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Shivers #6
The Haunting House
Home, Sweet Deadly, Home. . .
When Caitlin moves into an old house, she has a strange feeling. . . Bizarre noises bother her. Weird things start to happen--things that cannot be explained. At first Caitlin thinks the house must be haunted. But, is there something at work even more frightening than ghosts--AND MORE DANGEROUS?????
When Caitlin moves into an old house, she has a strange feeling. . . Bizarre noises bother her. Weird things start to happen--things that cannot be explained. At first Caitlin thinks the house must be haunted. But, is there something at work even more frightening than ghosts--AND MORE DANGEROUS?????
117 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
5 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
M.D. Spenser
58 books140 followersM.D. Spenser is a children's author, journalist and music critic. Born in the United States, he lives now in the UK.
"The Enchanted Attic," Book 1 of his popular SHIVERS series of novels for children, was republished as an e-book in August 2011. It is available at amazone.com, Barnes & Noble, Sony and iBookstory. Book 2, "A Ghastly Shade of Green," and Book 3, "Ghost Writer," followed shortly afterwards.
The rest of the 36-book series will be published as ebooks over time.
Also, an internet petition is circulating asking that the entire 36-book series be republished in paperback: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/md...
"The Enchanted Attic," Book 1 of his popular SHIVERS series of novels for children, was republished as an e-book in August 2011. It is available at amazone.com, Barnes & Noble, Sony and iBookstory. Book 2, "A Ghastly Shade of Green," and Book 3, "Ghost Writer," followed shortly afterwards.
The rest of the 36-book series will be published as ebooks over time.
Also, an internet petition is circulating asking that the entire 36-book series be republished in paperback: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/md...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 23, 2025
So I officially started moving and I really wanted to do a book all about moving so I decided to try a Shivers book.My last shivers book was one of the worst things I've ever read and this book is on a fellow YouTubers worst books of 2024,so needless to say I'm excited.The story follows Caitlin and her sister Lynne.Lynne is the younger one of the two.They just moved into a new house and by new I mean old and rundown.The previous family moved out very quickly.Caitlin begins to notice things that happen like her clothes she unpacked is packed back up.The heater being turned off even though it's really cold outside.and her windows being pulled open She immediately suspects Lynne but she claims she has no part of it so she assumes it's ghosts.She even reads a book she has all about this and the book includes the word suicide and that's pretty wild for these kinds of books.Lynn reaches in a drawer and it slams shut on her finger but she doesn't belive that it's a ghost.I honestly dont remember what she thinks is going on.Caitlin reads more of the ghost book and realizes that the house isn't actually haunted its a Haunting house
,meaning that the house itself is alive and is getting revenge for being forgotten.Yes.The parents eventually leave the kids alone and the house really starts going crazy.It tries slamming a window shut on one of the kids neck.And completely breaking apart at one point.A fellow YouTuber warned me about this book having a ridiculous conclusion and it was indeed stupid.But I didn't hate it.I give The Haunting House a three put of five stars.I liked the danger of the house and appreciated the unique premise of the house itself being alive but other then that this was a very boring book.The writing was also really bad in here.
,meaning that the house itself is alive and is getting revenge for being forgotten.Yes.The parents eventually leave the kids alone and the house really starts going crazy.It tries slamming a window shut on one of the kids neck.And completely breaking apart at one point.A fellow YouTuber warned me about this book having a ridiculous conclusion and it was indeed stupid.But I didn't hate it.I give The Haunting House a three put of five stars.I liked the danger of the house and appreciated the unique premise of the house itself being alive but other then that this was a very boring book.The writing was also really bad in here.
August 10, 2023
Dead book put that on the title
September 16, 2025
Alright, back to the ripoff round with Shivers. The series that sure does exist. This takes us to the early part of the series once again for a haunted house story. Sort of. This is another that will be quick.
Lynne and Catlynn have moved into a new house and aren't happy about it, as it’s more run down and they don’t like moving, Soon they have more to dislike as odd things happen around the house. Like objects being moved and dad getting hurt by cutting himself by accident. This house is odd and it turns out they may have more than a typical haunted house on their hands.
