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Garbage Pail Kids #1
Welcome to Smellville
Goosebumps creator R. L. Stine teams up with the pop-culture phenomenon Garbage Pail Kids for a first-ever GPK illustrated middle-grade series
Welcome to the town of Smellville, where nine kids all live in a big tumbledown house and have as much fun as they possibly can. People may think that they’re gross and weird and strange, but they’re not bad kids—they just don’t know any better. In this hilarious new series from bestselling author R. L. Stine, the Garbage Pail Kids—from Adam Bomb to Brainy Janie—get into mischief at their middle school, all while battling bullies and their archenemies, Penny and Parker Perfect.
Welcome to the town of Smellville, where nine kids all live in a big tumbledown house and have as much fun as they possibly can. People may think that they’re gross and weird and strange, but they’re not bad kids—they just don’t know any better. In this hilarious new series from bestselling author R. L. Stine, the Garbage Pail Kids—from Adam Bomb to Brainy Janie—get into mischief at their middle school, all while battling bullies and their archenemies, Penny and Parker Perfect.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2020
54 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,679 books18.6k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 6, 2021
I missed out on the original Garbage Pail Kids craze, but I am old enough to have caught R.L. Stine fever. I'll read anything he writes, including his severely underrated humor series, Rotten School. This new series has a familiar Rotten School vibe, but takes full advantage of the Garbage Pail Kid's trademark personalities. Each kid has their own quirk, such as Babbling Brooke who can't stop talking, Junkfood John who can't stop eating, unusually anxious Nervous Rex and Rob Slob, who's supernaturally smelly. Taking a bath only makes it worse.
Structurally, this might be Stine's most unique work. It consists of short vignettes which combine to follow an overarching dilemma of outsmarting the Perfect family next door. Chapters alternate between kid narrators, adding perspective variety. Thrown in are snippets from the Smellville universe, including episodes from the superhero TV show "Johnny Pantsfalldown" and exercise routines from Coach Swettypants.
Some of the jokes are legitimately funny and clever enough that even adults with sufficient immaturity should have a good time. Great for reading out loud since there's so many bizarre personalities. Reading along with the audiobook is also recommended because of the full-cast performance.
As the series continues, I hope we get more and more hints about the bizarre alternate reality where Garbage Pail Kids exist. The kids themselves don't know their backstory, not remembering where they came from or why they don't have any parents. So far, at least, there doesn't appear to be any connection to the movie from the '80s, but maybe that will come later.
A good time overall, and recommended for GPK and Stine fans alike.
Structurally, this might be Stine's most unique work. It consists of short vignettes which combine to follow an overarching dilemma of outsmarting the Perfect family next door. Chapters alternate between kid narrators, adding perspective variety. Thrown in are snippets from the Smellville universe, including episodes from the superhero TV show "Johnny Pantsfalldown" and exercise routines from Coach Swettypants.
Some of the jokes are legitimately funny and clever enough that even adults with sufficient immaturity should have a good time. Great for reading out loud since there's so many bizarre personalities. Reading along with the audiobook is also recommended because of the full-cast performance.
As the series continues, I hope we get more and more hints about the bizarre alternate reality where Garbage Pail Kids exist. The kids themselves don't know their backstory, not remembering where they came from or why they don't have any parents. So far, at least, there doesn't appear to be any connection to the movie from the '80s, but maybe that will come later.
A good time overall, and recommended for GPK and Stine fans alike.
October 23, 2022
(scroll for review in English)
Sí, le he dado tres estrellas a Flush de Virginia Woolf y cuatro a un libro de la pandilla basura. Retiradme vuestro respeto, borradme de vuestra lista de amigos, no me importa. Me lo he pasado estupendamente con este libro, me he reído un puñado de veces y le he cogido afecto a estos niños desastrosos y asquerosos. En especial a Clarita Cerebrita, con ese exocerebro que a ratos parece un six-pack, y que no se sabe si es un genio o lo contrario (en resumen, es un genio). O a Tomás Tembleque, ese ejemplo perfecto de trastorno de ansiedad generalizada. Esa autocita que abre el libro, «No somos malos críos, es que no sabemos hacerlo mejor» no es una excusa para su mal comportamiento, es una muestra de honestidad apabullante. Me enternecen estos chavales, la feroz defensa que hacen de su pequeña comuna sin adultos, su concepto de la amistad y la aceptación incondicional que conlleva (hay que tirar mucho de incondicionalidad para vivir con alguien que huele tan mal como Luisete Guarrete). Admiro su modo de vida antisistema y su rechazo del falso brillo de la vida burguesa y la productividad capitalista. De veras, pensadlo, este libro tiene enseñanzas más positivas que las chotopotocientas temporadas de Caillou juntas. Dádselo a vuestros hijxs, leedlo vosotros mismos y hacedle un sitio en vuestra biblioteca, justo entre Roba este libro y La conquista del pan.
: : : : : : : : : : : :
Yes, I gave three stars to Flush by Virginia Woolf and I give four to a Garbage Pail Kids book. Withhold your respect from me, unfriendme, I don't care. I've had such a great time reading this, I've laughed quite a bit and I've grown fond of these messy, disgusting kids. Especially of Brainey Janey, with that brain that looks like a six pack in some of the illustrations (you can never decide whether she's a genius or the opposite, which is genius in itself I guess). Also of Nervous Rex, who is the poster child for generalized anxiety disorder. That phrase at the beginning of the book, "We're not bad kids. We just don't know any better", is not a cheap excuse for their bad behaviour, it's a disarming display of honesty. I find so endearing their friendship, the way they fight to protect their adult-free commune and the unconditional support behind the continual teasing each other (you really have to love unconditionally to live with someone so stinky as Rob Slob). I salute their anti-establishment way of life, their rejection to the phoney sheen of bourgeoisie and the productivity creed of capitalism. Think about it: this book contains more valuable teachings than the whole Caillou series. Give it to your children, read it yourselves and find a spot for it in your library, just between Steal this book and The Conquest of Bread.
Sí, le he dado tres estrellas a Flush de Virginia Woolf y cuatro a un libro de la pandilla basura. Retiradme vuestro respeto, borradme de vuestra lista de amigos, no me importa. Me lo he pasado estupendamente con este libro, me he reído un puñado de veces y le he cogido afecto a estos niños desastrosos y asquerosos. En especial a Clarita Cerebrita, con ese exocerebro que a ratos parece un six-pack, y que no se sabe si es un genio o lo contrario (en resumen, es un genio). O a Tomás Tembleque, ese ejemplo perfecto de trastorno de ansiedad generalizada. Esa autocita que abre el libro, «No somos malos críos, es que no sabemos hacerlo mejor» no es una excusa para su mal comportamiento, es una muestra de honestidad apabullante. Me enternecen estos chavales, la feroz defensa que hacen de su pequeña comuna sin adultos, su concepto de la amistad y la aceptación incondicional que conlleva (hay que tirar mucho de incondicionalidad para vivir con alguien que huele tan mal como Luisete Guarrete). Admiro su modo de vida antisistema y su rechazo del falso brillo de la vida burguesa y la productividad capitalista. De veras, pensadlo, este libro tiene enseñanzas más positivas que las chotopotocientas temporadas de Caillou juntas. Dádselo a vuestros hijxs, leedlo vosotros mismos y hacedle un sitio en vuestra biblioteca, justo entre Roba este libro y La conquista del pan.
