A review by elmeco
Goosebumps Wanted: The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine

dark lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

Let me start off by saying the first 30 pages of this book (Part One: The Haunted Mask) is not only of the best thing's Stine has ever written, but reads - and ends - like a Bradbury story. Absolutely haunting stuff. The book then gives us two more stories, Lu-Ann's story, and Devin's. Lu-Ann's story is also great, and (somewhat) picks up where we left off with the Haunted Mask plotline.

Then we get Devin's story. While not a bad story by any means, it is very much its own story and completely detracts from the first two stories which started us off on a great run. The tie-in and overall conclusion just feels abrupt and unnecessary. Such a shame because Devin's story has such a good concept that it could have served as its own standalone book, but just ends up feeling like filler. This is a Haunted Mask book after all, but only half of it feels like a Haunted Mask book.