Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Popular series reissue is a fun sleepover read.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say the book is a mixed bag: while some find it too gruesome and poorly written, others appreciate its mild scares and engaging storytelling for younger readers. It seems best suited for kids and preteens who enjoy horror, though parents should consider their child's sensitivity to scary themes.
- gruesome content
- entertaining for kids
- mild scares
- not well-written
- varied opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Carly is tired of getting teased at school. Her friends are always thinking of ways to frighten her -- and it works. She always falls for their tricks and the whole school laughs at her. But this Halloween it's different -- she's got the spookiest mask ever and she'll get her revenge and watch her classmates recoil in horror. Little does she know, it'll be horrific for her too!
Is It Any Good?
Stine delivers another spooky, look-over-your-shoulder book ideal for reluctant readers and Halloween-themed sleepovers. This reissued "classic" is one of the better books in the Goosebumps series that's often cast aside as mass-produced light entertainment. There are awful masks and spider scares, acts of revenge, and great cliffhangers to enjoy here.
Carly is picked on at school for being a scaredy-cat, but readers will feel just as jumpy as she deals with crazed duck costumes, hairy tarantulas, and live worms. When she finally gets an opportunity to take her revenge, readers will turn from having sympathy for Carly to being scared to death of her and what she can do with her new super scary mask.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teasing and revenge. Why did Carly want revenge against her friends? What did she learn about trying to "pay back" others who had hurt her? Have you ever wanted to get back at someone who teased you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Horror
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date : September 1, 2008
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 144
- Last updated : February 18, 2026
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