: : : : : : : : : : : :
Yes, I gave three stars to Flush by Virginia Woolf and I give four to a Garbage Pail Kids book. Withhold your respect from me, unfriendme, I don't care. I've had such a great time reading this, I've laughed quite a bit and I've grown fond of these messy, disgusting kids. Especially of Brainey Janey, with that brain that looks like a six pack in some of the illustrations (you can never decide whether she's a genius or the opposite, which is genius in itself I guess). Also of Nervous Rex, who is the poster child for generalized anxiety disorder. That phrase at the beginning of the book, "We're not bad kids. We just don't know any better", is not a cheap excuse for their bad behaviour, it's a disarming display of honesty. I find so endearing their friendship, the way they fight to protect their adult-free commune and the unconditional support behind the continual teasing each other (you really have to love unconditionally to live with someone so stinky as Rob Slob). I salute their anti-establishment way of life, their rejection to the phoney sheen of bourgeoisie and the productivity creed of capitalism. Think about it: this book contains more valuable teachings than the whole Caillou series. Give it to your children, read it yourselves and find a spot for it in your library, just between Steal this book and The Conquest of Bread.
September 29, 2020
Narration is good. It's a cute and gross plot with a couple funny parts. I imagine the ebook will be much better, since it's illustrated.
February 12, 2023
As an 80's kid the garbage gang kids sticker cards (as they were called in Australia) was the thing to collect. So many awesome memories of opening a new packet and being hit with the smell of the stick of chewing gum that came with it. The characters themselves were a gross parody of the cabbage patch dolls which were also big at the time. These cards bring back such great memories.
R.L Stein decided to write a book about these characters. The same man responsible for the Goosebumps horror books I loved reading and ordering from the Scholastic book club catalogues we got at school as kids.
This book is a silly and fun read. Not to be taken too seriously. I enjoyed seeing the characters from the sticker cards come to life. If this was released when I was a kid I would have absolutely loved it. It was a nice blast from the past.
R.L Stein decided to write a book about these characters. The same man responsible for the Goosebumps horror books I loved reading and ordering from the Scholastic book club catalogues we got at school as kids.
This book is a silly and fun read. Not to be taken too seriously. I enjoyed seeing the characters from the sticker cards come to life. If this was released when I was a kid I would have absolutely loved it. It was a nice blast from the past.
November 5, 2020
A fun Middle Grade book that totally brought back memories of collecting and trading my Garbage Pail Kid cards from my own misspent youth! The audio book is narrated by a full cast, which really added to the individualness of the kids, and the way that people view events slightly differently from one another. In this first book, the Garbage Pail Kids scramble to thwart the Perfects from finding out that they live alone. The kids use their strengths and work together to stay together. It's gross, funny, and the descriptions are so vivid I swear it was smelly too!
March 18, 2021
This book is funny, easy to read, and 'perfect' for me and many other readers too.
December 6, 2020
Let me start out by saying this was not what I expected when I picked up this R.L. Stine audiobook. I am not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this novel. I am not quite sure how I feel about it still, but I do know it made me want to shower after reading it. R. L. Stine is usually known for his horror/scary/spooky story telling in which there's always an unexpected twist. This novel wasn't super scary or spooky, but it was pretty horrific. It was pretty gross and disgusting. I did love the creative names: Adam Bomb, Nervous Rex, Brainy Janey, Junkfood John, Luke Puke, etc. The whole novel was punny and witty, but filled with trash can humor (pun intended). I can't say I loved the novel, but I didn't hate it.
Recommended for: Middle School boys, 5-8 grade students, fans of R.L. Stine
Recommended for: Middle School boys, 5-8 grade students, fans of R.L. Stine
February 19, 2021
I read this with my 5 year old son and he loved it.
July 9, 2021
A cat is tortured in the first 3 minutes of the book. And this is meant for middle schoolers??? I was a huge Garbage Pail Kids fan growing up and a massive R.L. Stine fan, but there’s no way I’d let my kid read this.
August 12, 2021
What a funny book! I grew up with Garbage Pail Kids so I had to explore it.
December 27, 2021
Welcome to Smellville is perfectly entertaining nonsense for kids and hardcore GPK fans. More general readers might not get much out of this gross, silly, and scatter-brained novel.
January 18, 2021
A must-have for any GPK fan. It was fantastic seeing all my favorites come to life on the page.
