 2025” challenge, and I couldn’t think of a better way to kick it off than with this fun and spooky, holiday-themed book. If you’re looking for a frightful twist on a classic Christmas tale, this one might just do the trick! 🎅🏼✨❄️
December 23, 2023
My son picked this out from the library, and I read it before him so I could discuss the book with him.
It’s a cute middle grade retelling of A Christmas Carol.
I’m obviously not the market for this one, so I couldn’t gauge the “spooky” zombies of the ghost of Christmas future section.
I just remember as a child the classic version of the story scared me… so this kinda healed my childhood soul bit with having more quirks and less damnation.
It’s a cute middle grade retelling of A Christmas Carol.
I’m obviously not the market for this one, so I couldn’t gauge the “spooky” zombies of the ghost of Christmas future section.
I just remember as a child the classic version of the story scared me… so this kinda healed my childhood soul bit with having more quirks and less damnation.
December 23, 2024
R.L. Stine is no stranger when it comes to writing mean and unlikable characters, and he really puts that into practice with our lead, Rick Scroogeman, in his version of Charles Dickens' classic.
Scroogeman is no simple grinch, but rather a serious bully that is put through various tests and tortures by the ghosts - instead of just being met with insight and revelation like the original Scrooge.
Young Scrooge is a book I enjoyed far more than I thought I would. Stine's take on the classic Christmas tale, though juvenile it may be, is highly compelling, and I found myself unable to put the book down.
In this you get a nice blend of humor, creepy, and even some emotion; all elements that Stine is very capable of writing but doesn't always mesh together well in a single novel.
While some may be put off by the severity of Rick's bad behavior, or perhaps the unusual situations the ghosts put him through, I found it to be both refreshing and entertaining for this type of story that's been told and retold many times.
I can't guarantee you'll like this as much as I did, but I would highly recommend it for fellow fans of Stine's work. I think you'll enjoy his unique rendition of A Christmas Carol - I know I did, and I decided to rate this a 3.5⭐, rounded down.
Scroogeman is no simple grinch, but rather a serious bully that is put through various tests and tortures by the ghosts - instead of just being met with insight and revelation like the original Scrooge.
Young Scrooge is a book I enjoyed far more than I thought I would. Stine's take on the classic Christmas tale, though juvenile it may be, is highly compelling, and I found myself unable to put the book down.
In this you get a nice blend of humor, creepy, and even some emotion; all elements that Stine is very capable of writing but doesn't always mesh together well in a single novel.
While some may be put off by the severity of Rick's bad behavior, or perhaps the unusual situations the ghosts put him through, I found it to be both refreshing and entertaining for this type of story that's been told and retold many times.
I can't guarantee you'll like this as much as I did, but I would highly recommend it for fellow fans of Stine's work. I think you'll enjoy his unique rendition of A Christmas Carol - I know I did, and I decided to rate this a 3.5⭐, rounded down.
November 16, 2025
I loved R.L. Stine as a kid in the '80s and '90s and this newer book held up to what I remember. This is an homage to a Christmas Carol, more than a retelling. Rick Scroogeman hates Christmas, for valid and stupid reasons. He's a bully, a fairly stereotypical one, that doesn't understand he is one and just thinks everything he does are jokes. He doesn't get why people are scared of him, don't like him, or think his pranks are funny. He's visited by the ghosts from the original story but they're very different. I like the that this book is about a preteen instead of an old man and it's a look at what it would be like to be around a century in the past, a very different present, and 90 years in the future. Scroogeman learns lessons and becomes friends with some of the kids he bullied, but like he says, he isn't perfect. If we'd seen longer into Ebenezer Scrooge's life, I doubt he would have been perfect either. A good, mild horror, holiday book for middle grade readers.
September 10, 2016
For me, R.L. Stine still has all the magic he did when I was a kid reading Goosebumps. He was the only guy who made me nervous about vampires and forgotten old cameras. As an adult I've ventured into his more "mature" novels, and they're just as campy and fun as his original works. Read A Midsummer Night's Scream. It's fantastic.
