Who doesn't love a good throwback? Especially one from the master, R.L. Stine.

I loved Goosebumps as a kid and I still love them now. They are the ultimate throwback and totally brightens my day. Sure, these books don't scare as good as they used to but I still love the thrills along the way.

Greg and his buddies, Bird, Michael and Shari, find a magical camera. Except, this camera isn't the good kind of magic - it's the evil kind. When they take pictures with it, the developed pictures show evil, horrible, no good things. Crashed cars and scary scenes, and the worst part? They all become real. Suddenly Greg and his friends need to find a way to save the city and themselves from this potential disaster.

A while back I watched the first season of the television series and specifically watched this episode (Baby Ryan Gosling folks!) and it does not equate to this book. The book is way, way, way better and the show doesn't do it justice. I'm glad I read this book after to see how great it actually was! Don't judge the book by the television episode.

I don't think this book will hold up as well, mostly because it involves a Polaroid camera. I think only the hipster kids will have any idea what it is. Either way, these middle grade novels are the best for introducing kids and readers to horror. It's super fun and spooky, but not absolutely horrifying. Along the way I was chuckling at all of the thrills, knowing full well as a kid I would have been shaking in my boots.

The ending happened very quickly and suddenly, speeding up like a really fast car. I enjoyed it, but some readers may not.

This is definitely one of the better ones in the Goosebumps collection, so if you're looking for fun horror or a good old fashioned throwback, grab this book! It's a real delight!

Four out of five stars! ( )

it was goooooooooood leave me alone

#4 "One picture is worth a thousand screams."
An evil cursed camera? No that couldn't be real, right? Greg and his three friends are about to find out. ( )

[b: Say Cheese and Die!|125662|Say Cheese and Die! (Goosebumps, #4)|R.L. Stine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328867794s/125662.jpg|121027] has the benefit of featuring one of the most idiotic protagonists of any of [a: R.L. Stine|13730|R.L. Stine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1194380070p2/13730.jpg]'s books. While the actual premise of the book itself was rather entertaining (the idea that a camera could take photos of the future and/or cause bad things to happen in the future) the execution of it left rather a lot to be wanting. In fact, the actual origin of the camera and way that it works - which the characters wonder about for the bulk of the book - is never adequately revealed.

Greg, the main character, was just too massive an imbecile for me to fully enjoy this romp. He spends so much of the book trying to convince himself the camera isn't 'evil' or supernatural at all, but rather simply broken. Because, you know, a broken camera makes people look like they're dead, cars look like they've been totaled, etc. He refuses to do anything to really solve the mystery and is just such a...non-mover.

Whatever, the book was still OK but it wasn't one of the stronger Goosebump titles in my opinion. ( )

not the best book in the series just because it kinda boring but it is good. ( )