October 31, 2020
I read this because I was both curious about the Garbage Pail Kids (I was just outside of the cusp of that 80s trend), and RL Stine (I hate horror and have been hesitant to try him). This audiobook is 100% what you would expect based on the cover. There is a very frail plot that is linked together by jokes about vomit, body odor, boogers, and general dirtiness. The garbage pail kids have absolutely no idea how all ten of them wound up living alone together in a house without parents. There's no attempt at backstory, and there's a straightforward "We don't know" explanation. When the Perfects come to visit and check on the GPKs, they have to band together to get the Perfects off their back so they can continue living their lives unsupervised.
The perspectives shifted from character to character and told the story consecutively in chunks. The voice actors were fantastic. I felt like I was listening to a cartoon full of slapstick, gross humor, and craziness. Not bad, but definitely not for me! haha
The perspectives shifted from character to character and told the story consecutively in chunks. The voice actors were fantastic. I felt like I was listening to a cartoon full of slapstick, gross humor, and craziness. Not bad, but definitely not for me! haha
March 8, 2021
Wasn't too bad...wasn't too good either .
March 8, 2023
It was great and gross
February 25, 2024
Critical Book Review by Kiba Snowpaw
Title: "Welcome to Smellville" (Garbage Pail Kids #1)
Author: R.L. Stine
Illustrators: Jeff Zapata, Joe Simko
Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Audiobook, Childrens, Young Readers, Fiction, Juvenile
Page Count: 208 pages
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Essential Hook and Thesis:
"Welcome to Smellville" marries the grotesque charm of the Garbage Pail Kids with the storytelling prowess of R.L. Stine, offering a dive into a world where mischief and the macabre meet middle school. As Kiba Snowpaw, a Furry Ice Wolf from HowlStrom, I've ventured through many realms, but Smellville presents a uniquely pungent challenge, with its inhabitants’ adventures and misadventures, reflecting the uncanny blend of humor and horror that only Stine can conjure.
Basic Plot Summary:
The narrative unfolds in Smellville, where nine distinctively quirky kids live together in a tumbledown house, embodying the essence of the Garbage Pail Kids’ universe. These kids, ranging from Adam Bomb to Brainy Janie, navigate their way through middle school while dealing with bullies, the Perfect family, and their own bizarre circumstances. Their story is a series of vignettes, each contributing to a larger plot of camaraderie, acceptance, and the fight against conformity.
Praise:
Stine’s venture into the Garbage Pail Kids universe retains his signature blend of humor and suspense, making "Welcome to Smellville" a memorable addition to his oeuvre. The book’s structure, offering multiple perspectives, enriches the narrative, allowing readers to connect deeply with each character’s peculiarities. The illustrations by Zapata and Simko add a vibrant layer to the tale, bringing the grotesque yet endearing characters to life. For those of us who appreciate the wilder side of life in HowlStrom, the creative names and pun-filled humor resonate with the chaotic energy of youth and rebellion.
Critique and Criticism:
While the book excels in humor and creativity, its plot sometimes feels disjointed, a common challenge in stories told through vignettes. The rapid shift in narrators, although innovative, can disrupt the narrative flow, leaving readers craving a more cohesive storyline. Additionally, the book’s humor, heavily reliant on gross-out jokes, might not appeal to all, especially those outside its target demographic of middle-grade readers. As a Furry Ice Wolf with a taste for nuanced adventures, I found myself yearning for more depth in character development and a stronger central conflict.
Evaluation:
From the frosty expanses of HowlStrom, where every day is a battle for survival and acceptance, "Welcome to Smellville" offers a light-hearted, if somewhat surface-level, exploration of similar themes. It’s a tale that reminds us of the importance of embracing our differences and standing united against adversity. However, the potential for deeper storytelling and character exploration remains largely untapped, leaving room for growth in future installments.
Conclusion:
"Welcome to Smellville" is a commendable attempt at expanding the Garbage Pail Kids lore into middle-grade literature, with R.L. Stine’s humorous touch making it a delightful read. While it may not delve as deep into the characters' origins or the intricacies of their world as one might hope, it succeeds in offering a series of entertaining escapades that celebrate the oddities of life. As Kiba Snowpaw, I appreciate the journey to Smellville, acknowledging its place within the broader tapestry of children’s literature as a beacon for those who find beauty in the bizarre.