Young Scrooge is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, which is easy to figure out just looking at the cover and the title. Rick Scroogeman is just a big dope. He's mean, but doesn't know it--he thinks all the things he does are hilarious jokes. It made for an interesting perspective. I know I always assumed bullies new exactly what they were doing and enjoyed doing it anyway, but Scroogeman wasn't like that. He was surprised to find that no one liked him, and that they didn't want to spend time with him.
The ghosts cracked me up. Marley had me laughing and the Ghost of Christmas Presents (ack, sorry, Present) was clever. I loved the dead school that Scroogeman ended up at. I loved that he fell for the pig pen gambit by the other kids in the 1800s. It's an all around win, and I will happily continue reading Stine's books.
Young Scrooge is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, which is easy to figure out just looking at the cover and the title. Rick Scroogeman is just a big dope. He's mean, but doesn't know it--he thinks all the things he does are hilarious jokes. It made for an interesting perspective. I know I always assumed bullies new exactly what they were doing and enjoyed doing it anyway, but Scroogeman wasn't like that. He was surprised to find that no one liked him, and that they didn't want to spend time with him.
The ghosts cracked me up. Marley had me laughing and the Ghost of Christmas Presents (ack, sorry, Present) was clever. I loved the dead school that Scroogeman ended up at. I loved that he fell for the pig pen gambit by the other kids in the 1800s. It's an all around win, and I will happily continue reading Stine's books.
September 9, 2016
I got this e-ARC from Netgalley.
This read was a bit strange for me. I both enjoyed it, but also found myself rolling my eyes at some things. The story is about a bully who learns his lesson via getting 'Scrooge'd. He bullies a bunch of kids, basically ruins Christmas for everyone, then gets whisked away on a journey to find out that no one thinks he is funny, and that he needs to change.
My biggest problem with this book is Rick, the bully. He isn't supposed to be likable, but that isn't my problem. My problem is his motivation feels lacking. He bullies kids, because he thinks it makes him like a class clown that everyone loves. Now, I understand that there are a myriad of reasons bullying happens, but I feel like Rick comes off a bit more like a narcissist given how out of touch he is with ANYONE'S feelings.
Despite these feelings, I still enjoyed the story for what it is. I feel that this story could be in the hands of 5th graders up through 8th grade. A fun read!
This read was a bit strange for me. I both enjoyed it, but also found myself rolling my eyes at some things. The story is about a bully who learns his lesson via getting 'Scrooge'd. He bullies a bunch of kids, basically ruins Christmas for everyone, then gets whisked away on a journey to find out that no one thinks he is funny, and that he needs to change.
My biggest problem with this book is Rick, the bully. He isn't supposed to be likable, but that isn't my problem. My problem is his motivation feels lacking. He bullies kids, because he thinks it makes him like a class clown that everyone loves. Now, I understand that there are a myriad of reasons bullying happens, but I feel like Rick comes off a bit more like a narcissist given how out of touch he is with ANYONE'S feelings.
Despite these feelings, I still enjoyed the story for what it is. I feel that this story could be in the hands of 5th graders up through 8th grade. A fun read!
December 24, 2016
An uninspired reimagining of Christmas carol.
Remember Dudley Dursley from Harry Potter? The main character of this story is pretty much like him. He is a bully who doesn't know he is a bully. When everyone gives up on him, the Christmas ghosts decide to teach him a lesson.
But they decide to do it in the most weird and boring way possible. Maybe the new ghosts missed the orientation day!
Remember Dudley Dursley from Harry Potter? The main character of this story is pretty much like him. He is a bully who doesn't know he is a bully. When everyone gives up on him, the Christmas ghosts decide to teach him a lesson.
But they decide to do it in the most weird and boring way possible. Maybe the new ghosts missed the orientation day!
