Goosebumps is a classic series of spooky and scary stories written for kids. It was one of the first series of books I read as a kid and it's the series that really established my love of reading. It was also the first time I discovered how much I enjoy scary stories. Even though these books were written for children, they share key elements of horror and the supernatural that make for a good scary story. Despite being easy reads, I recommend you read some of these books if you have never read them before or reread them if you have. Here are my ten personal favorite stories from the original series of books.
10) Welcome to Camp Nightmare
Welcome to Camp Nightmare is your standard camping story gone bad. Many horror stories happen out in isolation from civilization and camping stories are the epitome of this trope. Welcome to Camp Nightmare features a young boy who is sent to camp and bad things start to happen to the camp goers. It's up to our young hero to discover the truth of the camp and to make it out alive. A fun read for any fans of stories with protagonist all alone in the woods.
9) One Day at Horrorland
Have you ever imagined what it would be like if Six Flags were trying to kill you? Imagine no more dear reader because that's essentially what One Day at Horrorland is about. A family ends up getting lost on the way to their real vacation destination and come across Horrorland. They decide to go and see what it's like but they soon discover Horrorland is not a place of fun. The rides are deadly and the workers aren't who they appear to be. Give this book a read if you like creepy carnival style horror.
8) Stay Out of the Basement
There's something about basements that fuel the imagination for terror. Perhaps it's because they're usually darker than normal, or maybe it's because of the small enclosed space. Regardless of the reason, basements make for a very nice creepy setting in a scary story. In this story, a recently fired botanist is carrying out experiments in the basement to prove himself to his former boss. His children soon notice that he has been acting strangely since beginning his experiments and eventually discover a terrible secret about the basement. Give this one a go if you enjoy science experiments gone wrong.
7) How to Kill a Monster
The key to any good scary story is suspense and the build up that suspense creates for the reader. Forbidden rooms in a large house are a great way to achieve this and that's exactly what this book has in store for you. For all the intrigue and mystery this book offers, it's also equal parts survival. My recommendation for readers who like a little bit of everything in their horror stories.
6) Ghost Beach
As the name implies, Ghost Beach is about ghosts. It's a classic ghost story about some kids who go to visit distant relatives who live on the beach when they begin to notice some peculiar things. During their stay, they also meet some kids who explain about the ghost of the beach and a mysterious old man who claims to know how to stop ghosts. An easy choice for fans of ghost stories.
5) Night of the Living Dummy
Freaking dolls man. Dolls tend to be unnerving because they often dip into the uncanny valley and ventriloquist dolls fit this description perfectly. This book is like if Toy Story went evil and toys came alive to try and kill you. Dolls can be creepy. Creepy dolls that come alive are just downright terrifying. A must read for anyone who enjoys Chucky or similar tales of inanimate objects come to life.
4) The Cuckoo Clock of Doom
Despite the silly name and cover, this story is actually pretty scary. What makes this one interesting to me is that the primary plot device driving the horror is time travel. Not typically something you associate with scary but I think it's used quite effectively. In addition, this one has an ending that's rather dark when you really think about it. A good entry in the series to read if you want some unconventional scares.
3) The Haunted Mask
The Haunted Mask is quite the gripping tale. It's about a girl who wants to have the scariest costume for Halloween but gets more than she hoped for. It turns out the mask she picks up for her costume is not just an ordinary mask but something more sinister. It attaches to her face and becomes harder and harder to remove until it seems like it will never come off. This is a good pulse-pounder for anyone who likes a race against the clock.
2) Welcome to Dead House
If you ever moved to a new town when you were a kid you know that it can be kind of scary. Now imagine the town you moved to was haunted! Welcome to Dead House was the first entry into the series and it's one of the best in my opinion. This was one of the few Goosebumps books I read as a kid that genuinely creeped me out. Its creation of a creepy atmosphere is really well done. I still enjoy reading this book as an adult and I think it's worth a read if you enjoy unsettling environments.
1) Say Cheese and Die!
I'll admit nostalgia is part of the reason this book is my favorite because it was the first ever Goosebumps books I read. That being said, however, this is one book in the series I feel can still hold relevance even today. Essentially there's a cursed camera that shows photographs of the future with malicious twists to them. Anything that shows up in the picture will come to pass. This is why I think the book is still scary to this day and maybe even more so. People take pictures all time thanks to their phones. Imagine what it'd be like if they started showing terrible futures that would come to pass.
So which one of these books are your favorite? Which ones do you like that didn't make the list? Leave your favorite Goosebumps story below!
