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Goosebumps #48
Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns
Four friends on halloween night make a plan. A plan to scare the biggest jerks in town. the plan involves people with jack-a-lantern heads. The plan is really working but the heads look a little too real....
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1996
115 people are currently reading
3478 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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October 9, 2019
#48 "Put one head in front of the other..."
Nothing is better than Halloween to Drew. But constantly plagued by Lee and Tabby and they're terrible practical jokes, Drew decided she's going to get back at them this year. She's got a really great plan with a couple of her friends. And these friends are out of this world!
Nothing is better than Halloween to Drew. But constantly plagued by Lee and Tabby and they're terrible practical jokes, Drew decided she's going to get back at them this year. She's got a really great plan with a couple of her friends. And these friends are out of this world!
October 29, 2025
¡Hoy les traigo otra reseña de la siempre recomendable colección de Pesadillas, o casi! 😜 Porque en esta ocasión nos hemos llevado una decepción ⤵️
👻🖤👻🖤👻🖤👻🖤👻
Hace ya unas semanas que terminé de leer junto con nuestra mayor de 10 años, este título de la mítica colección de Pesadillas, y nos hemos encontrado con una historia que no es para nada lo que nos habíamos imaginado tanto por la sugerente portada como por la atrayente sinopsis.
Entre que tarda en arrancar porque se pasan medio libro intentando maquinar una venganza para los típicos guays abusones de la clase y que el final francamente me ha parecido una basura, se queda en 2⭐ por el cariño que le tengo a esta colección.
La historia daba para algo mejor aunque sea dirigida a un público juvenil.
Como digo, estoy leyendo la colección con las enanas de 7 y 10 años, y terminaron muertas de la risa 😂
No nos ha dado nada de miedo pero al menos nos hemos reído del surrealista giro final.
Algo bueno tenía que tener jajajajaja.
Así que, aunque en esta ocasión nos hayamos topado con una historia lenta y absurda no dejan de ser tramas ligeras y dirigidas a un público más juvenil que al menos cumplen con su función de mero entretenimiento.
Así que ya saben, si quieren volver a sentirse como niños temerosos a los que también les gusta divertirse con las travesuras de estos jóvenes con ansias de venganza a los que nada les sale bien, no lo duden y háganse, si pueden, con la colección completa.
La diversión, como ya saben, está más que asegurada a pesar de que no siempre cumplan nuestras expectativas.
Son lecturas ideales para leer entre libros más densos, y si es en compañía de los menudos de la casa, mucho mejor 🙂
¿Han leído alguno? ¿Qué les parecieron?
¿Cuál es el título de Pesadillas que más terror les ha dado?
¡Los leo! 🤓⤵️
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 🖤📚
👻🖤👻🖤👻🖤👻🖤👻
Hace ya unas semanas que terminé de leer junto con nuestra mayor de 10 años, este título de la mítica colección de Pesadillas, y nos hemos encontrado con una historia que no es para nada lo que nos habíamos imaginado tanto por la sugerente portada como por la atrayente sinopsis.
Entre que tarda en arrancar porque se pasan medio libro intentando maquinar una venganza para los típicos guays abusones de la clase y que el final francamente me ha parecido una basura, se queda en 2⭐ por el cariño que le tengo a esta colección.
La historia daba para algo mejor aunque sea dirigida a un público juvenil.
Como digo, estoy leyendo la colección con las enanas de 7 y 10 años, y terminaron muertas de la risa 😂
No nos ha dado nada de miedo pero al menos nos hemos reído del surrealista giro final.
Algo bueno tenía que tener jajajajaja.
Así que, aunque en esta ocasión nos hayamos topado con una historia lenta y absurda no dejan de ser tramas ligeras y dirigidas a un público más juvenil que al menos cumplen con su función de mero entretenimiento.
Así que ya saben, si quieren volver a sentirse como niños temerosos a los que también les gusta divertirse con las travesuras de estos jóvenes con ansias de venganza a los que nada les sale bien, no lo duden y háganse, si pueden, con la colección completa.
La diversión, como ya saben, está más que asegurada a pesar de que no siempre cumplan nuestras expectativas.
Son lecturas ideales para leer entre libros más densos, y si es en compañía de los menudos de la casa, mucho mejor 🙂
¿Han leído alguno? ¿Qué les parecieron?
¿Cuál es el título de Pesadillas que más terror les ha dado?
¡Los leo! 🤓⤵️
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 🖤📚
November 22, 2022
2'5 / 5
El giro final me ha parecido una caca, honestamente. Aunque el último diálogo lo arregla un poco.
Me ha parecido flojito. Es una de esas lecturas que de niña hubiese disfrutado muchísimo más.
El giro final me ha parecido una caca, honestamente. Aunque el último diálogo lo arregla un poco.
Me ha parecido flojito. Es una de esas lecturas que de niña hubiese disfrutado muchísimo más.
November 4, 2021
This is not the Goosebumps I remember.
Actually I don't think I read this one as a kid, thank God, because the characters are horrendous. They're all bullies who want to prank each other. But not in a friendly way. And the plot is nonsensical, with most chapters ending with a jump scare before leading into 'that was my daydream'. And don't even get me started on that ending. It's just lazy writing. I'm actually glad I was more a BSC girl than Goosebumps. At least they've got some plot cohesiveness. Honestly, I'm so glad this was a library book because the thought of wasting money on this is scarier than the book.
I've got a few more of these to read, so I'll hold off on my judgement of the whole series until after I've read them. I'm not holding up much hope.
Actually I don't think I read this one as a kid, thank God, because the characters are horrendous. They're all bullies who want to prank each other. But not in a friendly way. And the plot is nonsensical, with most chapters ending with a jump scare before leading into 'that was my daydream'. And don't even get me started on that ending. It's just lazy writing. I'm actually glad I was more a BSC girl than Goosebumps. At least they've got some plot cohesiveness. Honestly, I'm so glad this was a library book because the thought of wasting money on this is scarier than the book.
I've got a few more of these to read, so I'll hold off on my judgement of the whole series until after I've read them. I'm not holding up much hope.
October 2, 2023
This definitely isn't the best Goosebumps book of the few I've read, but it is a ton of fun. The story is told from main character Drew's perspective as she and her best friend Walker go trick-or-treating for what may be their last time. They devise a plot to get revenge on Lee and Tabby, who have played sick jokes on them in the past. Having seen the TV episode, I knew pretty much exactly how this story plays out but that didn't ruin it for me. This has some dark elements and is one of the rare instances where the differences between the book and the TV episode actually are in the book's favor. I love the ending! This was a great way to kick off my Halloween reading bonanza. Recommended to horror fans looking for a solid spooky season vibe.
October 10, 2025
Well, I guess they can't all be winners...
I know, I know. This is considered by many to be one of the best. But at least this killer cover by Tim Jacobus certainly is!
Three stars. Not the worst of the original 62, but it's far from the best...
I know, I know. This is considered by many to be one of the best. But at least this killer cover by Tim Jacobus certainly is!
Three stars. Not the worst of the original 62, but it's far from the best...
August 18, 2022
Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns is the 48th book in the original Goosebumps series of 62 books, and R.L. Stine was clearly running out of ideas at this point, because the plot of this book is a carbon copy of book 15: You Can't Scare Me! There are some pretty terrible kids, in this book Tabby and Lee, and they do something bad to some other kids, in this book a group of four friends, and the victims then seek revenge on the kids who wronged them, with the revenge always coming in the form of trying to scare the kids responsible.
It's like the song Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi:
It's all the same, only the names will change
This one is set on Halloween, but despite this, and the trick-or-treating going on, the book never had the "Halloween" vibe at all, because of Stine's trademark bare-bones writing. The characters are bland caricatures of children, like in most books I've reread so far in this series, and in one case the character description actually seems kind of racist? You tell me:
Lee is African-American, and he sort of struts when he walks and acts real cool, like the rappers on MTV videos.
Throw in one kid unthinkingly trick-or-treating in Blackface, and both parents and children alike thinking it's completely normal to label several missing persons as "fat", and you can definitely tell this book was written in the 1990s. And I mean, with the fat-shaming, how terrible is that? That the parents don't scold their children for calling these people fat right in front of them is one thing, but these are missing persons who very well may be dead, and you're fat-shaming them? That's wrong on so many levels. Parents and even most kids in Goosebumps books are absolutely horrible people, and I am starting to question why. Stine wrote these books for children. Is this really what he wanted youth to think people should be like?
Another thing that has been grating on me more and more as I reread these books is how stupid the characters are in all the books; they never learn, and just keep making the same mistakes over and over again. In this one, one of the characters is a ghost for Halloween, and makes the following mistake:
My sheet dragged behind me on the grass. I should have cut it shorter.
And then, the very next year, she's a superhero for Halloween, and does the same thing!
I adjusted my cape. It was really choking me. I saw that I hadn't cut it short enough. The bottom was soaked from dragging along the ground.
Oh, the humanity! I mean...just..why? Why are all of Stine's characters such lobotomized buffoons? It's infuriating after a while. I also really hated the last 30-40 pages of this one, as they were incredibly and unbelievably repetitive, with the kids being forced to trick-or-treat at numerous different blocks of a neighbourhood and whining incessantly about it, over and over and over again ad nauseum. And then a terrible, lazy, completely insane and nonsensical ending to cap it all off. Some periodic spookiness, and my curiosity in finding out the identity of the Jack-O'-lantern monsters, were the only things that saved this one from being a one-star read. Because of how CAWPILE works this book gets two stars, because CAWPILE doesn't use half stars, but for me this was a 1.5-star read. It felt more like a Goosebumps book than Why I'm Afraid of Bees, but it was still pretty bad overall, and one of the worst of the ones I've reread so far.
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 5.0
Atmosphere / Setting: 4.5
Writing Style: 5.0
Plot: 2.0
Intrigue: 2.5
Logic / Relationships: 2.0
Enjoyment: 1.5
= 22.5 total
÷ 7 categories = 3.21 out of 10
= 2 stars
It's like the song Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi:
It's all the same, only the names will change
This one is set on Halloween, but despite this, and the trick-or-treating going on, the book never had the "Halloween" vibe at all, because of Stine's trademark bare-bones writing. The characters are bland caricatures of children, like in most books I've reread so far in this series, and in one case the character description actually seems kind of racist? You tell me:
Lee is African-American, and he sort of struts when he walks and acts real cool, like the rappers on MTV videos.
