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Goosebumps HorrorLand #4

The Scream of the Haunted Mask

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The Mask Is Back!


WEAR AND SCARE! What should Carly Beth be for Halloween this year? TERRIFIED! Late at night, an ugly green mask is mysteriously calling out to her and ugly green masks don't like to be ignored.


If Carly Beth survives the night, even a scary theme park might sound like a vacation. Or maybe not! At HorrorLand, every night is Halloween. And those monster masks? They aren't masks at all. FACE YOUR FEARS!


GAMES! PRIZES! HAUNTINGS! THIS BOOK IS YOUR TICKET TO www.ENTERHORRORLAND.com

139 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

123 people are currently reading
2035 people want to read

About the author

R.L. Stine

1,679 books18.6k followers
Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.

R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.

Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.

http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...

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5 stars
843 (33%)
4 stars
771 (30%)
3 stars
709 (27%)
2 stars
169 (6%)
1 star
49 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
Profile Image for Sandra.
745 reviews6 followers
May 22, 2021
A fast, fun, and spooky thriller for kids about a twelve-year-old girl (Carly Beth) who hid away an ugly green mask in her basement. A while ago she bought it, put it on, and she couldn’t take it off. It made her do evil things. Now, with Halloween on the way, the mask seems to be calling to her…

There is also a short, continuing, secondary story included in this book titled “Enter Horrorland” which was enjoyable and takes place in an amusement park.
Profile Image for Ethan.
345 reviews336 followers
July 19, 2023
The Scream of the Haunted Mask is the weakest Haunted Mask book I've read so far in any Goosebumps series. It follows the greatest Goosebumps protagonist of all time, Carly Beth, as she struggles with the Haunted Mask, which has been screaming at her from its storage trunk in her basement. Most of the story takes place at a ranch-daycare kind of thing just outside of town where Carly Beth and her friend work after school. There is a haunted horse stable at the ranch, and that storyline ties in with the Haunted Mask in Carly Beth's basement.

Overall, this was a pretty bland story, and it didn't feel like a Haunted Mask book at all. Most of it was focused on the weird ranch thing where Carly Beth works, and very little was focused on the mask itself, what it wants from Carly Beth, why it's screaming at her, etc. I didn't really like the daycare storyline, so the book was an immediate miss for me for that reason alone.

But the book had other problems too. It's hard to get into because of how unrealistic it is. For example, Carly Beth and her friend are both twelve, but they have after-school jobs, take the city bus to work, go to parties, kiss boys, etc. Things most kids do when they're several years older than that. It just seemed a bit ridiculous. Stine also uses a lazy, cop out ending to quickly wrap things up that he's done in at least three other books I've read from him so far, and I probably haven't even read one percent of his books. He's probably done this lame ending fifteen or twenty times, if I had to guess. I think he's the most self-derivative author of all time, and I stand by that. All he does is endlessly repeat things he's done so many times in the past. I wish he'd write something original once in a while.

Anyway...meh. This is not a very good Goosebumps book, and is probably the worst Haunted Mask book ever written. Won't be keeping this one in my collection.

CAWPILE rating:

Characters: 7.0
Atmosphere / Setting: 3.0
Writing Style: 4.0
Plot: 4.0
Intrigue: 3.5
Logic / Relationships: 5.0
Enjoyment: 3.5

= 30 total
÷ 7 categories = 4.28 out of 10
= 2 stars
Profile Image for Brandy.
414 reviews46 followers
Read
February 23, 2019
I read this book many moons ago; as well as many other of Stine’s works! But what kid growing up in the 90’s didn’t read his work, right?😘❤️ A GR friend was reading this and it prompted my memory of this read!❤️❤️
Profile Image for Jason Harlow.
Author 7 books18 followers
February 15, 2024
This is probably the hardest book to give a rating for, and I say that for a number of reasons. It's frustrating and annoying that we didn't get a "true" Haunted Mask 3 (which was confirmed for the Goosebumps Gold series that was scrapped before it ever even launched) and it's very weird that this was thrown in as part of the 'Horrorland' series. The story also seemingly ignores The Haunted Mask II, with there being a few indicators of such but it never being implied outright. I enjoyed this for what it was, but I don't really understand why the book took on a whole new vibe at the end, which really makes me think that R.L. should have just done this as a standalone sequel. Although she's no Scarlett Johansson (who was a part of R.L. Stine's Halloween Bugs Me! audiobook), my girl Kate Simses from Return to Sleepaway Camp does the audiobook for this one. The trivia behind this book is way cooler than the book itself, but it's not terrible...especially if you like horses. 3/5 seems like the fairest rating.
Profile Image for Rachel Bea.
358 reviews145 followers
March 9, 2017
This review is for the audiobook version.

