Reviews of Monster Blood 1, 2 & 3

R.L. Stine, Monster Blood (Goosebumps). NY: Scholastic, 1992. 144 pages.

“Now you know why I love these books so much.”

That is what my son said to me as we drew near the climax of this book. It thrilled my soul to hear my eight-year old talk about loving books.

I love to read to my children. For awhile we were reading and discussing books from the Sugar Creek Gang series. Then, we would bow beside the bed and pray together. I highly recommend them.

However, we seem to have adopted a new genre of literature. When my oldest son was eight he began reading Goosebumps books at school and was constantly talking about how much he enjoyed them. So, he and I started to also read aloud a few chapters of a Goosebumps title each day. We alternated, with him reading a chapter and then me reading a chapter.

I was initially concerned about possible occult material. However, this book, like the previous ones that we have read together, was set within a moral universe that I did not feel was contrary to our faith. In fact, this particular book does a pretty good job of conveying the message that the preternatural can be just as dangerous as it is intriguing. That is a great starting point for a conversation that every Christian parent needs to have with their children.

In Monster Blood, Evan is forced to spend a few weeks with his Great Aunt Kathryn. Aunt Kathryn is very strange. In fact, she is creepy strange,… weird. Is it possible that she is a witch? Is she somehow responsible for the disturbing adventures he shares with his new friend Andy?

Evan and Andy purchase a can of Monster Blood in an old, somewhat mysterious, toy store. They think it is just an innocent can of bright green, