(4) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Brown. Mary McScary can scare everyone around--except her cousin Harry. Mary throws increasingly large (and dangerous) animals at Harry, but he befriends every creature instead. There's nothing left to do but kiss him ("EEEEEEEEK!"). Stine shows his horror-humor skills, though the repetition grows a bit wearying. Brown's illustrations humorously balance the everyday elements with the creature-feature details.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Goosebumps series. Adapted by Dave Roman. Illustrated by Dave Roman & Jamie Tolagson. Four Goosebumps stories from the 1990s are resurrected as graphic novels in this collection. Slappy, a ventriloquist's maniacal dummy, stars in the final story illustrated by Roman and acts as emcee throughout: "I get to see you tremble with dread." Each story is illustrated in full color by a different artist with mixed results. Overall, though, fans of the original horror series should enjoy this treatment.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 As told to Joe Arthur and Susan Lurie. This story of the writer's life and career highlights humorous moments and features Stine-esque chapter cliffhangers. Touching on inspirations and writing habits, the book--originally published in 1997, here with updated content--ends with a chapter on the new Goosebumps film. Small black-and-white snapshots and an appendix of most-asked questions are included. Fans and aspiring authors will enjoy this light offering.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1997

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Brown. A boy (reluctant) and a younger girl (more daring) view the Little Shop of Monsters' merchandise, from the Snacker (favorite treat: hands) to the Sleeper-Peeper (hides under beds). The clever ending twist will have readers quickly turning the last pages ("Phew! You just escaped!"). Stine's direct-address text is pitched for delicious thrills and chills, while Brown's cheery palette and over-the-top monsters offset the terror just enough.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2015

(4) YA Fear Street series. Hoping a return to normalcy will aid her emotional recovery after a car accident that took her father's life, Lisa agrees to babysit a neighborhood boy. While on the job, she struggles to separate reality from hallucinations--and then her friends start dying. Driven by cliffhangers and plot twists, the story lacks depth and complex characters but offers chills at a quick pace.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) YA Fear Street series. This addition to the recently revived series follows teen Rachel, who's ecstatic over an invitation to her crush's birthday party on his family's secluded private island. But when party pranks turn deadly, Rachel wishes she had heeded her friends' ominous warnings to stay away. After a sluggish opening, Stine's signature brisk plotting moves toward an effective twist ending, leaving character development in the dust.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 4-6 Goosebumps series. This compact chiller links tales of a haunted mask and a possessed pumpkin patch into a single Halloween episode, striking a balance between true horror and lighter camp. There are no surprises in this dedicatedly formulaic series milestone, but the short chapters, nonstop cliffhangers, and wealth of red herrings make it an accessible and addictive read.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) 4-6 On Artie's first day of middle school, he alienates the star football player, the prettiest girl in school, and the principal, all in the first hour. What's worse is that subsequent school days duplicate the first. Creepy school basements and mysterious janitors heighten the tension of this very slight, humor-filled light horror tale.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 Three previously published Goosebumps stories get graphic novel treatments. "One Day at Horrorland" and "A Shocker on Shock Street" are nearly identical, as people trapped in haunted amusement parks find their way out through twist endings; "Deep Trouble" is about discovering a mermaid and possibly a sea monster. These overlong adaptations occasionally drag. Somewhat varied panel illustrations help differentiate the stories.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Three early Goosebumps titles--The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight, and The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena--are revived as graphic novellas, their economic plots enhanced by the illustrations' textured backgrounds and irregular paneling. The undemanding stories still lack character development, but their twist endings and well-executed graphic revival may attract new readers.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) YA Bitten by a vampire at summer camp, Destiny and her twin Livvy, increasingly desperate for blood, must find the Restorer before they become full vampires themselves or the vampire hunters get them. Although the writing style is flat and banal, Stine does know how to build suspense, and two murders, lots of blood, and a walking corpse will give fans the gross-out they crave.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Each of these ten horror stories is introduced by the author and accompanied by a spooky black-and-white illustration from a different artist. The collection includes a few formulaic, weak entries, but in general the short story format suits Stine's particular talents, allowing him to create some punchy, effective tales with neat twist endings. "I'm Not Martin" and "The Black Mask" are two of the standouts.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta