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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Ending was short and kinda felt uninspiring. The story's resolution wasn't great, but this takes me back to a simpler time. Good short read I finished in one sitting. Definitely enjoyed it but felt like the ending wasn't well-planned. Still, I'm grateful for the story. Was fun to read!
My favorite Goosebumps story. Thought I'd reread it. :)
Goosebumps. This is the series that kept me reading through my childhood. More than any other series, Goosebumps kept me interested in reading, and R.L. Stein is a wonderful children's writer. I applaud his efforts, and can't express enough my gratitude for the series.
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This one was okay. The characters were pretty average, you like the ones you’re supposed to and don’t the ones you’re not. The writing is quite nice with certain nature settings and descriptions. The plot was alright I’d say, we follow the main characters Mark who is accompanied by Carolyn (his aunts work partner) to the jungle island of Baladora to presumably spend time with his aunt Benna whom he hasn’t seen since he was four and explore the jungle where she does sciency work. But when he gets there Benna has gone missing and someone thinks he holds the power of jungle magic and will stop at nothing to get it… even shrink his head! There is more of an adventure theme being set in the jungle with cliffhangers invoking quicksand, large red ants, a tiger and more. Again the plot line and twists were okay, I didn’t fully like certain parts but overall a slightly above average read.
adventurous
funny
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
I decided to go back and reread some of my favorite Goosebumps books from my childhood for spooky season this hear.
This book in particular was a favorite of mine when I was really young, so I decided to pick it up first. It’s a simple, fun adventure story.
Is it amazingly written? No.
Is it overly simplistic in its storytelling and worldbuilding? Yes.
Is it very obviously dated (specifically with the subtle racism concerning the primary focus of the story)? Yes.
Are there issues I can see as an adult that I definitely missed as a child? Of course.
Its not a great book overall and, looking at it as an adult, it absolutely has some problems - bother structurally and in content.
But it also gave me a solid hit of nostalgia.
This book in particular was a favorite of mine when I was really young, so I decided to pick it up first. It’s a simple, fun adventure story.
Is it amazingly written? No.
Is it overly simplistic in its storytelling and worldbuilding? Yes.
Is it very obviously dated (specifically with the subtle racism concerning the primary focus of the story)? Yes.
Are there issues I can see as an adult that I definitely missed as a child? Of course.
Its not a great book overall and, looking at it as an adult, it absolutely has some problems - bother structurally and in content.
But it also gave me a solid hit of nostalgia.
After The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena we have another Goosebumps book where R.L. Stine diverts his attention into action adventure territory instead of spooky thrills and chills. The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena took us to a chilly Alaska, whereas in How I Got My Shrunken Head we journey to the jungle setting of Baladora. The protagonist Mark is fine, but honestly so much of this book is just nonsense. When the term 'Jungle Magic' started getting thrown around with sincerity I just couldn't stop my eyes from rolling.
The ridiculous plot takes Mark from one inexplicable situation to the next, with very little excitement to the proceedings, and any predicament is handily solved in ways that defy any sense of logic. I know this is ultimately a children's book, and I understand that Stine at this point has written almost forty of these books, but even so - just a little consistency would be appreciated. How I Got My Shrunken Head is utterly forgettable and the 'twist' ending is easily one of the weakest so far.
1.5/5
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) Go Eat Worms! - 2/5
28) Monster Blood III - 2/5
29) The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena - 2/5
30) It Came from Beneath the Sink! - 2/5
31) Return of the Mummy - 2/5
32) Let's Get Invisible! - 2/5
33) Welcome to Camp Nightmare - 2/5
34) A Shocker on Shock Street - 1.5/5
35) Revenge of the Garden Gnomes - 1.5/5
36) How I Got My Shrunken Head - 1.5/5
37) The Horror at Camp Jellyjam - 1.5/5
38) The Barking Ghost - 1.5/5
39) You Can't Scare Me - 1/5
The ridiculous plot takes Mark from one inexplicable situation to the next, with very little excitement to the proceedings, and any predicament is handily solved in ways that defy any sense of logic. I know this is ultimately a children's book, and I understand that Stine at this point has written almost forty of these books, but even so - just a little consistency would be appreciated. How I Got My Shrunken Head is utterly forgettable and the 'twist' ending is easily one of the weakest so far.
1.5/5
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) Go Eat Worms! - 2/5
28) Monster Blood III - 2/5
29) The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena - 2/5
30) It Came from Beneath the Sink! - 2/5
31) Return of the Mummy - 2/5
32) Let's Get Invisible! - 2/5
33) Welcome to Camp Nightmare - 2/5
34) A Shocker on Shock Street - 1.5/5
35) Revenge of the Garden Gnomes - 1.5/5
36) How I Got My Shrunken Head - 1.5/5
37) The Horror at Camp Jellyjam - 1.5/5
38) The Barking Ghost - 1.5/5
39) You Can't Scare Me - 1/5
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have re-read it many times. This is my favorite one ever...
I was NOT a fan of this one as a kid, and it was just as stupidly awful as I remembered! I just absolutely despised this back in the day, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that my childhood rage did not cloud my adult judgement. It just really is that bad!