Listened: "Revenge of the Living Dummy" by R.L. Stine

Listened: Revenge of the Living Dummy: Goosebumps HorrorLand series, book 1 by R.L. Stine, 2009, Overdrive.com download.

I was looking for audiobooks for driving with Boy #1 and Boy #2.  I selected a variety and we listened to this on the way back from Champaign.

I am too old for the Goosebumps craze of the '90s.  I record my notes on this mainly because this is the only one I ever read or listened to.

I have disliked the Goosebumps series for several reasons; all those reasons are selfish: 1- the books wear out too fast and fall apart, 2- they are a hassle to shelve, 3- keeping track of series order is a hassle, 4- getting new titles ordered is a hassle.  All those reasons, and others, are easily outweighed by the many kids who read every book.

Britney is a 12-year-old with a best friend named Molly.  Britney has been moved from her decorated, attic bedroom into her mom's sewing room when her 9-year-old cousin moves in with the family.  Ethan, the cousin, can be a real brat.  Ethan shows up with a ventriloquist's dummy he has named Bad Boy.  Bad Boy is very poorly behaved with many insults.  Britney laughs at many of the gross or insulting jokes.  But, is Bad Boy really run by Ethan.  Of course not.

Things happen.  Bad Boy is alive.  Molly's museum anthropologist dad has books around.  Molly finds ancient words to silence Bad Boy.  Bad Boy not silenced.  Bad Boy buried in cemetery.  Next, Britney wins a trip to a huge, Disney-like theme park.  Theme park is a horror theme park.  She travels there with parents and Molly.  Britney's parents disappear but leave camera behind.  Britney checks camera and sees photo of Bad Boy!  Oh no!  What will happen?  Read Book Two to find out!

Comments:
1. Music throughout the book was too loud and obscured the narrator at many points.