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 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Who Let the Ghosts Out! (Mostly Ghostly, Book 1)
- By R. L. Stine
- Genre: Horror
Common Sense Media says
Horror trashmeister begins a new series -- oh joy.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that a dog is turned inside out in this horror tale.
What's the story?
Max discovers that there are ghosts in his new house -- the ghosts of siblings Nicky and Tara, who don't remember dying. They offer to help Max, a geek despised at school and at home, if he'll help them find out how they died and what happened to their parents.
But an evil being named Phears is stalking them, and he torments Max to find out where they are. Somehow they escape him, so Phears goes after Max again. And it all may have something to do with a mysterious tunnel that has appeared in Max's room.
Is it any good?
About the best that can be said about this book is that it's not as objectionable as R.L. Stine's usual. Stine eschews the usual conventions of literature -- character development, plots that make sense, setting, writing technique, occasionally complete sentences -- in favor of stereotyped characters, bogus cliffhangers, and disgusting bits of violence that keep reluctant readers coming back for more. At least this doesn't have the rivers of gore that have been the highlights of some of his previous efforts, nor is it as scary.
The argument usually made in Stine's favor is that he gets reluctant readers, especially boys, to read, and this is true. As long as they graduate to better quality, that's a good thing. If your child hates to read but enjoys this, don't worry. Wait a year, and if he's still reading nothing but Stine, then you can worry.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the difference between books like this and real literature. What defines something as "literature"? Who gets to decide? What are the pros and cons of different types of books?
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AGE
Another great book by my favorite all-time author (R.L. Stine)
If you like this series then I recomend Goosebumps I also recomend the horror series (Goosebumps and Nightmare Room).
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Kid, 12 years old
April 20, 2009
AGE
Mostly Ghostly Who Let The Ghost Out
I love the movie mostly ghostly who let the ghost out I am in love with it.
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AGE
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.stineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
gggggggggggooooooooooooooood
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| Author: | R. L. Stine |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Publisher: | Delacorte Press |
| Publication date: | January 2, 2005 |
| Number of pages: | 129 |
| Hardcover price: | $6.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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