September 21, 2016
This was pretty weak for an R.L. Stine book. The main character was totally unlikable, and never redeems himself. You think he's going to at some point, but he really doesn't.
December 3, 2022
This is a standalone novel that must be by author or publisher preference, because other than being a Christmas novel, it being a retelling is right up Goosebumps alley. It’s written as a horror in typical Stine style.
The novel features Rick Scroogeman, a kid who hates Christmas. He thinks he’s friends with everyone, but he doesn’t understand that the fact that no one else is laughing with him makes him the bully. The ghost of past brings him to an old school in the 1800s where he is ridiculed and tricked, the ghost of present shows him what family life would be like with a family less fortunate, and the ghost of future shows him what the future held for him, death. (And a school with dead zombie children??!?)
The novel does some fun stuff with A Christmas Carol references and changes to old names. Although I was not convinced that the kid had changed by the end.
Enjoyable though, a fun spooky read for the season.
The novel features Rick Scroogeman, a kid who hates Christmas. He thinks he’s friends with everyone, but he doesn’t understand that the fact that no one else is laughing with him makes him the bully. The ghost of past brings him to an old school in the 1800s where he is ridiculed and tricked, the ghost of present shows him what family life would be like with a family less fortunate, and the ghost of future shows him what the future held for him, death. (And a school with dead zombie children??!?)
The novel does some fun stuff with A Christmas Carol references and changes to old names. Although I was not convinced that the kid had changed by the end.
Enjoyable though, a fun spooky read for the season.
June 5, 2021
A fun retelling of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" that I really enjoyed and had fun reading. This version revolves around Rick Scroogemen who hates Christmas because it lands on his birthday, leaving him short on day of celebration. Rick is also a world class Bully, but he sincerely believes that he just has a knack for teasing and laying tricks on his friends and that his friends see it that way as well.
The story on the whole is the Christmas Carol we all remember with the added twist that Mr Stine brings to his stories.
The story is very well paced, moving quickly from start to finish. Like the original Scrooge I found myself feeling bad for Rick every now and then.
This is a great story, lots of fun and because of the topic a great nostalgic read any time of the year.
The story on the whole is the Christmas Carol we all remember with the added twist that Mr Stine brings to his stories.
The story is very well paced, moving quickly from start to finish. Like the original Scrooge I found myself feeling bad for Rick every now and then.
This is a great story, lots of fun and because of the topic a great nostalgic read any time of the year.
February 17, 2025
YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
Nos encontramos ante un retelling middle-grade de Canción de Navidad, de Charles Dickens, aunque hay múltiples referencias y guiños a toda la obra del autor, no solo a ese libro en concreto, sino también a Oliver Twist, por ejemplo.
Siguiendo la estructura de la obra original, tenemos a nuestro personaje protagonista, Rick Scroogeman (en este caso, un niño que no parece ser del todo consciente de que es un matón en toda regla), al que visitan 3 fantasmas en Navidad. No obstante, dichas visitas son un poco diferentes de las de los espíritus de Dickens, y quizá un poco más escalofriantes (dentro de lo que es la literatura infantil) lo cual me parece bien, porque le añade un puntito de originalidad sin perder de vista la obra a la que hace homenaje.
Es una historia que se deja leer con facilidad, y combina bastante bien los elementos que el lector espera de un retelling y otros de cosecha propia del autor.
No obstante, no ha conseguido transmitirme lo mismo que el original y no creo que el mensaje o el impacto de la aventura sobre el protagonista tengan el mismo peso en este caso, sobre todo porque Rick puede llegar a ser muy muy irritante. Imagino que, como en el caso de muchos matones en la vida real, él no se ve a sí mismo como tal, de modo que la resistencia que opone a las enseñanzas de los fantasmas y al cambio acaba resultando en cierto modo exasperante. Además, para mí el autor no ha conseguido retratar ese esperado cambio en el personaje de forma contundente, por lo que no ha llegado a importarme tanto como el Scrooge original.
P.D.: No está traducido al castellano.
Nos encontramos ante un retelling middle-grade de Canción de Navidad, de Charles Dickens, aunque hay múltiples referencias y guiños a toda la obra del autor, no solo a ese libro en concreto, sino también a Oliver Twist, por ejemplo.
Siguiendo la estructura de la obra original, tenemos a nuestro personaje protagonista, Rick Scroogeman (en este caso, un niño que no parece ser del todo consciente de que es un matón en toda regla), al que visitan 3 fantasmas en Navidad. No obstante, dichas visitas son un poco diferentes de las de los espíritus de Dickens, y quizá un poco más escalofriantes (dentro de lo que es la literatura infantil) lo cual me parece bien, porque le añade un puntito de originalidad sin perder de vista la obra a la que hace homenaje.
Es una historia que se deja leer con facilidad, y combina bastante bien los elementos que el lector espera de un retelling y otros de cosecha propia del autor.
No obstante, no ha conseguido transmitirme lo mismo que el original y no creo que el mensaje o el impacto de la aventura sobre el protagonista tengan el mismo peso en este caso, sobre todo porque Rick puede llegar a ser muy muy irritante. Imagino que, como en el caso de muchos matones en la vida real, él no se ve a sí mismo como tal, de modo que la resistencia que opone a las enseñanzas de los fantasmas y al cambio acaba resultando en cierto modo exasperante. Además, para mí el autor no ha conseguido retratar ese esperado cambio en el personaje de forma contundente, por lo que no ha llegado a importarme tanto como el Scrooge original.
P.D.: No está traducido al castellano.
December 22, 2016
My reasons for reading a children's book are twofold:
1. I was an R.L. Stine fanatic as a kid, and I'm looking for a nostalgia trip.
2. I made the lofty goal of reading 70 books instead of my usual 50 this year and am now scurrying to find short books—this is what happens when you gamify your reading experience.
As the book's title implies, this is yet another retelling of Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, with our Scrooge being a bully who is entirely ignorant of his own meanness. I liked the snarky narrative voice in the story (it's told in first person), which was almost believable despite being a bit over the top. In fact, his personality is rather reminiscent of a certain politician...
The past and present timelines were a good twist on the expected, but I was hoping that the future would involve Christmas in a dystopian universe of extreme consumerism rather than . The ending seemed fitting and realistic, even if it does somewhat negate the book's message. This is entertainment, not a parable.
The writing style is short and punchy, as to appeal to its intended age group, but it is also surprisingly sensory. I'm sure I would've devoured this as a kid, but as with Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, these types of books don't age well with their readers. Still, if I had a son or daughter, I wouldn't hesitate to make this a Christmas read.
August 28, 2016
I love a comeuppance hero, and Rick Scroogeman, twelve-year-old bully, is exactly that. The story is a bit predictable, but then as a retelling of "A Christmas Carol" it would be. Victims of bullies will particularly enjoy watching Rick get what's coming to him, but bullies themselves can learn a thing or two here as well. The last ghost is the best--signature Stine. Very cute and enjoyable.
I won my copy in a Goodreads giveaway-- the only time that's ever happened.
I won my copy in a Goodreads giveaway-- the only time that's ever happened.
January 2, 2022
In this retelling of A Christmas Carol, Rick Scroogeman is a bully, plain and simple, whom no one likes. But that's not how he'd tell it. He has a bunch of friends upon whim he likes to "have fun" by playing pranks. To bring a little clarity into his limited worldview, he is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future and, well, you know the rest of the traditional tale.
There isn't much new going on here other than modernizing the old story with the subject being a childhood bully. Segments end rather abruptly and some of the directions in which Stine takes his version makes little to no sense.
There isn't much new going on here other than modernizing the old story with the subject being a childhood bully. Segments end rather abruptly and some of the directions in which Stine takes his version makes little to no sense.
December 14, 2023
A Christmas Carol but give it an R.L. Stine twist! But it's even more than that, as there are plenty of homages and references to other works by Charles Dickens. It's pretty good stuff! It starts off like a typical Stine book, with this kid in school being a bully, picking on people, and really thinking he's the cat's meow through it all. He hates Christmas because it's also his birthday. And then the ghosts start to come! I actually kinda felt bad for him as he has his experiences with the ghosts, but his attitude was poooopoooo! But as he comes around at the end of the book, it was pretty heartwarming. A good spin on a holiday classic! Now I need to watch Scrooged and The Muppet Christmas Carol ASAP!
September 15, 2021
I really liked the Dickensian references (Rick’s teacher is Miss Dorritt, the school drama teacher is Mr. Pickwick, the girl who sits next to Rick in class is Lucy Copperfield, etc) but the story was lacking. I guess the Christmas play stayed ruined? But that last paragraph. Ugh! It undid the entire story and made it seem like Rick wasn’t redeemed at all. Not a fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2025
I'm not 100% sure i would have finished it if was so short. its cute but not Stine's best work.
I love a Christmas Carol. I was raised on it. I've seen so many versions of the movies. and I have indeed read the book. I'm told this book has some references to Dickens other works but I'm not as familiar with Dickens other work. I've tried. couldn't get in them. it has been years though so I may try again.
I love a Christmas Carol. I was raised on it. I've seen so many versions of the movies. and I have indeed read the book. I'm told this book has some references to Dickens other works but I'm not as familiar with Dickens other work. I've tried. couldn't get in them. it has been years though so I may try again.
January 1, 2022
As with Stine’s Goosebumps series, this twist on A Christmas Carol smacks of laziness— laziness in the prose, in the Dickens allusions and in-jokes, in the attempts at horror, and in the redemptive arc. I like it a bit more than your average Goosebumps just because Stine does aim for some kind of moral center, some affirmation of basic virtue. But I won’t read this again.
December 31, 2023
Oof. I appreciate the effort by R.L. Stine to turn a Christmas classic into a modern horror story for kids, but this just didn’t work…AT ALL.
December 19, 2025
It was an amazing book full of amazing adventures and times with a little boy and it’s really fun and I highly recommend this book.
February 22, 2021
I love R.L. Stine and this story did not disappoint. He turned a classic storyline into a great ghost story. This is another twist on Scrooge and it was written very well. It’s also a great story about how a bully can be turned around into good. Yes it is children’s fiction, but it is a great book for all ages.
December 16, 2021
I love R.L. Stine and I think this is a well written children's book, and kids with a certain personality would enjoy it. But I didn't care for the story. So many things were questionable to me...
Why is he a bully? This is never explained.
How does he not see that he is mean and just thinks he's funny?
Why do the ghosts show him a past and present that he is not actually in?
Why would he still be a kid in his future in 2095?
And worst of all... At the end, he isn't really changed??
Why is he a bully? This is never explained.
How does he not see that he is mean and just thinks he's funny?
Why do the ghosts show him a past and present that he is not actually in?
Why would he still be a kid in his future in 2095?
And worst of all... At the end, he isn't really changed??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2021
First of all, I’ve always loved R.L. Stine’s writing. The narrator of each book is always someone who’s voice I can imagine in my head.
This book is written about a middle school boy named Rick Scroogeman who likes to have fun, at another student’s expense of course. His “friends”, his teachers, his principal, even his own brother see him as a bully but he just doesn’t see it. He believes that all he’s done is play jokes on his classmates and they are humorless.
The story takes place just before the Christmas holiday. Everyone is excited about Christmas. Ready to exchange gifts, make snowmen, and have the school’s annual Christmas play. Everyone except Rick. He hate hate hates Christmas. Not only does he believe the holiday is just about giving presents but he was also born on Christmas Day. This means he doesn’t get a special day each year to celebrate his birthday, it all gets overshadowed by Christmas and he has had enough.
A chance encounter, after Rick ruins Christmas for everyone he knows, lands him in world of trouble... and a very familiar path he has to follow. He may learn some important lessons along the way, or he may just wrap it all up as another joke and land himself in a deadly situation.
A wonderful retelling of a Christmas classic with a typical R. L. Stine twist. This book is perfect for a middle schooler with a bad attitude, a Christmas Carol enthusiast, or an adult who just wants to reminisce on Stine’s writing style. Either way this quick and easy read will have you rooting for Rick to change his tune as well as dreading (and anticipating) every turn until the last word.
This book is written about a middle school boy named Rick Scroogeman who likes to have fun, at another student’s expense of course. His “friends”, his teachers, his principal, even his own brother see him as a bully but he just doesn’t see it. He believes that all he’s done is play jokes on his classmates and they are humorless.
The story takes place just before the Christmas holiday. Everyone is excited about Christmas. Ready to exchange gifts, make snowmen, and have the school’s annual Christmas play. Everyone except Rick. He hate hate hates Christmas. Not only does he believe the holiday is just about giving presents but he was also born on Christmas Day. This means he doesn’t get a special day each year to celebrate his birthday, it all gets overshadowed by Christmas and he has had enough.
A chance encounter, after Rick ruins Christmas for everyone he knows, lands him in world of trouble... and a very familiar path he has to follow. He may learn some important lessons along the way, or he may just wrap it all up as another joke and land himself in a deadly situation.
A wonderful retelling of a Christmas classic with a typical R. L. Stine twist. This book is perfect for a middle schooler with a bad attitude, a Christmas Carol enthusiast, or an adult who just wants to reminisce on Stine’s writing style. Either way this quick and easy read will have you rooting for Rick to change his tune as well as dreading (and anticipating) every turn until the last word.
July 10, 2024
I’m not the target audience for this so it’s hard to say much. It was for 12 yo boys.
June 30, 2023
Such a quick read.
RL Stine turns a classic story to a modern day real life situation. Rick Scroogeman hates Christmas. The lights, the classic A Christmas Carol. And to make matters worse because of his last name he classmates use that to tease him.
I love how Stine takes a real life problem and uses his craft to show a hidden message and life lesson. It teaches a lesson on bullying. I feel all kids should read this especially at the higher elementary and middle school age.
RL Stine turns a classic story to a modern day real life situation. Rick Scroogeman hates Christmas. The lights, the classic A Christmas Carol. And to make matters worse because of his last name he classmates use that to tease him.
I love how Stine takes a real life problem and uses his craft to show a hidden message and life lesson. It teaches a lesson on bullying. I feel all kids should read this especially at the higher elementary and middle school age.
September 30, 2016
I had the honor of winning this book in a Goodreads Giveaway! I was very excited to hear that I had won this particular book, as a big fan of Goosebumps! Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed with the book overall, I hoped for spooky, as the title suggests, but the ghosts and situations were primarily comical. The silliness certainly is entertaing, but not what I expected and hoped for.
The story spends a lot of time setting background for the young main character, the unaware middle school bully. He is difficult to sympathize with and comes off as both ungrateful and oblivious to the feelings of others. If there is one thing to pity him for, it is his complete lack of social skills.
When we finally get to the ghosts, about half-way through the book, they are much more comical than frightening. No matter how many times Scroogeman says he's afraid of ghosts, the fear never seeps into the reader's thoughts as genuine or valid. The situations our young main character is put into also seem more ridiculous than useful to teach lessons to someone so unaware. His issues have to be very specifically shown to him, kindness and goodwill are not something he learns by examples.
As the book wraps up, watching Scroogeman follow the path of Ebenezer's is very unoriginal and disappointing coming from the hopes of something spooky. The ending is filled with too much Christmas cheer and even the last minute twist is not unpredictable.
All in all, it's absolutely a great book to read to the family to enjoy a silly Christmas tale together that is reminiscent of an old traditional one. I specifically recommend this book to children ages 10-14 and think they are likely to enjoy it more than me.
The story spends a lot of time setting background for the young main character, the unaware middle school bully. He is difficult to sympathize with and comes off as both ungrateful and oblivious to the feelings of others. If there is one thing to pity him for, it is his complete lack of social skills.
When we finally get to the ghosts, about half-way through the book, they are much more comical than frightening. No matter how many times Scroogeman says he's afraid of ghosts, the fear never seeps into the reader's thoughts as genuine or valid. The situations our young main character is put into also seem more ridiculous than useful to teach lessons to someone so unaware. His issues have to be very specifically shown to him, kindness and goodwill are not something he learns by examples.
As the book wraps up, watching Scroogeman follow the path of Ebenezer's is very unoriginal and disappointing coming from the hopes of something spooky. The ending is filled with too much Christmas cheer and even the last minute twist is not unpredictable.
All in all, it's absolutely a great book to read to the family to enjoy a silly Christmas tale together that is reminiscent of an old traditional one. I specifically recommend this book to children ages 10-14 and think they are likely to enjoy it more than me.
December 24, 2018
Review for “Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story” by R. L. Stine:
It’s one of the few Christmas-themed books written by the bestseller author and Master of Frights, R. L. Stine. The story follows Rick Scroogeman, a boy who hates Christmas and everything about the holiday. Because of his name, many call him Scrooge. Everything changes when Rick is visited by three ghosts. It may seem a dream at first, but he will soon find out that it’s a nightmare which turned to reality. Will Scroogeman learn the meaning of Christmas or will he forever be trapped in the nightmare?
Mr. Stine attracts his readers through his unique writing style giving them a fun and scary reading experience at the same time. The novel can be considered a modern version of the well-known “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens only that Mr. Stine’s main character is a boy. Joy, sadness and fear are what the readers feel while reading this book. It will give everyone goosebumps. And let’s not forget that they’ll laugh cheerfully.
Within the novel, the reader travels through the past, present and future, even through different eras. Two of the most valuable lessons the readers will learn from Mr. Stine’s book are the effects of bullying and the importance of friendship and understanding others. But the most important one of all is the true meaning of Christmas.
Along with Chris Grabenstein, James Patterson, Richard H. Stephens, Beatrice Masini, Laura Știrbu, Irina Dumitru, J. K. Rowling, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, Mr. Stine revolutionized literature through his unique writing style which is simple and easy to understand to everyone.
I recommend this book to readers 12+ because there are some scenes that can be a little scary for younger readers.
It’s one of the few Christmas-themed books written by the bestseller author and Master of Frights, R. L. Stine. The story follows Rick Scroogeman, a boy who hates Christmas and everything about the holiday. Because of his name, many call him Scrooge. Everything changes when Rick is visited by three ghosts. It may seem a dream at first, but he will soon find out that it’s a nightmare which turned to reality. Will Scroogeman learn the meaning of Christmas or will he forever be trapped in the nightmare?
Mr. Stine attracts his readers through his unique writing style giving them a fun and scary reading experience at the same time. The novel can be considered a modern version of the well-known “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens only that Mr. Stine’s main character is a boy. Joy, sadness and fear are what the readers feel while reading this book. It will give everyone goosebumps. And let’s not forget that they’ll laugh cheerfully.
Within the novel, the reader travels through the past, present and future, even through different eras. Two of the most valuable lessons the readers will learn from Mr. Stine’s book are the effects of bullying and the importance of friendship and understanding others. But the most important one of all is the true meaning of Christmas.
Along with Chris Grabenstein, James Patterson, Richard H. Stephens, Beatrice Masini, Laura Știrbu, Irina Dumitru, J. K. Rowling, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, Mr. Stine revolutionized literature through his unique writing style which is simple and easy to understand to everyone.
I recommend this book to readers 12+ because there are some scenes that can be a little scary for younger readers.
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