Throw in one kid unthinkingly trick-or-treating in Blackface, and both parents and children alike thinking it's completely normal to label several missing persons as "fat", and you can definitely tell this book was written in the 1990s. And I mean, with the fat-shaming, how terrible is that? That the parents don't scold their children for calling these people fat right in front of them is one thing, but these are missing persons who very well may be dead, and you're fat-shaming them? That's wrong on so many levels. Parents and even most kids in Goosebumps books are absolutely horrible people, and I am starting to question why. Stine wrote these books for children. Is this really what he wanted youth to think people should be like?
Another thing that has been grating on me more and more as I reread these books is how stupid the characters are in all the books; they never learn, and just keep making the same mistakes over and over again. In this one, one of the characters is a ghost for Halloween, and makes the following mistake:
My sheet dragged behind me on the grass. I should have cut it shorter.
And then, the very next year, she's a superhero for Halloween, and does the same thing!
I adjusted my cape. It was really choking me. I saw that I hadn't cut it short enough. The bottom was soaked from dragging along the ground.
Oh, the humanity! I mean...just..why? Why are all of Stine's characters such lobotomized buffoons? It's infuriating after a while. I also really hated the last 30-40 pages of this one, as they were incredibly and unbelievably repetitive, with the kids being forced to trick-or-treat at numerous different blocks of a neighbourhood and whining incessantly about it, over and over and over again ad nauseum. And then a terrible, lazy, completely insane and nonsensical ending to cap it all off. Some periodic spookiness, and my curiosity in finding out the identity of the Jack-O'-lantern monsters, were the only things that saved this one from being a one-star read. Because of how CAWPILE works this book gets two stars, because CAWPILE doesn't use half stars, but for me this was a 1.5-star read. It felt more like a Goosebumps book than Why I'm Afraid of Bees, but it was still pretty bad overall, and one of the worst of the ones I've reread so far.
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 5.0
Atmosphere / Setting: 4.5
Writing Style: 5.0
Plot: 2.0
Intrigue: 2.5
Logic / Relationships: 2.0
Enjoyment: 1.5
= 22.5 total
÷ 7 categories = 3.21 out of 10
= 2 stars
February 9, 2023
Popsugar 2023 reading challenge: AVANZADO
47. Un libro con una celebración que NO sea navidad - 🎃
Le doy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️porque me recordó intensamente la felicidad que sentía hace años al leer las historias de R.L Stine y que fueron de mis primeros acercamientos al terror y de las cosas que más disfrutaba en mi infancia.
Lamentablemente, el puntaje es meramente sentimental porque estas historias ya no me dan miedo, y de hecho el final me hizo soltar una carcajada. Siempre es una maravilla creer que todo está bien y entonces PLOT-TWIST
47. Un libro con una celebración que NO sea navidad - 🎃
Le doy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️porque me recordó intensamente la felicidad que sentía hace años al leer las historias de R.L Stine y que fueron de mis primeros acercamientos al terror y de las cosas que más disfrutaba en mi infancia.
Lamentablemente, el puntaje es meramente sentimental porque estas historias ya no me dan miedo, y de hecho el final me hizo soltar una carcajada. Siempre es una maravilla creer que todo está bien y entonces PLOT-TWIST
October 10, 2022
Entretenido, inicia muy tranquilo y sin terror pero después se genera la atmósfera del terror y cierra perfectamente con los ya conocidos finales de R.LStain.
Siento que dos otros capítulos eran muy repetitivos y los diálogos también pero al final me gustó como se resuelve todo.
Siento que dos otros capítulos eran muy repetitivos y los diálogos también pero al final me gustó como se resuelve todo.
November 30, 2011
Nope, impossible, nope, I'm sorry. Can't happen. Nope. Chapter 9 ruined the book for me. The book was kind of slow for the first 8 chapters, chapter 9 was getting good and up until chapter ten starts with "That was my daydream" You don't grab the reader and lock them in for a good ride than let go and say ride over time to start from scratch. I skipped a few chapters to see if the book could grab my interest, but it couldn't, my trust in it was gone. I felt like if I were to be grabbed again it would be another dream. If it were introduced as a dream than fine, but its like a regular story, but at the start of a chapter its a dream. That ruins the momentum the book had. I hate being teased, this wasn't a teaser it was a displeaser. In an earlier book it happened twice in one book and it got me angry. This book was also a flashback, another thing I hate in books. This book had two things that I dislike most about books. I had no choice but to stop reading at chapter ten.
November 5, 2022
3.5 stars rounded down for Goodreads.
A very fun and simple Goosebumps story. It's not my favorite Goosebumps by any means, but it's a wonderfully thematic read for the Halloween season!
A very fun and simple Goosebumps story. It's not my favorite Goosebumps by any means, but it's a wonderfully thematic read for the Halloween season!
October 18, 2023
Happy Halloween!
First, I would like to say that this book is considered one of the strangest books in the series, despite the simplicity of the plot (kids revenge)
I liked the atmosphere of the book very much, and I felt like I was with the characters in many moments( trick or treat) and there was also some spooky vibes, tension, and thinking about the plot and what is happening is it real or not, with eerie ending It left me asking many questions, The first third of the story was merely an introduction to the upcoming events and was somewhat lengthy.
VERDICT: (7.3/10)
First, I would like to say that this book is considered one of the strangest books in the series, despite the simplicity of the plot (kids revenge)
I liked the atmosphere of the book very much, and I felt like I was with the characters in many moments( trick or treat) and there was also some spooky vibes, tension, and thinking about the plot and what is happening is it real or not, with eerie ending It left me asking many questions, The first third of the story was merely an introduction to the upcoming events and was somewhat lengthy.
VERDICT: (7.3/10)
September 8, 2021
Goosebumps books set around Halloween are always fun, along with the usual hijinks of pranks being played there’s a quite adult theme of four people in the neighbourhood having gone missing.
Drew and her friends convince their parents that they will be safe and spend the evening trick or treating.
But when they meet two pumpkin headed monsters, their evening is about to completely change...
I quite liked this one, the twist ending is so surreal that some may not like it. I personally felt it was the perfect for this type of story.
Drew and her friends convince their parents that they will be safe and spend the evening trick or treating.
But when they meet two pumpkin headed monsters, their evening is about to completely change...
I quite liked this one, the twist ending is so surreal that some may not like it. I personally felt it was the perfect for this type of story.
December 31, 2021
I spent a month re-reading all 62 original Goosebumps books to see if they still hold up today, you can check out my 3.5 hour vlog here: https://youtu.be/2C73xc1FS5o
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books where I review them from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books where I review them from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
October 24, 2022
Venganza Halloween
Me gusto lo de las historias de los dos Halloween pasados
Que Drew gruñe y su papa le llama duende
Lo de sus planes para vengarce de Tabby y Lee
Ya que empieza lo de las calabazas llego un punto que dije, esto se esta poniendo tediosos
Ya que revelan que ocurre y como, fue de , "HAY NO; QUE CHAFA"
y aun con el giro de al final cre que no salva lo chafa de el truco de las calabazas.
Entretenido si, pero he leido mejores de esta serie
2.5
Me gusto lo de las historias de los dos Halloween pasados
Que Drew gruñe y su papa le llama duende
Lo de sus planes para vengarce de Tabby y Lee
Ya que empieza lo de las calabazas llego un punto que dije, esto se esta poniendo tediosos
Ya que revelan que ocurre y como, fue de , "HAY NO; QUE CHAFA"
y aun con el giro de al final cre que no salva lo chafa de el truco de las calabazas.
Entretenido si, pero he leido mejores de esta serie
2.5
November 9, 2023
Aunque me había gustado el inicio, el giro final creo que lo arruinó bastante. Además, la historia se vuelve un tanto repetitiva en cierto punto, y para un libro tan cortito, esto es muy notorio.
Si van a iniciar con la serie, recomendaría empezar por otro de los libros.
Si van a iniciar con la serie, recomendaría empezar por otro de los libros.
November 4, 2019
R.L. Stine sigue sin decepcionarme en lo referente a ofrecerme historias amenas que incluso tienen alguna que otra sorpresa. ”La venganza de Halloween” tiene solo 126 páginas y las últimas 40 son realmente adictivas.
La protagonista principal es Drew, aunque Walker, su mejor amigo, tiene tanta relevancia como ella. Tienen 12 años y les encanta Halloween, pero desde hace un par de años no pueden disfrutarlo porque Tabby y Lee se han encargado de fastidiar sus planes. Parecen una pandilla de amigos junto con otros dos, pero Tabby y Lee forman algo así como un grupo propio y disfrutan humillando a los demás. Tras una jugarreta en una fiesta de Halloween, Drew y Walker sueñan con vengarse, pero nada parece salir según lo planeado…
Si no fuera por la primera mitad del libro, mi puntuación podría haber sido incluso un 5/5, pero esa parte me generó cierta indiferencia. Drew cuenta cómo fue la broma de Tabby y Lee y cuáles fueron sus planes iniciales de venganza, algo que no es que esté mal, pero tampoco impresiona. En esas páginas parece que será una historia del montón, no niego que se lee fácil, pero no hubo nada que despertara demasiado mi interés.
Tras eso, R.L. Stine sabe jugar muy bien sus cartas y da un giro inesperado a la trama a raíz del cuál comienzas a dudar de todos los personajes. Realmente considero que es muy difícil adivinar el descubrimiento del final, yo no me imaginaba que los tiros iban a ir por ahí y quedé bastante impresionada. En esos instantes sí que noté que la narración adquiría un toque más siniestro y digno Halloween, fiesta que al fin y al cabo es el centro de atención en esta historia.
Es terror suave, no esperéis descripciones sangrientas ni nada parecido, pero se disfruta bastante.
La puntuación real sería un 3,5/5, no le doy el 4/5 porque creo que se le podría haber sacado más partido a cierto asunto y que los primeros capítulos eran mejorables.
La protagonista principal es Drew, aunque Walker, su mejor amigo, tiene tanta relevancia como ella. Tienen 12 años y les encanta Halloween, pero desde hace un par de años no pueden disfrutarlo porque Tabby y Lee se han encargado de fastidiar sus planes. Parecen una pandilla de amigos junto con otros dos, pero Tabby y Lee forman algo así como un grupo propio y disfrutan humillando a los demás. Tras una jugarreta en una fiesta de Halloween, Drew y Walker sueñan con vengarse, pero nada parece salir según lo planeado…
Si no fuera por la primera mitad del libro, mi puntuación podría haber sido incluso un 5/5, pero esa parte me generó cierta indiferencia. Drew cuenta cómo fue la broma de Tabby y Lee y cuáles fueron sus planes iniciales de venganza, algo que no es que esté mal, pero tampoco impresiona. En esas páginas parece que será una historia del montón, no niego que se lee fácil, pero no hubo nada que despertara demasiado mi interés.
Tras eso, R.L. Stine sabe jugar muy bien sus cartas y da un giro inesperado a la trama a raíz del cuál comienzas a dudar de todos los personajes. Realmente considero que es muy difícil adivinar el descubrimiento del final, yo no me imaginaba que los tiros iban a ir por ahí y quedé bastante impresionada. En esos instantes sí que noté que la narración adquiría un toque más siniestro y digno Halloween, fiesta que al fin y al cabo es el centro de atención en esta historia.
Es terror suave, no esperéis descripciones sangrientas ni nada parecido, pero se disfruta bastante.
La puntuación real sería un 3,5/5, no le doy el 4/5 porque creo que se le podría haber sacado más partido a cierto asunto y que los primeros capítulos eran mejorables.
November 27, 2024
Attack of the Jack-O’-Lanterns turned out to be a pretty solid Goosebumps entry. The premise was exceptionally weird, and it deviated from the standard plot format Stine frequently uses. I found it reminiscent of The Headless Ghost in that regard, and I think it worked well in both cases. I had some issues with how the twist at the end came about, but I ultimately enjoyed what it was doing. The twist would have worked better if Stine nixed the first-person format. I can’t say too much here without spoiling it. There was also the problematic depiction of Lee’s character, which was changed by the publishers when the series was reissued. It wasn’t so egregious that it distracted from the entire narrative, but it was cringeworthy. It’s also worth noting that the TV adaptation made significant improvements here. The ominous ending had far-reaching implications that I wasn’t expecting. I always say I like my RL Stine best when he is unapologetically weird, and this was one of his better examples. With a few tweaks to the characterizations and plotting, this could have been one of the top books in the series. The version of Attack of the Jack-O’-Lanterns had its flaws, but it was still a lot of fun.
Score: 3.5
For my snark-filled, spoiler-laced, deep-dive review; check out my blog:
Blog Review I Instagram I Twitter I BlueSky
Score: 3.5
For my snark-filled, spoiler-laced, deep-dive review; check out my blog:
Blog Review I Instagram I Twitter I BlueSky
June 5, 2024
I decided to reread this for the spooky season as I did remember enjoying the story up until the ending.
At this time, I thought the whole book is amazing for the atmosphere and the plot and the twist did ruin some of the horrors presented in the whole story but at the same time, rereading it now I thought it kinda is fine for the occasion and may have fitted well for the story, like the book became very purely harmless fun for that reason when you look back reading this by just see the overly long first 9 chapters of developing the characters and their background so looking back, for the type of story it presented, the twist just reveals all these kids throughout are just having the fun of their childhood in Halloween, so my mind was kinda changed rereading it but I still have some hard spot for how the ending did literally pulls every horror I read throughout the book which lead me thinking that the book will atleast be a little better if the main characters don't know the fact about their friends were aliens as it was revealed in the ending.
So for my rewrite, it's just simple:
Just rewrite and remove the references of the main character having a knowledge or that they have planned along about their Jack-O'-Lantern friends and atleast just make a reveal about how they just found out that their friends were aliens. atleast the book would have atleast a better impact.
At this time, I thought the whole book is amazing for the atmosphere and the plot and the twist did ruin some of the horrors presented in the whole story but at the same time, rereading it now I thought it kinda is fine for the occasion and may have fitted well for the story, like the book became very purely harmless fun for that reason when you look back reading this by just see the overly long first 9 chapters of developing the characters and their background so looking back, for the type of story it presented, the twist just reveals all these kids throughout are just having the fun of their childhood in Halloween, so my mind was kinda changed rereading it but I still have some hard spot for how the ending did literally pulls every horror I read throughout the book which lead me thinking that the book will atleast be a little better if the main characters don't know the fact about their friends were aliens as it was revealed in the ending.
So for my rewrite, it's just simple:
Just rewrite and remove the references of the main character having a knowledge or that they have planned along about their Jack-O'-Lantern friends and atleast just make a reveal about how they just found out that their friends were aliens. atleast the book would have atleast a better impact.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2022
Grabbed this recently with my fiancé in our quest to secure all of the GB books. As I was headed to my parents for my day off, I wanted to grab a quick read, and this cover fit right into the ‘almost halloween’ atmosphere.
I really enjoyed that the entire plot is just a group of friends plotting a revenge-scare. As this is a real short one, the singular desire worked out perfectly. Drew and her friends really can’t just let it lie, they need revenge…something to wipe the smugness away from their meaner friends’ faces. The plan may or may not work…I won’t spoil it.
In typical goosebumps fashion, the ending of this one is entirely out of left field, totally unforeseen and unguessable. Not necessarily my favorite, but still a silly, fun read. A 3.5/5* for me.
I really enjoyed that the entire plot is just a group of friends plotting a revenge-scare. As this is a real short one, the singular desire worked out perfectly. Drew and her friends really can’t just let it lie, they need revenge…something to wipe the smugness away from their meaner friends’ faces. The plan may or may not work…I won’t spoil it.
In typical goosebumps fashion, the ending of this one is entirely out of left field, totally unforeseen and unguessable. Not necessarily my favorite, but still a silly, fun read. A 3.5/5* for me.
June 2, 2012
I don't even know what to say about this one. I did it as a read aloud for my students, and they really loved it. I, on the other hand, thought it was absolutely ridiculous. You can't have a completely random ending with no foreshadowing!!
July 15, 2015
lol Really? Two of the kids aren't even human? This book was just ridiculous. Funny but stupid.
October 6, 2025
Perfect Halloween vibes, with all the Stine trademarks. Fake outs, no parents, and a twist!
October 18, 2025
Title:Attack Of The Jack O' Lanterns
What I thought about this book as a kid:I actually don't have a ton of nostalgia for this book.I actually can't even remember where I was at when reading it.I really only remember the ending and being slightly confused at the beginning.I remember not loving this one,but being excited to see the episode for the first time.
Plot:The story begins with Drew,our main protagonist telling us how excited she is for this year's Halloween.It's her favorite holiday,but she basically has it ruined now because of two people.Tabby and Lee messed up two Halloweens for her and she dosn't want the third one to be bad.We have a flashback of them two halloweens ago and Lee throws a party at his house.At the house two robbers show up and make all of the kids do push ups.It turns out it was just Lee's friends.The next Halloween they have a plan and it involves slime but Lee cancels at the Last minute and Drew and Walker put a hole in the parents couch with the slime.This year Drew is hoping things will be different.She has a plan and invites Tabby and Walker to go trick or treating.Shane and Shana never show up so the kids begin trick or treating.Things are going good until they end up at this house and the old couple want to keep the kids there so they can stare at the costumes.They go upstairs and there is a room full of kids.This turns out to be a day dream sequence.I have to say upfront this was super creepy.We go back to Drew's house and her mom says they can't go trick or treating,because a bunch of adults went missing recently.The dad speaks up and says that they will be in a group so they should be fine.They end up going and Shane and Shana don't show up.They do end up running into two people in Jack o' lantern costumes and they lead the kids into the woods.They assume the pumpkin people are Shane and Shana.They go into the woods and this leads to a new neighborhood.They begin trick or treating and the Jack o' lanterns speak,but they sound nothing like Shane and Shauna.They even shoot flames out of their faces.The Jack o lanterns make the kids trick or treat,even when the bags begin to fill up.When they do fill up,they make them eat the candy.They tell them they have to trick or treat forever,eventually one of the kids pull of the Jack o' lantern heads to reveal nothing underneath and the heads laugh even when they drop them on the ground.The kids try to escape agian only for the two Jack o lanterns to make this weird siren sound for other Jack o' lantern people to pop up.This is basically the climax so I'll leave it here.
What I thought about this book as an adult: First things first,I have my first case of Mandela Effect.I remember the ending being something way different,and one scene didn't even happen.I did love the scenes with the talking Jack o' lantern heads,them doing the siren thing and them leading the kids into the woods.It was super creepy,especially if you knew they weren't one hundred percent Shane and Shana.The negatives would honestly be the clunky beginning with the two Halloweens being ruined and the day dream sequence,eventhough it was really good.I can see why this confused me as a kid.I give Attack Of The Jack O' Lanterns a four out of five stars.I also have to say the halloween vibes helped this book alot.
What I thought about this book as a kid:I actually don't have a ton of nostalgia for this book.I actually can't even remember where I was at when reading it.I really only remember the ending and being slightly confused at the beginning.I remember not loving this one,but being excited to see the episode for the first time.
Plot:The story begins with Drew,our main protagonist telling us how excited she is for this year's Halloween.It's her favorite holiday,but she basically has it ruined now because of two people.Tabby and Lee messed up two Halloweens for her and she dosn't want the third one to be bad.We have a flashback of them two halloweens ago and Lee throws a party at his house.At the house two robbers show up and make all of the kids do push ups.It turns out it was just Lee's friends.The next Halloween they have a plan and it involves slime but Lee cancels at the Last minute and Drew and Walker put a hole in the parents couch with the slime.This year Drew is hoping things will be different.She has a plan and invites Tabby and Walker to go trick or treating.Shane and Shana never show up so the kids begin trick or treating.Things are going good until they end up at this house and the old couple want to keep the kids there so they can stare at the costumes.They go upstairs and there is a room full of kids.This turns out to be a day dream sequence.I have to say upfront this was super creepy.We go back to Drew's house and her mom says they can't go trick or treating,because a bunch of adults went missing recently.The dad speaks up and says that they will be in a group so they should be fine.They end up going and Shane and Shana don't show up.They do end up running into two people in Jack o' lantern costumes and they lead the kids into the woods.They assume the pumpkin people are Shane and Shana.They go into the woods and this leads to a new neighborhood.They begin trick or treating and the Jack o' lanterns speak,but they sound nothing like Shane and Shauna.They even shoot flames out of their faces.The Jack o lanterns make the kids trick or treat,even when the bags begin to fill up.When they do fill up,they make them eat the candy.They tell them they have to trick or treat forever,eventually one of the kids pull of the Jack o' lantern heads to reveal nothing underneath and the heads laugh even when they drop them on the ground.The kids try to escape agian only for the two Jack o lanterns to make this weird siren sound for other Jack o' lantern people to pop up.This is basically the climax so I'll leave it here.
What I thought about this book as an adult: First things first,I have my first case of Mandela Effect.I remember the ending being something way different,and one scene didn't even happen.I did love the scenes with the talking Jack o' lantern heads,them doing the siren thing and them leading the kids into the woods.It was super creepy,especially if you knew they weren't one hundred percent Shane and Shana.The negatives would honestly be the clunky beginning with the two Halloweens being ruined and the day dream sequence,eventhough it was really good.I can see why this confused me as a kid.I give Attack Of The Jack O' Lanterns a four out of five stars.I also have to say the halloween vibes helped this book alot.
October 7, 2025
This was pure nostalgia and such a fun read for October! I loved the unexpected, wonderfully weird plot twist, and the final page even made me laugh out loud. Fantastic and fun! 🎃
April 29, 2015
We had no choice but to obey them. We were prisoners. Prisoners of their fire.
Stine writes some really crazy books!
I love it. I mean, bring it on! I love the bizarre, weird, random twists that Stine throws into stuff. I know some people think it's too much to deal with, but I usually eat it up!
Stine starts out on the right foot, page one:
One day my best friend, Walker Parkes, heard my dad call me Elf. So Walker tried it. "What's up, Elf?" Walker said.
I stomped on Walker's foot as hard as I could, and he never called me that again.
Wow, I like this girl already. Is Stine creating a tiny badass? I turn the page:
"Where are you going, Drew?" Dad called from the den.
"Out," I told him, and slammed the front door behind me. I like to keep my parents guessing. I try never to give them a straight answer.
I am liking this girl more and more! Her name is Drew and she has a problem: bullies. Tabitha Weiss and Lee Winston. It all started two years ago...
*cue flashback*
Drew, Walker, Shana and Shane went to Tabby's house for a Halloween party. And guess what? Tabby had rigged a home invasion as a Halloween prank. Yeah, I know! Complete with big guys in gorilla masks and ski masks, bursting in and saying things like:
"It's OUR party now!" the gorilla announced. "We're taking over!"
Imagine the sobbing and terrified children. (This is a party of 10-year-olds). Actually, Stine hints that many are still suffering from the event, having nightmares even now, two years later.
Drew and her three friends have vowed revenge on Tabby and Lee. But how to get it? They spend the whole year meticulously planning for Halloween. Drew puts it around that she's hosting a party and they plan some great scares! But at the last minute, Tabby and Lee cancel.
So, now they are twelve - and it might be their last chance to get revenge! After all, 13 is a bit too old to trick-or-treat, right? They put their heads together and think of the most epic and scary plan to get Lee and Tabby once and for all! But things don't go exactly as they planned...
...
Wow, this was GREAT! Even the twists were knocking my socks off! I had NO IDEA where Stine was going with this, and needless to say all my guesses were wrong because you just can't predict Stine. He always pulls some bizarre-as-heck stuff that is so out of left field no sane person would ever imagine it!
No wonder kids love this series.
Tl;dr - So fun, so Halloween, with a super-surprise twist ending guaranteed to make you shout "What the fuck!?!!?!" at your book! Fun for the whole family!
P.S. Lee is black. I think he's only the second black character in the (so-far) 48-book series.
Stine writes some really crazy books!
I love it. I mean, bring it on! I love the bizarre, weird, random twists that Stine throws into stuff. I know some people think it's too much to deal with, but I usually eat it up!
Stine starts out on the right foot, page one:
One day my best friend, Walker Parkes, heard my dad call me Elf. So Walker tried it. "What's up, Elf?" Walker said.
I stomped on Walker's foot as hard as I could, and he never called me that again.
Wow, I like this girl already. Is Stine creating a tiny badass? I turn the page:
"Where are you going, Drew?" Dad called from the den.
"Out," I told him, and slammed the front door behind me. I like to keep my parents guessing. I try never to give them a straight answer.
I am liking this girl more and more! Her name is Drew and she has a problem: bullies. Tabitha Weiss and Lee Winston. It all started two years ago...
*cue flashback*
Drew, Walker, Shana and Shane went to Tabby's house for a Halloween party. And guess what? Tabby had rigged a home invasion as a Halloween prank. Yeah, I know! Complete with big guys in gorilla masks and ski masks, bursting in and saying things like:
"It's OUR party now!" the gorilla announced. "We're taking over!"