This may be my favorite Goosebumps HorrorLand book yet! It was one of the darker ones with genuine chills. It was smart to followup the more comical Monster Blood book with something like this, in which there is a haunted ghost stable, a diabolical mask, and an evil vs. evil showdown at the climax!

The HorrorLand story following the main story was pretty good, too. I really liked the scene at the mask gift shop.
Profile Image for Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)).
1,428 reviews112 followers
August 3, 2021
“The Haunted Mask was ready to take over my mind again and force me to do its evil.”

The Haunted Mask was one of my favorites as a kid.

The Scream of the Haunted Mask is new adventure with Carly Beth and the mask.
The second half of the book sees Carly Beth and her friend Sabrina going to Horrorland. Dun dun dun.

Creepy and fun for Goosebumps fan.

(Part of middlegrade summer)
Profile Image for Kristy♡.
703 reviews
October 14, 2019
I'm so glad I was able to fit in this book with my October reads. I was so in love with Goosebumps as a kid, being able to go back and read about characters you know feels special honestly.

This book revisits Carly Beth, that most of course knows from The Haunted Mask. I found it to be an adorable and cute story. It's a quick read, and for me, it was an absolutely wonderful trip down memory lane!
17 reviews
January 9, 2022
It was VERY good and I liked that the mask never came off if u had it on for too long plus it changes tour voice and personality which is a great twist!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Zoey De Leon.
197 reviews
October 6, 2023
Possibly the best Horrorland book I read in my marathon of the series but it's not by much as I rated it 3 stars but it's nothing to be ashame of for what the plot delivers.

So the book is essentially a continuation of the Haunted Mask from the original series and it's a classic and everyone's favorite book but not my own.
I do acknowledge that it's a masterpiece and I still did get a lot of enjoyment of it though not my favorite and the Horrorland installment of it in comparison is kinda disappointing as it mostly deals with Carly Beth and Sabrina's job at some daycare thing where it has this urban legend story about horses and a stable boy that may or may not deal with Carly Beth's masks she faced in the original book.

As a Haunted Mask story it's mostly disappointing as it overshadows the mask aspect and mainly is used against to the actual conflict of the story as some minor plot convience, but if I see it as a standalone, it was a good ghost story but it was executed in a middle of the road way but it also stars Carly Beth who is a great character to follow since she's in the OG Haunted Mask, it makes the book on a higher score for me.

Also as the part Horrorland series, after the main plot with Carly Beth and Sabrina, we go to the Enter Horrorland section and it picks up where the last Enter Horrorland section picks off and it's still intriguing me where this will lead as this fresh overbranching story for a Goosebumps format is really doing it good (just good enough) for me.
7 reviews2 followers
May 5, 2013
R.L Stines book: The haunted mask.
A thrilling horror story about a young girl (Carly Beth) who mysteriously finds a horrible looking mask in her basement. This mask is prepared to make this Halloween a nightmare for both Carly and her best friend Sabrina (who later appears in the story). Not only is the mask haunted, but also is its sick and unforgettable past. The story itself is very haunting and will most definitely give you goosebumps as you read it. This book fits perfectly in to the ''your own choice'' category which is placed on the bingo board. my favorite character in this horror book is obviously Carly Beth, for she is brave and will do whatever it takes to bring things to peace. She is a courageous young girl and has the heart of a lion. My favorite part is the end of the book when Carly Beth finally defeats the mask, Settling its past to rest, releasing all despair and sorrow from its messed up mind. I learnt from this book that standing up to your fears will make you a stronger and better person, on the inside and outside. This is a great book and i recommend it to horror lovers and thrill seekers. Read it.