Title: "Welcome to Smellville" (Garbage Pail Kids #1)
Author: R.L. Stine
Illustrators: Jeff Zapata, Joe Simko
Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Audiobook, Childrens, Young Readers, Fiction, Juvenile
Page Count: 208 pages
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Essential Hook and Thesis:
"Welcome to Smellville" marries the grotesque charm of the Garbage Pail Kids with the storytelling prowess of R.L. Stine, offering a dive into a world where mischief and the macabre meet middle school. As Kiba Snowpaw, a Furry Ice Wolf from HowlStrom, I've ventured through many realms, but Smellville presents a uniquely pungent challenge, with its inhabitants’ adventures and misadventures, reflecting the uncanny blend of humor and horror that only Stine can conjure.
Basic Plot Summary:
The narrative unfolds in Smellville, where nine distinctively quirky kids live together in a tumbledown house, embodying the essence of the Garbage Pail Kids’ universe. These kids, ranging from Adam Bomb to Brainy Janie, navigate their way through middle school while dealing with bullies, the Perfect family, and their own bizarre circumstances. Their story is a series of vignettes, each contributing to a larger plot of camaraderie, acceptance, and the fight against conformity.
Praise:
Stine’s venture into the Garbage Pail Kids universe retains his signature blend of humor and suspense, making "Welcome to Smellville" a memorable addition to his oeuvre. The book’s structure, offering multiple perspectives, enriches the narrative, allowing readers to connect deeply with each character’s peculiarities. The illustrations by Zapata and Simko add a vibrant layer to the tale, bringing the grotesque yet endearing characters to life. For those of us who appreciate the wilder side of life in HowlStrom, the creative names and pun-filled humor resonate with the chaotic energy of youth and rebellion.
Critique and Criticism:
While the book excels in humor and creativity, its plot sometimes feels disjointed, a common challenge in stories told through vignettes. The rapid shift in narrators, although innovative, can disrupt the narrative flow, leaving readers craving a more cohesive storyline. Additionally, the book’s humor, heavily reliant on gross-out jokes, might not appeal to all, especially those outside its target demographic of middle-grade readers. As a Furry Ice Wolf with a taste for nuanced adventures, I found myself yearning for more depth in character development and a stronger central conflict.
Evaluation:
From the frosty expanses of HowlStrom, where every day is a battle for survival and acceptance, "Welcome to Smellville" offers a light-hearted, if somewhat surface-level, exploration of similar themes. It’s a tale that reminds us of the importance of embracing our differences and standing united against adversity. However, the potential for deeper storytelling and character exploration remains largely untapped, leaving room for growth in future installments.
Conclusion:
"Welcome to Smellville" is a commendable attempt at expanding the Garbage Pail Kids lore into middle-grade literature, with R.L. Stine’s humorous touch making it a delightful read. While it may not delve as deep into the characters' origins or the intricacies of their world as one might hope, it succeeds in offering a series of entertaining escapades that celebrate the oddities of life. As Kiba Snowpaw, I appreciate the journey to Smellville, acknowledging its place within the broader tapestry of children’s literature as a beacon for those who find beauty in the bizarre.
March 3, 2022
Por muy raro que os parezca, la pandilla basura no es una pandilla normal. Son niños muy diferentes al resto, y ellos lo saben. Viven juntos en una casa un poco destartalada, pero no saben cómo llegaron allí, ni tampoco de dónde vienen. Ni siquiera tienen mamá o papá, pero no los necesitan porque saben cuidarse solos.
Ellos son: Íñigo explosivo, Irma Nitas, Clarita Cerebrita, Sansón Tragón, Luisete Guarrete, Chicho Bicho, Fátima Farfullo, Tomás Tembleque, Ricardito Vomito y Elena Jenada (y sus mascotas, el loro Escupitajo y el perro Cagón). Puede que os parezcan asquerosillos, desaliñados y más raros que un cerdo volando pero no son malos críos: es que no saben hacerlo mejor.
Mientras tratan de sobrevivir en la Escuela Primaria Villapeste, viven todo tipo de aventuras, como por ejemplo, competir en un proyecto de ciencias y en un concurso de mascotas con Pedro y Petra Perfecto, que son... pues eso, perfectos, y siempre ganan en todo.
Querrán echarlos de casa, tendrán una madre sorpresa o viajarán a un parque de atracciones en el que también competirán por ver quién se lo pasa mejor. Incluso se atreverán a romper la cuarta pared.
Con ellos nos lo pasaremos genial y nos reiremos muchísimo, porque son el prototipo de personaje que hace reír a los pequeños: son despistados, irritantes y bastante escatológicos.
Su creador, R. L. Stine (el creador de Pesadillas), ha logrado de nuevo hacer que muchos niños (y adultos como yo) se queden pegados a un libro.
Muy recomendado si quieres pasar un buen rato y echarte unas risas, volverás de nuevo a la infancia
Ellos son: Íñigo explosivo, Irma Nitas, Clarita Cerebrita, Sansón Tragón, Luisete Guarrete, Chicho Bicho, Fátima Farfullo, Tomás Tembleque, Ricardito Vomito y Elena Jenada (y sus mascotas, el loro Escupitajo y el perro Cagón). Puede que os parezcan asquerosillos, desaliñados y más raros que un cerdo volando pero no son malos críos: es que no saben hacerlo mejor.
Mientras tratan de sobrevivir en la Escuela Primaria Villapeste, viven todo tipo de aventuras, como por ejemplo, competir en un proyecto de ciencias y en un concurso de mascotas con Pedro y Petra Perfecto, que son... pues eso, perfectos, y siempre ganan en todo.
Querrán echarlos de casa, tendrán una madre sorpresa o viajarán a un parque de atracciones en el que también competirán por ver quién se lo pasa mejor. Incluso se atreverán a romper la cuarta pared.
Con ellos nos lo pasaremos genial y nos reiremos muchísimo, porque son el prototipo de personaje que hace reír a los pequeños: son despistados, irritantes y bastante escatológicos.
Su creador, R. L. Stine (el creador de Pesadillas), ha logrado de nuevo hacer que muchos niños (y adultos como yo) se queden pegados a un libro.
Muy recomendado si quieres pasar un buen rato y echarte unas risas, volverás de nuevo a la infancia
February 21, 2021
This is a great book to listen to with the kids at bedtime. Cute characters with great humour and lessons.
The story is centred around a group of garbage pail kids, that all have their own unique characteristics, that live in a house without any parents. They aren’t sure how they got to Smellville or how they got their adorable dog and annoying, but humorous parrot. Two of their classmates, who are perfect, live next door and their parents don’t like the kids or how noisy and smelly they are. The parents want them out of the neighbourhood, so the kids have to come up with a plan, or two, to stay in the house and stay together.
RL Stein has another great series, that could become classic.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the free audiobook advanced copy
#welcometosmellville #netgalley #indigoemployy
The story is centred around a group of garbage pail kids, that all have their own unique characteristics, that live in a house without any parents. They aren’t sure how they got to Smellville or how they got their adorable dog and annoying, but humorous parrot. Two of their classmates, who are perfect, live next door and their parents don’t like the kids or how noisy and smelly they are. The parents want them out of the neighbourhood, so the kids have to come up with a plan, or two, to stay in the house and stay together.
RL Stein has another great series, that could become classic.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the free audiobook advanced copy
#welcometosmellville #netgalley #indigoemployy
October 7, 2020
A bit painful, but I think it is because it is written for kids. It is a lot like the old cartoon. The jokes are groaners, even worse than shitty puns. But that’s kind of what garbage pail kids is about. It’s like John Waters for kids.
Actually scratch that. GPK aspires to be John Waters for kids, i.e. a celebration of trash and trash culture and trashiness. The shitty jokes are just something along for the ride.
Characters are okay. Nervous Rex is kind of cool, and relevant. Atom Bomb sticks out as kind of the spokesperson for the series. The rest of the characters are B list at best.
I’ll probably read more in the series though 🙄
It’d make a good, new cartoon on Netflix or something.
God I hope they do these kids justice some day. They’re getting there.
Actually scratch that. GPK aspires to be John Waters for kids, i.e. a celebration of trash and trash culture and trashiness. The shitty jokes are just something along for the ride.
Characters are okay. Nervous Rex is kind of cool, and relevant. Atom Bomb sticks out as kind of the spokesperson for the series. The rest of the characters are B list at best.
I’ll probably read more in the series though 🙄
It’d make a good, new cartoon on Netflix or something.
God I hope they do these kids justice some day. They’re getting there.
October 5, 2020
This book was nothing but nostalgia for me. I grew up with GPK cards and stickers and watching cartoons. I loved them. And RL Stein has taken me right back to that time. There were many times I felt the book was repetitive. For example, each time the narrator changed it changed with almost the same wording. And then we would hear the same story told from a different view. About the only thing I didn’t really like was the mom character. She was quite mean, and even if it was only for a few chapters, i don’t like the thought of anyone being beaten with a cane. But overall, I think kids will love this book as much as I did.
April 4, 2021
Dude. Two of my favorite things from childhood combined into one hilarious story?!! Sold!
My kids laughed a lot as I read this to them. Stine proves scaring pre-pubescent adolescents isn’t the only trick he’s got up his sleeve.
Between the running gags, the gross-out antics, and the funny one-liners, R. L. has crafted a great first entry into a new and (hopefully) long running franchise.
The gross is gross enough to make kids gag but not to the point where I ever felt like closing the book. The GBKs themselves are written with such personalities you never have to guess which one is telling the story.
Overall, a really enjoyable book that made for a great family read.
My kids laughed a lot as I read this to them. Stine proves scaring pre-pubescent adolescents isn’t the only trick he’s got up his sleeve.
Between the running gags, the gross-out antics, and the funny one-liners, R. L. has crafted a great first entry into a new and (hopefully) long running franchise.
The gross is gross enough to make kids gag but not to the point where I ever felt like closing the book. The GBKs themselves are written with such personalities you never have to guess which one is telling the story.
Overall, a really enjoyable book that made for a great family read.
February 1, 2023
If you smell something terrible, I assure you the smell is truly there. I was grossed out by some of the nasty characters. These Garbage Pail Kids smell bad, live together, and look like cute Cabbage Patch dolls, but they are dirty, nasty, intelligent, and weird. The illustrations were amazing. R.L. Stine brings us a group of kids that might give the perfect neighbors nightmares for the rest of their lives. This was a fun read, with a group of kids who are all different and weird. They live together alone and attend school. They are the odd kids in Smellville. Can the Garbage Pail Kids outsmart the Perfect neighbors? I guess you will have to read the book to find out.
April 24, 2024
Dear gods what have I gotten myself into with this series? Okay. So went do you get when you mix R.L.Stine and The Garbage Pail Kids? The most interesting, nostalgic book ever.
The story is told by ten of the GPK and as such it's absolutely all over the place. Its definitely funny, but I absolutely felt a brain cell or two wither and die. The whole story is complete nonsense, but kids are absolutely going to love it and I think it would be a great way to get stubborn readers to read a whole book.
I give this bol book 5 of 5 Paws because R.L.Stine has only secured his three decade long legend status with this gross, but fun read.
The story is told by ten of the GPK and as such it's absolutely all over the place. Its definitely funny, but I absolutely felt a brain cell or two wither and die. The whole story is complete nonsense, but kids are absolutely going to love it and I think it would be a great way to get stubborn readers to read a whole book.
I give this bol book 5 of 5 Paws because R.L.Stine has only secured his three decade long legend status with this gross, but fun read.
December 18, 2020
It’s a cute, simple story that was a great audio listen. I liked the full cast and thought everyone did a great job.
There were parts that actually made me laugh out loud while listening. Of course, there were also some parts that were pretty disgusting to hear. But being very familiar with all of the Garbage Pail Kids, this was a fun way to be reminded of my childhood. This is definitely a fun read for young readers.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the audiobook for review.
There were parts that actually made me laugh out loud while listening. Of course, there were also some parts that were pretty disgusting to hear. But being very familiar with all of the Garbage Pail Kids, this was a fun way to be reminded of my childhood. This is definitely a fun read for young readers.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the audiobook for review.
October 5, 2023
Content Warnings: Rude behavior, Gross-out themes (think 90s slime, puke, poop, etc)
I sampled this from the Audible Plus library because of R.L. Stine's name and my kids insisted we listen to the whole thing. Thanks to the parrot, my kids now like to repeat "No, YOU shut your yap!" Playfully back and forth.
Was it great? No. Was it good? It had its moments of silly humor that hit right. Was it palatable? Yes, if a bit off-beat. Was it terrible? No.
My kids loved this dumb book and may read more at the library after listening.
I sampled this from the Audible Plus library because of R.L. Stine's name and my kids insisted we listen to the whole thing. Thanks to the parrot, my kids now like to repeat "No, YOU shut your yap!" Playfully back and forth.
Was it great? No. Was it good? It had its moments of silly humor that hit right. Was it palatable? Yes, if a bit off-beat. Was it terrible? No.
My kids loved this dumb book and may read more at the library after listening.
October 5, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for this audiobook.
This was such a fun, cute, and gross (in a good way) audiobook to listen to. The perfect story for a middle school kid.
The narrator was great and there were noises playing in the background to go along with the scenes. It felt as if I were watching a movie! I loved this one so much I bought a copy for my 9 year old cousin for her birthday this weekend. I think she will get a kick out of it!
This was such a fun, cute, and gross (in a good way) audiobook to listen to. The perfect story for a middle school kid.
The narrator was great and there were noises playing in the background to go along with the scenes. It felt as if I were watching a movie! I loved this one so much I bought a copy for my 9 year old cousin for her birthday this weekend. I think she will get a kick out of it!
October 20, 2020
I read this with my 10 year old son. He us a huge RL Stine fan (Goosebumps mostly). He loved the book despite it being a very different type of book. This is a silly middle school story....not a middle school horror/scary story.
I also really enjoyed it...first I enjoy reading with my son every day. But as a child of the 80's....this brought back so many fun memories!
The illustrations are fantastic too.
I also really enjoyed it...first I enjoy reading with my son every day. But as a child of the 80's....this brought back so many fun memories!
The illustrations are fantastic too.
October 30, 2020
Perfect fun and fond memories!- Fans of this pop culture trend will eat this up...Not to mention new ones who get curious about the cast of characters. Different narrator's and smooth transitions make each unique Garbage Pail Kid come to life. The story follows a house of parent less kids as they try to deter the "perfects" from learning about their lack of supervision. Don't be surprised if you audibly gasp at some of the well written gags and descriptions. Very good work by Stine!
November 4, 2020
I realky enjoyed this book it was cute and it brought with it fond memories. I have the nostalgia of the old goosebumps series that my oldest son absolutely loved and we had to buy every book as soon as it released. The narration was very good and each character was entertaining it is a good start in the series and I look forward to more! It was a great walk down memory lane! And my grandchildren are sure to love it.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
December 15, 2022
Crazy fun story- I missed the Garbage Pail craze, but have been an R. L. Stine fan for most of my life so had to read when I seen this. Short read, but worth reading if you want a little grotesque in you're life. 😜
Pretty tame since its target age is much younger than me, but I enjoyed it anyway.
Thanks Spokane Public Libraries (Spokane, WA) for allowing patrons to use Hoopla through you to borrow e-books.
Pretty tame since its target age is much younger than me, but I enjoyed it anyway.
Thanks Spokane Public Libraries (Spokane, WA) for allowing patrons to use Hoopla through you to borrow e-books.
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