So this one is fine. The plot itself is decent enough, with a basic and easy to get concept. Spoilers, it’s a HAUNTING house and here that means the house is alive and can kill you if it wants to. That’s a fun idea and they do enough with it. It doesn’t take too long to get going and is mostly constant action.
The resolution is super corny but it makes sense in context. There is some mild growth as the siblings start off arguing but do improve as they have to work together. So there is mild emotion. The main problem here is the writing which is worse than average, frankly.
It feels dragged on as each thought that crosses MD Spenser’s mind is one that he feels the need to beat you over the head with. The dialogue is like this, as they’ll express a thought and drag it out. It’s pretty repetitive and takes away from the suspense it could have had, at least in the early parts.
It gets started too quickly and they realize what is going on too fast and it lacks a lot of room to breathe early on. This improves once the action really ramps up as it’s mostly fun with a lot of action. The writing still has those problems but at least it’s less noticeable. There are bits of good writing here and there but by large it is not great.
The book does have a rushed feel to it which means it lacks enough impact. But the trade off is that it’s not boring and moves at a decent pace with some action. So as a whole, it’s on the decent side. On the lower end to an extent but compared to others, at least things happen lol.
These early Shivers books do tamer and simpler, while even the bad later ones will at least be crazy and memorable to some extent. If you can stomach the writing, it’s fine enough. Not the best or worst from the series. These rounds have been giving books on that level lately lol.
But yeah, there it is. Next time, we have to go back to Graveyard School with a book about a bathroom. …Alright.
See ya then.
(Also, this is the one where they just name drop Shivers. Seriously)
Lynne and Catlynn have moved into a new house and aren't happy about it, as it’s more run down and they don’t like moving, Soon they have more to dislike as odd things happen around the house. Like objects being moved and dad getting hurt by cutting himself by accident. This house is odd and it turns out they may have more than a typical haunted house on their hands.
So this one is fine. The plot itself is decent enough, with a basic and easy to get concept. Spoilers, it’s a HAUNTING house and here that means the house is alive and can kill you if it wants to. That’s a fun idea and they do enough with it. It doesn’t take too long to get going and is mostly constant action.
The resolution is super corny but it makes sense in context. There is some mild growth as the siblings start off arguing but do improve as they have to work together. So there is mild emotion. The main problem here is the writing which is worse than average, frankly.
It feels dragged on as each thought that crosses MD Spenser’s mind is one that he feels the need to beat you over the head with. The dialogue is like this, as they’ll express a thought and drag it out. It’s pretty repetitive and takes away from the suspense it could have had, at least in the early parts.
It gets started too quickly and they realize what is going on too fast and it lacks a lot of room to breathe early on. This improves once the action really ramps up as it’s mostly fun with a lot of action. The writing still has those problems but at least it’s less noticeable. There are bits of good writing here and there but by large it is not great.
The book does have a rushed feel to it which means it lacks enough impact. But the trade off is that it’s not boring and moves at a decent pace with some action. So as a whole, it’s on the decent side. On the lower end to an extent but compared to others, at least things happen lol.
These early Shivers books do tamer and simpler, while even the bad later ones will at least be crazy and memorable to some extent. If you can stomach the writing, it’s fine enough. Not the best or worst from the series. These rounds have been giving books on that level lately lol.
But yeah, there it is. Next time, we have to go back to Graveyard School with a book about a bathroom. …Alright.
See ya then.
(Also, this is the one where they just name drop Shivers. Seriously)
July 28, 2021
I used to love all of the books in the 'Shivers' series when I was younger. Writing in the vein of R.L. Stine's 'Goosebumps' series, M.D. Spenser does a good job of writing an enjoyable story with a good amount of scary moments in this book.
'The Haunting House' is not M.D. Spenser's best entry in the 'Shivers' series. First of all, it lacks the creativity which makes some of his other books stand out. With reference to the title, the main premise of this book is the distinction between a haunted house and a 'haunting' house in that the latter is not simply haunted by supernatural entities like ghosts. It is the house itself which tries to attack its occupants in any way that it can in order to get rid of them. However, the story itself still ends up being clichéd with not enough interesting elements to make it different than the numerous other stories dealing with hauntings out there.