¬takeiteas¬
Profile Image for Katherine.
952 reviews179 followers
November 5, 2018
I have read The Haunted mask 1 as well as the The Haunted mask 2 and I enjoyed both of these. Although this book can be read as a stand-alone but I would highly recommend reading the first books in the haunted mask titles to get a better chance of understanding the characters. The first book introduced us to the evil mask and to the famous characters of Carly Beth and sabrina who are by the way best friends goals. Although we a little of these two in second book it was still quite entertaining.
The scream of the haunted mask is a game changer totally different from what I was expecting. I love the way the author bought back the old similar characters with a bang and it was eery atmosphere.It genuinely gave a creepy and spooky feeling. This was definitely one of my favorite top 3 Goosebumps books, hands down.
I'll be surely reading this again in the Halloween because a) it's Halloween themed b)it will be fun and scary at the same time and c) it's goosebumps..... Halloween cannot be complete without it
Profile Image for Bronwyn.
924 reviews73 followers
February 10, 2024
Galen read from February 8-10, 2024

How many stars? “Just five.”

“It was fun. And… I don’t know. It was exciting when we knew that Laura was actually the person who started the stampede of horses at the haunted stable.”
Profile Image for Sarah Clark.
2 reviews
February 14, 2025
Read with my daughter. I feel guilty counting this as a book read this year but dang it, I earned it.
Profile Image for Lynn Dubinsky .
797 reviews218 followers
July 19, 2014
I love this Horrorland series. Ya, I know, I'm 23 and still reading Goosebumps. I don't give a shit. The original series was my favorite when I Was younger and I remember endless nights reading up in the attic with a flashlight. Devouring book after book. I think these books will stick with me until I grow old and gray, just like HP. There's just something about these books that make me want more. I know I should be reading classics and (ugh )heavy romance books like other people expect a 23 yr old to read, but I can't help myself. These. Are. Good. Fun!

Plus The Haunted Mask was one of my favorite Goosebunps books so this was pretty damn sweet. ^_____^

Profile Image for Adam.
196 reviews3 followers
September 14, 2023
D

Carly Beth thought she defeated the Haunted Mask last Halloween. As spooky season returns, she can hear the mask calling to her and decides to investigate the origin of the Haunted Mask to destroy it once and for all.

The Scream of the Haunted Mask is one of my least favorite Goosebumps books. It may be my least favorite. The plot feels too much like a made-for-tv 90s Halloween special. There's also a horse-girl element that I find wholly unappealing.

The Horrorland crossover at the end of each book has also become bloated and overly complex with an aimless, meandering plot.

My son enjoyed Scream of the Haunted Mask, however. So, the book seems to appeal to a younger audience.
45 reviews
December 30, 2021
Ah come on, I am literally addicted to this series. I wonder how the writer has managed to write this good and how he got the ideas of advertising his other books by mentioning that which book has similar ghosts or which book has the map that connects with present or previous book. Totally cool!

Note: Yes, he is a good writer. But I don't support his ideologies of how the teenagers should pass the time in this age.
Profile Image for Tarissa.
1,584 reviews83 followers
November 27, 2018
This one is a pretty scary Horrorland book! It's about a mask (returning for the second time in Goosebumps) to frighten Carly Beth. It calls to her, and though she tries NOT to slide the mask over her face, it (of course) happens anyway... and it sucks her in to its evil ways.

Complete with scary legends that may be true. And a bonus Horrorland adventure in the back of the book.
Profile Image for Paige Ray.
1,113 reviews66 followers
October 2, 2025
I was really let down with this one. I’ve loved the haunted mask stories but this one wasn’t even truly about the haunted mask and an entirely different story in itself! Major disappointment.

In The Scream of the Haunted Mask, we follow Carly Beth once again but this time she is in the midst of an urban legend and possible haunting.
Profile Image for Haley Ramirez.
125 reviews4 followers
June 25, 2019
I mean it’s a kids book, but I needed something silly before starting something intense. If I was the intended age group it would have been a great gateway into what I like now. In fact Goosebumps always was that for me.
Profile Image for Juliana.
928 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2025
I would give this 3 stars in general but I'm giving an extra star for the audiobook. It really sets the mood! It plays creepy music and sound effects throughout the whole story. It elevates the whole experience and I highly recommend that these books be consumed this way.
Profile Image for Vanja.
79 reviews
January 3, 2025
The book is Great, but I think the original book, not from HorrorLand series is Better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews

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