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liamunderwood's review against another edition
1.0
I realise that not every Goosebumps book is scary - R.L. Stine has occasionally dipped into writing stories which focus more on adventure than spooks, like Deep Trouble and The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena. Bad Hare Day is another entry that doesn't really deliver on the spooks, but it is also remarkably lacking in adventure, or, really, anything notable.
This book primarily concerns itself with the world of magicians, and features a protagonist, Tim, who has made liking magic his whole personality. He's keen to host magic shows for his friends, and is determined to impress with various tricks. It's not exactly a set-up which lends itself to spooks, and although Stine does attempt to cram a little bit of horror in once a magician's box of tricks is acquired, he's quick to back out of it with weak explanations.
I don't know if this is specific to the UK version of the book, but a somewhat significant plot point is revealed which doesn't occur in the book until right near the end. Seems like an odd choice. The one element of this book which I didn't mind was the relationship between Tim and his younger sister, Ginny. I thought it was interesting having the older brother openly acknowledge that his little sister is tougher than him, and for there to be an element of fear there. But honestly, it's an interesting dynamic which perhaps only really shines because so much of the rest of the book is about a kid performing magic tricks.
Finally, I know how Stine loves a ridiculous twist ending, but the one here is laughably bad. Bad Hare Day might serve as a good way to introduce Goosebumps to someone wanting to test the waters, especially since the horror is so light it's practically absent, but this wasn't for me. And I don't even mind magic.
1/5
Goosebumps Ranked
1) One Day At Horrorland - 4/5
2) Stay Out of the Basement - 4/5
3) Attack of the Mutant - 3.5/5
4) Welcome to Dead House - 3.5/5
5) The Headless Ghost - 3.5/5
6) The Phantom of the Auditorium - 3.5/5
7) Piano Lessons Can Be Murder - 3.5/5
8) Night of the Living Dummy - 3.5/5
9) The Girl Who Cried Monster - 3.5/5
10) The Werewolf of Fever Swamp - 3.5/5
11) The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight - 3/5
12) The Haunted Mask - 3/5
13) The Ghost Next Door - 3/5
14) Ghost Beach - 3/5
15) Monster Blood - 3/5
16) Night of the Living Dummy II - 3/5
17) The Haunted Mask II - 3/5
18) Deep Trouble - 3/5
19) Say Cheese and Die! - 3/5
20) A Night in Terror Tower - 2.5/5
21) Why I'm Afraid of Bees - 2.5/5
22) The Cuckoo Clock of Doom - 2.5/5
23) Be Careful What You Wish For... - 2.5/5
24) The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb - 2.5/5
25) Monster Blood II - 2/5
26) My Hairiest Adventure - 2/5
27) Night of the Living Dummy III - 2/5
28) Go Eat Worms! - 2/5
29) Monster Blood III - 2/5
30) The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena - 2/5
31) It Came from Beneath the Sink! - 2/5
32) Return of the Mummy - 2/5
33) Let's Get Invisible! - 2/5
34) Welcome to Camp Nightmare - 2/5
35) A Shocker on Shock Street - 1.5/5
36) Revenge of the Garden Gnomes - 1.5/5
37) How I Got My Shrunken Head - 1.5/5
38) The Horror at Camp Jellyjam - 1.5/5
39) The Barking Ghost - 1.5/5
40) Bad Hare Day - 1/5
40) You Can't Scare Me - 1/5
This book primarily concerns itself with the world of magicians, and features a protagonist, Tim, who has made liking magic his whole personality. He's keen to host magic shows for his friends, and is determined to impress with various tricks. It's not exactly a set-up which lends itself to spooks, and although Stine does attempt to cram a little bit of horror in once a magician's box of tricks is acquired, he's quick to back out of it with weak explanations.
I don't know if this is specific to the UK version of the book, but a somewhat significant plot point is revealed which doesn't occur in the book until right near the end. Seems like an odd choice. The one element of this book which I didn't mind was the relationship between Tim and his younger sister, Ginny. I thought it was interesting having the older brother openly acknowledge that his little sister is tougher than him, and for there to be an element of fear there. But honestly, it's an interesting dynamic which perhaps only really shines because so much of the rest of the book is about a kid performing magic tricks.
Finally, I know how Stine loves a ridiculous twist ending, but the one here is laughably bad. Bad Hare Day might serve as a good way to introduce Goosebumps to someone wanting to test the waters, especially since the horror is so light it's practically absent, but this wasn't for me. And I don't even mind magic.
1/5
Goosebumps Ranked
1) One Day At Horrorland - 4/5
2) Stay Out of the Basement - 4/5
3) Attack of the Mutant - 3.5/5
4) Welcome to Dead House - 3.5/5
5) The Headless Ghost - 3.5/5
6) The Phantom of the Auditorium - 3.5/5
7) Piano Lessons Can Be Murder - 3.5/5
8) Night of the Living Dummy - 3.5/5
9) The Girl Who Cried Monster - 3.5/5
10) The Werewolf of Fever Swamp - 3.5/5
11) The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight - 3/5
12) The Haunted Mask - 3/5
13) The Ghost Next Door - 3/5
14) Ghost Beach - 3/5
15) Monster Blood - 3/5
16) Night of the Living Dummy II - 3/5
17) The Haunted Mask II - 3/5
18) Deep Trouble - 3/5
19) Say Cheese and Die! - 3/5
20) A Night in Terror Tower - 2.5/5
21) Why I'm Afraid of Bees - 2.5/5
22) The Cuckoo Clock of Doom - 2.5/5
23) Be Careful What You Wish For... - 2.5/5
24) The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb - 2.5/5
25) Monster Blood II - 2/5
26) My Hairiest Adventure - 2/5
27) Night of the Living Dummy III - 2/5
28) Go Eat Worms! - 2/5
29) Monster Blood III - 2/5
30) The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena - 2/5
31) It Came from Beneath the Sink! - 2/5
32) Return of the Mummy - 2/5
33) Let's Get Invisible! - 2/5
34) Welcome to Camp Nightmare - 2/5
35) A Shocker on Shock Street - 1.5/5
36) Revenge of the Garden Gnomes - 1.5/5
37) How I Got My Shrunken Head - 1.5/5
38) The Horror at Camp Jellyjam - 1.5/5
39) The Barking Ghost - 1.5/5
40) Bad Hare Day - 1/5
40) You Can't Scare Me - 1/5
paperbackstash's review against another edition
5.0
Rated for a children's book level
This is an adorable Goosebumps book, never lags in its plotline, hilarious in certain areas, just that right touch of magic/intrigue. The end is a surprising irony that works. What is it with Stine and making the worst, most loathsome sister characters for these poor kids? They're all such brats that you wish something would happen to them. And why are the parents always on the bratty sister's sides? At least the parents were funny in this book because they both just groaned and moaned about how much they hated their jobs. The sister, Ginny, was funny turned into a rabbit - especially since she took her annoying karate antics to the animal form. What I wonder is, why blame the brother when she's the stupid one who ate the carrot? Either way, it's a fun Goosebumps book that kids who like this kind of thing should totally dig.
This is an adorable Goosebumps book, never lags in its plotline, hilarious in certain areas, just that right touch of magic/intrigue. The end is a surprising irony that works. What is it with Stine and making the worst, most loathsome sister characters for these poor kids? They're all such brats that you wish something would happen to them. And why are the parents always on the bratty sister's sides? At least the parents were funny in this book because they both just groaned and moaned about how much they hated their jobs. The sister, Ginny, was funny turned into a rabbit - especially since she took her annoying karate antics to the animal form. What I wonder is, why blame the brother when she's the stupid one who ate the carrot? Either way, it's a fun Goosebumps book that kids who like this kind of thing should totally dig.
shereadsmysteries's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
readwithari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
whimsicallymeghan's review against another edition
3.0
Tim’s dream is to become a magician. When his all-time favourite hero, Amaz-O comes to town, Tim is desperate to go and see him. Things start to take a turn when he becomes part of the act and he realizes who the true Amaz-O is. This was a fun story with a lot of exciting twists and turns. The plot was fast-paced and kept the reader engaged as the characters set out to do things they knew they shouldn’t be - that really kept the story on edge. The way this ended didn’t feel resolved and the reader didn’t like the way it ended. It felt rushed and it didn’t really make sense. It did in one aspect, but not in another. The story was doing so well until that last chapter; the reader was shocked to find there was only one chapter left and that it jumped years into the future. Stine is great at endings, but this one didn’t work.
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
One of the few Classic 62 Goosebumps books that I didn't read growing up.
Tim is an aspiring magician, but his lack of funds for proper equipment and his pesky little sister mean that he can never put on a proper show. When he is snubbed by his idol, Amaze-O, backstage after a performance, Tim steals Amaze-O's case of magic tricks. The tricks turn out to be more than he can handle.
This is one of the Goosebumps books that doesn't try to be scary. Some off-putting and inconvenient things happen, but no one's life is really jeopardized and nothing creepy goes on. It also has one of the classic abrupt endings that even as a kid left a bad taste in my mouth. As an adult, I love how terrible his parents are and the concept that his sister has become a menace thanks to a Woman's Right to Defend Herself.
Goosebumps
Next: 'Egg Monsters From Mars'
Previous: 'Night of the Living Dummy III'
Tim is an aspiring magician, but his lack of funds for proper equipment and his pesky little sister mean that he can never put on a proper show. When he is snubbed by his idol, Amaze-O, backstage after a performance, Tim steals Amaze-O's case of magic tricks. The tricks turn out to be more than he can handle.
This is one of the Goosebumps books that doesn't try to be scary. Some off-putting and inconvenient things happen, but no one's life is really jeopardized and nothing creepy goes on. It also has one of the classic abrupt endings that even as a kid left a bad taste in my mouth. As an adult, I love how terrible his parents are and the concept that his sister has become a menace thanks to a Woman's Right to Defend Herself.
Goosebumps
Next: 'Egg Monsters From Mars'
Previous: 'Night of the Living Dummy III'
glennas94's review against another edition
3.0
Currently rereading my original Goosebumps collection
This one could've had a really interesting plot. There was a lot of area that could've been explored, but it just fell flat towards the end. It wasn't particularly scary, however there were quite a few funny moments that made me chuckle to myself. Nowhere near one of the best in the series but I recommend reading it to your kids.
Read from October 23, 2013 - October 23, 2013
This one could've had a really interesting plot. There was a lot of area that could've been explored, but it just fell flat towards the end. It wasn't particularly scary, however there were quite a few funny moments that made me chuckle to myself. Nowhere near one of the best in the series but I recommend reading it to your kids.
Read from October 23, 2013 - October 23, 2013
findingmontauk1's review against another edition
3.0
Bad Hare Day is not the "traditional spooky" that most of the other Goosebumps books are. There is a magical element to this one, as the title and cover may indicate, but that's mostly all it is. I had hoped for a little more evil or sinister scary vibes with this but it was still a quick, fun read.