CopeSullivan's Full Review: R. L. Stine - Monster Blood
* This review contains a few plot details and events from the story, but does NOT reveal the ending.
Want to give your child Goosebumps? Well…. then actually give him/her Goosebumps!! You know, a book from the Goosebumps series of books, written by R. L. Stine.
And, what better book to start with, but Monster Blood. Monster Blood is actually the 3rd book in the Goosebumps series, written by R. L. Stine (#1 was Welcome to the Dead House and # 2 was Stay out of the Basement).
One of the things that I love so much about Goosebumps books is that you DON'T have to read the series in order. Unlike other series by other authors, Goosebumps have new characters, new events, and new settings in each book. That is, with the exception of a few "mini-series" within the Goosebumps series - but even those are not written "consecutively".
What I mean is, take The Magic Tree House series for example - where there are two main characters who are the same throughout the series - each new book "follows" the last, often referring to things/events that happened in other books. This leads you to need to read them in order, because if you read book # 25 first, it might refer to a "magic library card" that the children did not possess in book # 5, but may have earned in book # 15.
Ok, I lost you… but that's alright, because this review isn't about a Tree House Book.
Back to the issue at hand…
Goosebumps books are each a fresh read. You can pick almost any one of R.L. Stine's over 80 Goosebumps books and not have to worry about not knowing what a character is referring to or what the situation is. I say almost any one because… If you find a book that has II, III, IV in the title, you may wish to start with the first of that "mini-series". But these are an exception (and Monster Blood is one of those exceptions). The majority of the books are a fresh new story, with new characters, new scenes, and new scares.
MONSTER BLOOD:
Twelve year old Evan Ross and his parents have to move to Atlanta. But, first they have to find a home there to live in. So, Evan and his dog Trigger are being forced to stay at his creepy Great Aunt Kathryn's house, until his parents find their new home.
This is not exactly where Evan wants to be. How boring. Aunt Kathryn is not only strange, but she's totally deaf, and has always refused to learn sign-language or how to read lips. She has no TV, no video games, no computer, and a creepy cat with a mean streak. Evan is even stuck sleeping in a dusty old study, filled with nothing but boring books. What was he going to do with himself for the two to three weeks that his parents would be gone?
Oh, but all is not lost. Fortunately for Evan, he meets a girl his age named Andrea (who prefers to be called Andy) that lives in the neighborhood. However, unfortunately for Evan, he also meets two older boys, twins named Rick & Tony, who love to pick on kids smaller than them. But, Evan had much bigger problems than those two bullies.
You see, during a trip to an odd toy store, Evan purchased himself a can of Monster Blood. This stuff was pretty cool - or so he thought. It bounced, it molded into any shape, and it even glowed in the dark. BUT that's not ALL it did. It also GREW!!
It grew, and grew, and even started to get warm and pulsate as though it was breathing. It outgrew it's own can, outgrew a coffee tin, and outgrew a trash barrel. Soon, it seemed to suck things in. It almost seemed to be alive. What were Evan and Andy going to do? This thing was getting so out of hand, and they couldn't stop it… It wouldn't stop growing, pulsating….
Would Aunt Kathryn believe Evan, if he asked her for help?…. Or would she just laugh?
And what was happening to Evan's poor dog Trigger? What was happening to that nasty cat Sarabeth? Would the bully twins make it out alive? Were Evan and Andy next??????
…… Well, now…. You're just going to have to read the book to find out!!
Monster Blood is a fairly easy read, but not as easy as a "beginner reader" or an "early reader" chapter book. The age range on this book is more between 3rd and 6th grade, depending on a child's reading ability (maybe even 2nd grade, for an advanced reader) . Our son is currently in the 3rd grade and read this with ease. However, there are some words that may trip up a younger reader (either in pronunciation or definition), like linoleum, menacingly, or radiate to name a few examples from this book.
The storyline is easy to follow, yet has the power to keep you on the edge of your seat. You must keep reading, because you just have to know what happens!! I love that in a book!! Even for an adult, this story has the power to keep your attention. It makes a great afternoon read for any adult who enjoys suspense.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, and so did our son. For a child who typically isn't interested in reading and usually asks "Is reading time over yet?", he instead he said "Wait, do I have to stop? Can I read the next chapter, please?".
So, grab your youngster a copy of Monster Blood and enjoy!! And, as R.L. Stine himself says: "Reader beware, you're in for a scare…."
. . .
Recommended for kids grades 2 - 6 (depending on reading ability)
Monster Blood is #3 in the Goosebumps Series.
Published by Scholastic Books Inc.
Copyright: 1992 - First published by Scholastic books, September 1992
The majority of the Goosebumps Series, by R.L.Stine, was originally copyrighted and published in the 1990's - by Scholastic Books. Books in the series have been frequently re-published, at various times over the years, by Scholastic Books Inc.
R. L. Stine's Official Website: (It's pretty cool, check it out)
http://www.rlstine.com/#nav/home
The Scholastic Store.com
http://store.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomeView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051
Scholastic Bookclub flyers that come home from school, with your child:
(They're often offered at reduced prices, and it's a great way to help your child's teacher earn books for the classroom… ask you child's teacher about Scholastic Book Flyers)
http://WWW.Scholastic.com/bookclubs
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