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readerette's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I realize that I've definitely aged out of the target audience for this book (and the other Goosebumps stories) but this really does not stand the test of time. Most other books from my childhood I still enjoy rereading (Nancy Drew, illustrated classics, Scary Stories To Tell In the Dark, etc), but this book didn't scare me or creep me out, the main characters just annoyed me (considering their primary personality trait is nasty competitiveness sand they were the same person with different haircuts), all of the secondary characters may as well not have existed for all that they added to the story, and there was zero explanation for the supernatural elements.
The dummy kept saying he had powers, but aside from talking, walking, biting and vomiting (which are just traits of living creatures, not "powers"), demonstrated no powers. Did he have something to do with the girls' strangely meteoric rise to potential fame or something? And what was the significance of the green gas emitted when the dummy was crushed?
Trying to be generous with the rating as a young reader may find this entertaining still, but I have my doubts.
Trying to be generous with the rating as a young reader may find this entertaining still, but I have my doubts.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
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