Imagine the sobbing and terrified children. (This is a party of 10-year-olds). Actually, Stine hints that many are still suffering from the event, having nightmares even now, two years later.
Drew and her three friends have vowed revenge on Tabby and Lee. But how to get it? They spend the whole year meticulously planning for Halloween. Drew puts it around that she's hosting a party and they plan some great scares! But at the last minute, Tabby and Lee cancel.
So, now they are twelve - and it might be their last chance to get revenge! After all, 13 is a bit too old to trick-or-treat, right? They put their heads together and think of the most epic and scary plan to get Lee and Tabby once and for all! But things don't go exactly as they planned...
...
Wow, this was GREAT! Even the twists were knocking my socks off! I had NO IDEA where Stine was going with this, and needless to say all my guesses were wrong because you just can't predict Stine. He always pulls some bizarre-as-heck stuff that is so out of left field no sane person would ever imagine it!
No wonder kids love this series.
Tl;dr - So fun, so Halloween, with a super-surprise twist ending guaranteed to make you shout "What the fuck!?!!?!" at your book! Fun for the whole family!
P.S. Lee is black. I think he's only the second black character in the (so-far) 48-book series.
July 27, 2022
Of all the Goosebumps books I've read for the first time when already an adult, this is the first one to have a truly surprising ending.
I honestly did not see that coming.
It was hokey and silly (in a good way) like all the books are, but I had a good giggle when I finished it.
Had I read this as a child I would have spent the rest of my life in love with it, just like Welcome to Dead House, One Night in Terror Tower, and One Day in Horror Land.
Well Done, Stine.
I honestly did not see that coming.
It was hokey and silly (in a good way) like all the books are, but I had a good giggle when I finished it.
Had I read this as a child I would have spent the rest of my life in love with it, just like Welcome to Dead House, One Night in Terror Tower, and One Day in Horror Land.
Well Done, Stine.
March 27, 2015
It just wasn't upto the usual Goosebumps standard. The ending ruined it all. It just ended up too unrealistically. The starting was amazing and had kept me interested from chapter one itself but then it went totally out of sync with those daydream chapters but then when the main Halloween
June 18, 2020
Die Kinder Eva und Alex und ihre Freunde, die Zwillinge Paula und Paul wollen sich rächen. Jedes Jahr wird ihnen die Freude an Halloween von Betty und Nick gründlich verdorben. Doch es ist ihre letzte Chance, es den gemeinen Biestern heimzuzahlen, denn im nächsten Jahr sind sie schon richtige Teenager und zu alt für den Halloween-Spaß.
Die Kapitel sind angenehm kurz gehalten und das nächste Kapitel fängt im Grunde wieder mit einem einführenden Satz zum letzten Kapitel an, so dass man sich nach einer Pause schnell wieder ins Geschehen einfindet. Auch die Sätze sind nicht allzu lang, was gerade für Lesebeginner angenehm ist.
Dieser Gänsehaut-Roman hat mir wirklich eine Gänsehaut gemacht, er war deutlich gruseliger, als ich es erwartet hatte.
Die Kinder Betty und Nick sind wirklich kleine Psychoterroristen, die sich richtig fiese Sachen ausdenken, um Eva und ihren Freunden Halloween zur Hölle zu machen. Ob die Kinder sich wirklich rächen können, oder jetzt richtig Probleme bekommen werden, könnte ich euch verraten, werde es aber nicht tun. Mir hat das Buch sehr gefallen und besonders das Ende hat mich total überrascht.
Das Buch wird für das Alter 10-12 Jahre empfohlen, aber wenn man sich nicht sicher ist, ob das Buch Albträume verursachen könnte, sollte man es vielleicht erst selber lesen.
Die Kapitel sind angenehm kurz gehalten und das nächste Kapitel fängt im Grunde wieder mit einem einführenden Satz zum letzten Kapitel an, so dass man sich nach einer Pause schnell wieder ins Geschehen einfindet. Auch die Sätze sind nicht allzu lang, was gerade für Lesebeginner angenehm ist.
Dieser Gänsehaut-Roman hat mir wirklich eine Gänsehaut gemacht, er war deutlich gruseliger, als ich es erwartet hatte.
Die Kinder Betty und Nick sind wirklich kleine Psychoterroristen, die sich richtig fiese Sachen ausdenken, um Eva und ihren Freunden Halloween zur Hölle zu machen. Ob die Kinder sich wirklich rächen können, oder jetzt richtig Probleme bekommen werden, könnte ich euch verraten, werde es aber nicht tun. Mir hat das Buch sehr gefallen und besonders das Ende hat mich total überrascht.
Das Buch wird für das Alter 10-12 Jahre empfohlen, aber wenn man sich nicht sicher ist, ob das Buch Albträume verursachen könnte, sollte man es vielleicht erst selber lesen.
October 27, 2022
I felt like the best part of this novel is the ambiance. It is perfect for the Halloween season! Aside from that, the storyline was mediocre and the twist was disappointing. This definitely isn’t one of the better Goosebumps stories.
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