Maybe I have read too many 'Shivers' and 'Goosebumps' stories when I was young but this book was not as entertaining and interesting as I had hoped.
'The Haunting House' is not M.D. Spenser's best entry in the 'Shivers' series. First of all, it lacks the creativity which makes some of his other books stand out. With reference to the title, the main premise of this book is the distinction between a haunted house and a 'haunting' house in that the latter is not simply haunted by supernatural entities like ghosts. It is the house itself which tries to attack its occupants in any way that it can in order to get rid of them. However, the story itself still ends up being clichéd with not enough interesting elements to make it different than the numerous other stories dealing with hauntings out there.
Maybe I have read too many 'Shivers' and 'Goosebumps' stories when I was young but this book was not as entertaining and interesting as I had hoped.
October 19, 2017
This family with two daughters Caitlin and Lynne move into their new home only things start going wrong right away.
Lynne plays in back yard with a hole her dad told her not too and after she says she hates house the hole starts filling in with dirt. Next boxes that are unpacked get packed back up again. Lynne's fingers get smashed up in a drawer and their dad gets cut on knife.
Their parents think it's them and tell them that the house is fine and they are going to some party that night. They leave them alone and the house starts attacking the girls every time they say they hate it.
Eventually Caitlin catches on that the house is the thing doing the haunting not a ghost. They stop saying they hate the house and say they love it and Lynne isn't killed by the house when she almost was. Their parents believe them cause all the damage that was done is hard to deny.
I thought Lynne was annoying and that their parents were just rude.
Lynne plays in back yard with a hole her dad told her not too and after she says she hates house the hole starts filling in with dirt. Next boxes that are unpacked get packed back up again. Lynne's fingers get smashed up in a drawer and their dad gets cut on knife.
Their parents think it's them and tell them that the house is fine and they are going to some party that night. They leave them alone and the house starts attacking the girls every time they say they hate it.
Eventually Caitlin catches on that the house is the thing doing the haunting not a ghost. They stop saying they hate the house and say they love it and Lynne isn't killed by the house when she almost was. Their parents believe them cause all the damage that was done is hard to deny.
I thought Lynne was annoying and that their parents were just rude.
January 3, 2018
I almost gave this 3 stars because once things get crazy it got pretty good.
However...
There’s s number of typos.
Self referencing the Shivers series is just an awful idea.
The solution to the problem makes zero sense. The first “event” doesn’t even happen in the house so WTF book? And complimenting the house is how you defeat it? Sweet mother of god....
However...
There’s s number of typos.
Self referencing the Shivers series is just an awful idea.
The solution to the problem makes zero sense. The first “event” doesn’t even happen in the house so WTF book? And complimenting the house is how you defeat it? Sweet mother of god....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2018
Good book!! Good story!!
August 15, 2021
For me this was the most horrifying novel i had ever read in my whole childhood.
April 24, 2023
I remember enjoying this one as a kid, but the good concept is wasted on the poor execution.
Read
February 1, 2025One from my teen years but still love.
March 15, 2010
This book is about two kids. When their parents leave their house comes to life.
This was a good book but not the best. It started out kinda boring but got a little better I can't even remember how they solved the problem of the house. I think they just complimented it but I'm not sure.
This was a good book but not the best. It started out kinda boring but got a little better I can't even remember how they solved the problem of the house. I think they just complimented it but I'm not sure.
April 1, 2014
After reading The Awful Apple Orchard by the this author I bought this book and read it to my neighbor. Again, even though I'm older I enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend M.D.Spenser's books to others.
October 25, 2012
This was my favourite book when I was younger but now it's not so good.
June 3, 2013
This book was my favorite when I was at school. I enjoyed the story a lot it was exciting.
August 23, 2017
The writing style wasn't really that interesting to me! I pushed my self through the dullness of the story but couldn't succed finishing the book... I would appreciate it more if the writer didn't stress every point so much!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews