What do you think?
Rate this book
Goosebumps #26
Un tragico esperimento
TREMANDO, STRAPPAI I POLSINI E SCOSTAI LE MANICHE DELLA CAMICIA.
Avevo anche le braccia pelose!
Deglutii rumorosamente, fissando atterrito i miei arti scimmieschi. Mi tremavano incontrollabilmente le gambe e mi sentivo debolissimo. Avevo la bocca secca e la gola in fiamme. Cercai di deglutire. Mi stavano forse crescendo peli anche sulla lingua?
Avevo anche le braccia pelose!
Deglutii rumorosamente, fissando atterrito i miei arti scimmieschi. Mi tremavano incontrollabilmente le gambe e mi sentivo debolissimo. Avevo la bocca secca e la gola in fiamme. Cercai di deglutire. Mi stavano forse crescendo peli anche sulla lingua?
143 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1994
56 people are currently reading
3410 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,681 books18.7k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
October 10, 2018
#26 "It keeps growing... and growing... and growing..."
Larry is a boy picked on by not only the kids in the neighborhood but the dogs as well. One day he finds a can of instant spray tan in the trash and takes it to his friends for all of them to try. When Larry starts to chicken out saying that the can is terribly expired his friends start to mock him until he finally tries it on. Suddenly Larry has hair growing out of his hands and face. The hair comes back after every shave. What in the world is Larry to do?
Larry is a boy picked on by not only the kids in the neighborhood but the dogs as well. One day he finds a can of instant spray tan in the trash and takes it to his friends for all of them to try. When Larry starts to chicken out saying that the can is terribly expired his friends start to mock him until he finally tries it on. Suddenly Larry has hair growing out of his hands and face. The hair comes back after every shave. What in the world is Larry to do?
April 29, 2015
Friend-read with £izabeth.
...
Larry, nicknamed "Hairy Larry" for his great head of hair, is going through some changes. After he and his friends find some old, expired Insta-Tan in the dumpster (yes... they were dumpster-diving. Apparently it is one of Larry's favorite hobbies) they decide that it would be awesome to rub it all over themselves.
However, Larry is experiencing some … interesting side effects.
Hair is growing all over his body.
His hands, palms, between his fingers, neck, face - all are growing thick, black hair.
What's going on?
...
This, along with "Why I'm Afraid of Bees" were my two favorite Goosebumps books when I was a kid. It has some great twists and a wonderful ending. I also liked the fact that Larry was a good person, not one of Stine's many brats.
Stine does a little shout-out to Bruce Coville in this novel, which I think is nice.
Some people say Goosebumps becomes disappointing after book 14 or 15. But I think Stine is becoming better, actually. I really enjoyed this novel.
I'm impressed that Larry and his friends have a band at their age. A real band that plays Rolling Stones covers! Wow. At age 12 that is amazing. They perform and practice and everything.
Animals or people with one blue eye and one eye of any other color can see ghosts. If you, or your pet, has one blue eye - it means you have the ability to see ghosts. I thought everyone knew this superstition, but upon discussing it with some friends here on GR I realize that is not the case. This is not a factor in the Stine book - he never mentions it - but since Larry's best friend Lily has heterochromia with one blue eye and one green eye - I thought it was relevant and worth mentioning.
Here was a part I really liked:
I took a deep breath. I decided to ask Lily the big question on my mind. “Lily,” I started hesitantly. “Did any...uh...well...did any strange hair grow on the back of your hands last night?”
She stopped walking and stared at me. A solemn expression darkened her face. “Yes,” she confessed in a hushed whisper.
CHAPTER 9
“Huh?” I gasped. My heart skipped a beat. “You grew hair on your hand?”
Lily nodded grimly. She moved closer. Her blue eye and her green eye stared at me from under the wool ski cap.
“Hair grew on my hands,” she whispered, her breath steaming up the cold air as she talked. “Then it grew on my arms, and my legs, and my back.”
I let out a choked cry.
“Then my face changed into a wolf's face,” Lily continued, still staring hard at me. “And I ran out to the woods and howled at the moon. Like this.” She threw back her head and uttered a long, mournful howl.
“Then I found three people in the woods, and I ate them!” Lily declared. “Because I'm a werewolf!”
She growled at me and snapped her teeth. And then she burst out laughing.
...
Larry, nicknamed "Hairy Larry" for his great head of hair, is going through some changes. After he and his friends find some old, expired Insta-Tan in the dumpster (yes... they were dumpster-diving. Apparently it is one of Larry's favorite hobbies) they decide that it would be awesome to rub it all over themselves.
However, Larry is experiencing some … interesting side effects.
Hair is growing all over his body.
His hands, palms, between his fingers, neck, face - all are growing thick, black hair.
What's going on?
...
This, along with "Why I'm Afraid of Bees" were my two favorite Goosebumps books when I was a kid. It has some great twists and a wonderful ending. I also liked the fact that Larry was a good person, not one of Stine's many brats.
Stine does a little shout-out to Bruce Coville in this novel, which I think is nice.
Some people say Goosebumps becomes disappointing after book 14 or 15. But I think Stine is becoming better, actually. I really enjoyed this novel.
I'm impressed that Larry and his friends have a band at their age. A real band that plays Rolling Stones covers! Wow. At age 12 that is amazing. They perform and practice and everything.
Animals or people with one blue eye and one eye of any other color can see ghosts. If you, or your pet, has one blue eye - it means you have the ability to see ghosts. I thought everyone knew this superstition, but upon discussing it with some friends here on GR I realize that is not the case. This is not a factor in the Stine book - he never mentions it - but since Larry's best friend Lily has heterochromia with one blue eye and one green eye - I thought it was relevant and worth mentioning.
Here was a part I really liked:
I took a deep breath. I decided to ask Lily the big question on my mind. “Lily,” I started hesitantly. “Did any...uh...well...did any strange hair grow on the back of your hands last night?”
She stopped walking and stared at me. A solemn expression darkened her face. “Yes,” she confessed in a hushed whisper.
CHAPTER 9
“Huh?” I gasped. My heart skipped a beat. “You grew hair on your hand?”
Lily nodded grimly. She moved closer. Her blue eye and her green eye stared at me from under the wool ski cap.
“Hair grew on my hands,” she whispered, her breath steaming up the cold air as she talked. “Then it grew on my arms, and my legs, and my back.”
I let out a choked cry.
“Then my face changed into a wolf's face,” Lily continued, still staring hard at me. “And I ran out to the woods and howled at the moon. Like this.” She threw back her head and uttered a long, mournful howl.
“Then I found three people in the woods, and I ate them!” Lily declared. “Because I'm a werewolf!”
She growled at me and snapped her teeth. And then she burst out laughing.
July 16, 2024
This was a great Goosebumps book! Highly underrated in my opinion. It was very unique story and included many different elements and didn’t focus too much on a boy spontaneously growing hair all over his body.
November 7, 2017
Can’t help but give this 5 stars. Who else but Stine can take a ridiculous premise and turn it into a thrilling romp?
October 29, 2022
Este me gusto bastante, porque su conclusión no es lo que te esperas y tiene un buen desarrollo.
Especial Spooky 2022 10/14
Especial Spooky 2022 10/14
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 from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
February 10, 2019
I think this was mostly disappointing because it wasn't the horrific werewolf tale I was hoping for.
It's strange and different but not exactly scary. I MEAN JUST SHAVE IT AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO, KID.
Not my fave.
It's strange and different but not exactly scary. I MEAN JUST SHAVE IT AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO, KID.
Not my fave.
December 25, 2018
They're baa-ack! Make way for the bestselling children's series of all time! With a fresh new look, GOOSEBUMPS is set to scare a whole new generation of kids. So reader beware--you're in for a scare!
He's having a really, really bad hair day. . . .
Larry Boyd just found the coolest thing in the trash. It's an old bottle of INSTA-TAN. "Rub on a dark suntan in minute" - that's what the label says. So Larry and his friends do. But nothing much happens.
Until Larry notices the hair. Dark spiky hair growing on his hands and face. Really gross shiny hair.
Hair that keeps growing back even after he shaves it off. . . .
Larry is a dog ...omg😶
How can one experiment on animals?
He's having a really, really bad hair day. . . .
Larry Boyd just found the coolest thing in the trash. It's an old bottle of INSTA-TAN. "Rub on a dark suntan in minute" - that's what the label says. So Larry and his friends do. But nothing much happens.
Until Larry notices the hair. Dark spiky hair growing on his hands and face. Really gross shiny hair.
Hair that keeps growing back even after he shaves it off. . . .
Larry is a dog ...omg😶
How can one experiment on animals?
June 5, 2012
Original recap for the Snark Squad here.
This book has more like FIVE STARS... but only in my heart.
This was the first Goosebumps book I reread for the Snark Squad, and man is it a good one. I mean, good in the way that it made me really, really sad that I was ever a child.
Our main character's name is Larry, which I'll help you remember by telling you that it rhymes with "hairy." I'd take credit for this brilliant and significant deduction BUT RL Stine is the one who went there, and then promptly repeated this fact close to 100 times. Approximately.
Other things we learn about Larry: he's in a band and he gets embarrassed by everything. He spends half the book blushing, I think. Also, he has a sweat gland problem and overheats. He has to get special shots from his creepy doctor.
Larry's friends decide to make a snowman, like normal fucking children. Larry, though, instead chooses this moment to go rummaging through a dumpster. In the trash, he finds INSTA-TAN. He convinces his friends that they should rub this liquid-y trash all over themselves, and they do.
I don't want to give you all the wrong impression of me, but what follows is a ton of really, really awkward phrases for a children's book. I'm just going to copy and paste and wriggle my eyebrows. No commentary from me as I present:
“Poured a big glob of it into her hand.” “Creamy white liquid.” “Mmmm. Smells nice.” “Feels cool and creamy.”
Right then.
Still in the bathroom, Larry takes the “last sticky glob” and “splashed it onto [his] face.” In case you were wondering, it was “cool and creamy.” Also, “the others cheered when I finished rubbing the cream in.”
Larry starts to feel sick and his problems get worse as he begins to grow thick patches of hair. Not like regular "your body is going through changes" puberty hair. Straight up, "this is a problem" hair.
Out of this all is birthed my favorite new excuse for getting out of things. Why be "washing your hair" when you can be "shaving your hands," am I right?! Try that one out next time there's a family dinner or something. Works like a charm.
Why is Larry so hairy? Was it the INSTA-TAN? Where were his parents when he was digging around the dumpster and rubbing white stuff all over his body? Will we ever find out?
(Answer: YES. And it is the awesomest ending to a Goosebumps book I've seen yet. I use "awesome" lightly though. Mostly, it ruined me for life.)
This book has more like FIVE STARS... but only in my heart.
This was the first Goosebumps book I reread for the Snark Squad, and man is it a good one. I mean, good in the way that it made me really, really sad that I was ever a child.
Our main character's name is Larry, which I'll help you remember by telling you that it rhymes with "hairy." I'd take credit for this brilliant and significant deduction BUT RL Stine is the one who went there, and then promptly repeated this fact close to 100 times. Approximately.
Other things we learn about Larry: he's in a band and he gets embarrassed by everything. He spends half the book blushing, I think. Also, he has a sweat gland problem and overheats. He has to get special shots from his creepy doctor.
Larry's friends decide to make a snowman, like normal fucking children. Larry, though, instead chooses this moment to go rummaging through a dumpster. In the trash, he finds INSTA-TAN. He convinces his friends that they should rub this liquid-y trash all over themselves, and they do.
I don't want to give you all the wrong impression of me, but what follows is a ton of really, really awkward phrases for a children's book. I'm just going to copy and paste and wriggle my eyebrows. No commentary from me as I present:
“Poured a big glob of it into her hand.” “Creamy white liquid.” “Mmmm. Smells nice.” “Feels cool and creamy.”
Right then.
Still in the bathroom, Larry takes the “last sticky glob” and “splashed it onto [his] face.” In case you were wondering, it was “cool and creamy.” Also, “the others cheered when I finished rubbing the cream in.”
Larry starts to feel sick and his problems get worse as he begins to grow thick patches of hair. Not like regular "your body is going through changes" puberty hair. Straight up, "this is a problem" hair.
Out of this all is birthed my favorite new excuse for getting out of things. Why be "washing your hair" when you can be "shaving your hands," am I right?! Try that one out next time there's a family dinner or something. Works like a charm.
Why is Larry so hairy? Was it the INSTA-TAN? Where were his parents when he was digging around the dumpster and rubbing white stuff all over his body? Will we ever find out?
(Answer: YES. And it is the awesomest ending to a Goosebumps book I've seen yet. I use "awesome" lightly though. Mostly, it ruined me for life.)
September 8, 2021
Another one of my favourites, this book is more of a quirky horror fantasy in this series.
Larry and he’s friends discover a bottle of expired tanning lotion in the garage, the group reckon it will be cool if they all had great tans for the forthcoming battle of the bands gig that they are due to perform in.
But when Larry starts experiencing weird hair growth, he starts to regret putting that lotion on.
The image of Larry desperately shaving the hair from the back of he’s hand is so striking!
Larry and he’s friends discover a bottle of expired tanning lotion in the garage, the group reckon it will be cool if they all had great tans for the forthcoming battle of the bands gig that they are due to perform in.
But when Larry starts experiencing weird hair growth, he starts to regret putting that lotion on.
The image of Larry desperately shaving the hair from the back of he’s hand is so striking!
October 9, 2023
Mostly a plotless book, not much happens but atleast the ending is a saving grace and the idea presented in the end is actually a cool and dark idea and I like how it's mostly hinted throughout the middle of the story. cool premise, just not presented in the right way.
September 7, 2020
You're not a human, Larry. You're a dog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2025
I really loved how this wrapped up! Very weird, but kind of a clever/funny twist
December 20, 2023
I've finally settled down into my new place and I had the crazy notion I might hit 200 books this year. I went to my Goosebumps collection and this was next in the queue. My Hairiest Adventure had a vibrant title and I feel like it's a glimpse into the future for its prepubescent readers. I was enjoying the book and wasn't quite sure which direction it would lead. I was expecting a Teen Wolf situation when the protagonist started sprouting spiky black hair on his hands. Please don't let that be a meat beating joke, Mr. Stine, I beg ya! Unfortunately, the book went the opposite direction into left field and I was disappointed. It seemed like a strange explanation and I would have been far happier with the werewolf route. Too bad he already explored that plot with the subpar Werewolf of Fever Swamp. The cover makes me laugh because it's definitely giving Monkey Boy from Jumanji rather than lupine or canine as intended. I was let down by the conclusion of My Hairiest Adventure, but I will applaud the originality and ludicrous nature that Goosebumps always delivers.
January 20, 2025
Luetaan puolison kanssa yhdessä näitä meidän lapsuudenkirjoja iltasatuna. Tässä teoksessa kehokauhu ei ihan puhutellut aikuista ja murrosiän "kauhujen" käsittely tuntui tosi alleviivaavalta. Muistan, että lapsenakaan tää ei ollut mun suosikkeja – pidin enemmän niistä Goosebumpseista, joissa kauhu syntyy selkeästi yliluonnollisista aineksista. Seuraavia iltasatuja odotellessa.
September 19, 2024
Η αλήθεια είναι πως σκέφτηκα να βάλω δύο αστεράκια, αλλά επειδή μετά θυμήθηκα πως έχω μεγαλώσει τώρα πια και δεν είμαι στο Δημοτικό, αποφάσισα να δείξω ελαστικότητα και να προσθέσω ένα ακόμα. Δεν είμαι σίγουρη τι ακριβώς μού έφταιγε στο συγκεκριμένο story, αλλά θεωρώ ότι δόθηκε με έναν τρόπο αρκετά... αφελές και εύκολο, ενώ είχε τα φόντα να προσφέρει κάτι περισσότερο.
March 16, 2020
Niño que le sale pelos largos al estilo perro, pero no varia en el su comportamiento. Malo.
El libro en sí, podría ser una frase: Uy que de pelo de perro me esta saliendo! que no me vea nadie, que vergüenza. La gente se ríe de mí. FIN
El libro en sí, podría ser una frase: Uy que de pelo de perro me esta saliendo! que no me vea nadie, que vergüenza. La gente se ríe de mí. FIN
June 12, 2024
you know what, 5 stars bc i am in an emotional part of my cycle
August 27, 2022
I remember how this book felt. It's about body hair that just.. keeps growing. There is a twist in the book and a twist in my heart towards the end. What was R. L. Stine thinking?! Some of these themes scream desolation! Despair! Isolation!
Sad little 4 stars. I recommend this to your mean exes. May they weep a little.
Sad little 4 stars. I recommend this to your mean exes. May they weep a little.
December 29, 2024
Tilanne: käytät päiväysvanhaa itseruskettavaa, jonka jälkeen ihostasi kasvaa mustaa paksua karvaa. Samalla kaikki samaa tököttiä käyttäneet kaverisi alkavat kadota. Selviää, että tämä karva ei johdu itseruskettavasta, vaan olet itseasiassa koira jonka tiedemies on muuttanut lapseksi, mutta seerumi ei enää toimi. Muutut takaisin koiraksi ja perheen kissasta tehdään vauva, koska ikinä ei opita kerrasta.
August 11, 2020
I really enjoyed the clever concept as it can be easily misconstrued for puberty. Makes reading this all the more interesting. Fun story with likable characters.
July 29, 2015
Source: I own this book.
Cost: Unknown
Title: My Hairiest Adventure
Series: Goosebumps #26 (My edition says #24)
Author: R.L. Stine
Overall Rating: 3 stars
When Larry finds a bottle of INSTA-TAN in the trash, he thinks it'll be fun if him and his friends try it out...But when Larry starts living up to his nickname of Hairy Larry after using it, he decides he has to find a way to stop mysterious black hair sprouting all over his body. Did the INSTA-TAN do it? Or is there something else behind it?
I thought this Goosebumps book was good as it lived up to the way I remember Goosebumps books being, full of suspense and chapters ending in cliffhangers, however, the ending of this one was just dull. Probably to the intended age group it would be creepy but to me now, it just seemed...lacking...Give me ghosts, give me werewolves, don't give me a sad scientist who makes people sad.
Cost: Unknown
Title: My Hairiest Adventure
Series: Goosebumps #26 (My edition says #24)
Author: R.L. Stine
Overall Rating: 3 stars
When Larry finds a bottle of INSTA-TAN in the trash, he thinks it'll be fun if him and his friends try it out...But when Larry starts living up to his nickname of Hairy Larry after using it, he decides he has to find a way to stop mysterious black hair sprouting all over his body. Did the INSTA-TAN do it? Or is there something else behind it?
I thought this Goosebumps book was good as it lived up to the way I remember Goosebumps books being, full of suspense and chapters ending in cliffhangers, however, the ending of this one was just dull. Probably to the intended age group it would be creepy but to me now, it just seemed...lacking...Give me ghosts, give me werewolves, don't give me a sad scientist who makes people sad.
January 29, 2014
Sooo I decided I wanted to start reading the books I loved as a child...
I remember my mother taking me to the story to buy the newest RL Stine books, and let me say no wonder I had so many nightmares as a kid and I now have a sick obsession with Dystopia. LOL
I loved these books as a kid, and seriously they are messed up scary little books especially since I read them in like the 2nd & 3rd grade.
Anyway, this kid finds suntan lotion and starts to blame the lotion for his friends disappearance.
I love these books and they bring back great memories, but seriously I think I might need to blame RL Stine for my sick obsession with messed up books
:)
I remember my mother taking me to the story to buy the newest RL Stine books, and let me say no wonder I had so many nightmares as a kid and I now have a sick obsession with Dystopia. LOL
I loved these books as a kid, and seriously they are messed up scary little books especially since I read them in like the 2nd & 3rd grade.
Anyway, this kid finds suntan lotion and starts to blame the lotion for his friends disappearance.
I love these books and they bring back great memories, but seriously I think I might need to blame RL Stine for my sick obsession with messed up books
:)
May 10, 2025
Overhated… but still not that great. It’s a good story with puberty themes. And honestly the puberty themes didn’t really ruin this book. Also, the character’s situation is actually really frightening. Poor kid. 7/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2022
My Hairiest Adventure by R.L. Stine is Goosebumps book 26 in the original series. This book is an obvious reference to puberty and growing hair in strange places which Stine has a lot of fun with. I think the premise of my group of friends suddenly disappearing and leaving with no trace, then resembling something hairy is terrifying but the way the book is set up it doesn't impact us the way that it should. This book was made into an episode for the Goosebumps TV show that was terrifying, but the book didn't do the greatest job. The nightmare where hair consumes the main character and starts eating his own hair was the only scary part of the book. The story starts fast and is pretty focused on the hair growing out of control plot. This book is not filled with as many pranks as the usual Goosebumps. The plot is pretty ridiculous, but the twist even though the reader will know where it is going is still a good one.
The Plot Summary: Larry who has shagged hair is already has the unfortunate nickname of Hairy Larry. Larry is chased by a wild dog pack which has been increasing around the neighborhood, he and a friend end up scaring them off and ends up finding an old expired instant tan in the garbage that he and all of his bandmates try. Later that day he grows hair all over his hand, is is ugly black thick hair and Larry is a blonde. He freaks out and is embarrassed and shaves it all off. He brings it up at the next band meeting and they brush it off and say the nickname Hairy Larry until he drops it. One of his band members doesn't show up and the group goes looking for him to find the find his house completely empty and no sign anyone ever lived there. The hair now starts growing all over as his friends keep disappearing, what is going on?
What I Liked: The plot idea and the twists are really great I think a lot more could have been done with it. Some of the characters are annoying but I believed their friendship. There was some funny bits about hair growing in the wrong places. I liked the writing in the nightmare, the scenes were vivid in there descriptions. I liked the relationship with the cat through out the story which makes a lot more sense with the twist.
What I Disliked: The Battle of the Bands was wasted it could have been a lot more. I think the reveal of the members was too soon and would have been way better towards the end and kept the mystery.
Recommendation: This story falls in the just okay category, it had so much potential but didn't live up to it in my opinion. I think this would be an interesting story for someone starting puberty, just a warning for stuffs about to get weird but not as weird as this story so it's okay. I rated My Hairiest Adventure by R. L. Stine 3 out of 5 stars. Here's my full ranking of the 26 Goosebumps books that I have read in order to my favorite to least favorite: 1) Stay Out of the Basement, 2) Ghost Beach, 3) Piano Lessons Can Be Murder, 4) The Haunted Mask, 5) One Day At Horrorland, 6) Night of the Living Dummy, 7) Welcome to Camp Nightmare, 8) The Phantom of the Auditorium, 9) The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, 10) Say Cheese and Die, 11) Let's Get Invisible, 12) The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight, 13) Welcome to Dead House, 14) Monster Blood II, 15) The Girl who Cried Monster, 16)Deep Trouble, 17) The Ghost Next Door, 18) My Hairiest Adventure, 19) Be Careful What You Wish For... , 20) Return of the Mummy, 21) Why I'm Afraid of Bees, 22)Attack of the Mutant, 23) Go Eat Worms!, 24) The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, 25) Monster Blood, And 26) You Can't Scare Me!
The Plot Summary: Larry who has shagged hair is already has the unfortunate nickname of Hairy Larry. Larry is chased by a wild dog pack which has been increasing around the neighborhood, he and a friend end up scaring them off and ends up finding an old expired instant tan in the garbage that he and all of his bandmates try. Later that day he grows hair all over his hand, is is ugly black thick hair and Larry is a blonde. He freaks out and is embarrassed and shaves it all off. He brings it up at the next band meeting and they brush it off and say the nickname Hairy Larry until he drops it. One of his band members doesn't show up and the group goes looking for him to find the find his house completely empty and no sign anyone ever lived there. The hair now starts growing all over as his friends keep disappearing, what is going on?
What I Liked: The plot idea and the twists are really great I think a lot more could have been done with it. Some of the characters are annoying but I believed their friendship. There was some funny bits about hair growing in the wrong places. I liked the writing in the nightmare, the scenes were vivid in there descriptions. I liked the relationship with the cat through out the story which makes a lot more sense with the twist.
What I Disliked: The Battle of the Bands was wasted it could have been a lot more. I think the reveal of the members was too soon and would have been way better towards the end and kept the mystery.
Recommendation: This story falls in the just okay category, it had so much potential but didn't live up to it in my opinion. I think this would be an interesting story for someone starting puberty, just a warning for stuffs about to get weird but not as weird as this story so it's okay. I rated My Hairiest Adventure by R. L. Stine 3 out of 5 stars. Here's my full ranking of the 26 Goosebumps books that I have read in order to my favorite to least favorite: 1) Stay Out of the Basement, 2) Ghost Beach, 3) Piano Lessons Can Be Murder, 4) The Haunted Mask, 5) One Day At Horrorland, 6) Night of the Living Dummy, 7) Welcome to Camp Nightmare, 8) The Phantom of the Auditorium, 9) The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, 10) Say Cheese and Die, 11) Let's Get Invisible, 12) The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight, 13) Welcome to Dead House, 14) Monster Blood II, 15) The Girl who Cried Monster, 16)Deep Trouble, 17) The Ghost Next Door, 18) My Hairiest Adventure, 19) Be Careful What You Wish For... , 20) Return of the Mummy, 21) Why I'm Afraid of Bees, 22)Attack of the Mutant, 23) Go Eat Worms!, 24) The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, 25) Monster Blood, And 26) You Can't Scare Me!
March 27, 2020
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/uIFb6PX8uKs
Disappointment doesn't BEGIN to explain how I feel having now finished this book.
OK so it's a Middle Grade book - and I get that, I do...
BUT....
CONS
1) The final climax occurs 3 pages before the end! It's like "Here's the climax, here's why - the end". This did NOT work for me.
2) A lot of the book is very bland (again, I get that it's an MG but still).
3) The book is not long enough. Seriously round up to the nearest hundred and make it a 200 page book, thereby giving more time to experience the climax and the 'why' the climax occured.
PROS
1) Easy Read - it's MG so this shouldn't suprise me, but in saying that THIS is the easiest MG writing style I've ever seen!
2) It's scarier then Pet Semetary! (I know, I know, a lot of you are going to call me crazy but I didn't find anything horrific or terrifying about Pet Semetary - at least with this book R.L. Stine creates a repulsive, fearful atmosphere and he does it well - for MG Readers).
3) The plot is a good plot. I enjoyed the read.
All in all however I can not give this book 2 stars (let alone 3, 4 or 5) as it just didn't deserve it. I'm not the target audience for this book and honestly I just wanted a 'quick read' for the sake of having a quick read on my TBR for this month. I think kids will love this book and I highly recommend it for kids between the ages of 7 and 13.
1/5 STARS.
Disappointment doesn't BEGIN to explain how I feel having now finished this book.
OK so it's a Middle Grade book - and I get that, I do...
BUT....
CONS
1) The final climax occurs 3 pages before the end! It's like "Here's the climax, here's why - the end". This did NOT work for me.
2) A lot of the book is very bland (again, I get that it's an MG but still).
3) The book is not long enough. Seriously round up to the nearest hundred and make it a 200 page book, thereby giving more time to experience the climax and the 'why' the climax occured.
PROS
1) Easy Read - it's MG so this shouldn't suprise me, but in saying that THIS is the easiest MG writing style I've ever seen!
2) It's scarier then Pet Semetary! (I know, I know, a lot of you are going to call me crazy but I didn't find anything horrific or terrifying about Pet Semetary - at least with this book R.L. Stine creates a repulsive, fearful atmosphere and he does it well - for MG Readers).
3) The plot is a good plot. I enjoyed the read.
All in all however I can not give this book 2 stars (let alone 3, 4 or 5) as it just didn't deserve it. I'm not the target audience for this book and honestly I just wanted a 'quick read' for the sake of having a quick read on my TBR for this month. I think kids will love this book and I highly recommend it for kids between the ages of 7 and 13.
1/5 STARS.
February 17, 2022
After finding an old bottle of instant tan with his friends, Larry begins to notice thick black hair growing where he applied the lotion.
But he's not the only one. Then to make things even worse, his friends begin to disappear.
I remember really liking this particular Goosebumps tale as a kid. It has a really cool idea and plays out pretty well pacing wise.
One thing I don't get in this book is the parents' actions after what happens, happens. (Details not added to avoid spoilers but if you've read it, you probably know what I mean.) The whole thing seems a bit cruel on the parents' part.
Still a solid 4 star for creativity.
September 21, 2023
My favorite character was was Larry because he was the main character. It was really funny when he started to get hairy. The character i liked the least was Mr. and Mrs. Von because they were unhelpful to lary. I chose it because I thought the kid on the cover was turning into bigfoot. i think bigfoot is really cool. I liked the setting of winter. winter is one of my favorite seasons. I don't normally like to read. this book was easy to read. I would recomend this book to other people. It was really creative.
May 31, 2018
My Hairiest Adventure is probably the fifth Goosebumps book I’ve read. The story revolves around a boy named Larry who grew hairs all over his body after applying some expired lotion called Insta Tan. Like any other Goosebumps novel, the plot is fast paced and not too complicated, and this is one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading it. Anyway, what I liked the best about the book is the twist! Although not entirely brilliant, it was something I did not expect!
So if you’re looking for a quick read to kill time or if you just want to feel nostalgic, consider picking up a Goosebumps book. Why? ‘Cause R.L. Stine never disappoints!
So if you’re looking for a quick read to kill time or if you just want to feel nostalgic, consider picking up a Goosebumps book. Why? ‘Cause R.L. Stine never disappoints!
March 16, 2022
Until the last few pages I couldn’t help think that I was actually reading ‘RL Stine: Introduction to Puberty - Prepare For Hair’. Honestly this book works much better as a guide on puberty rather than a creepy Goosebumps story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews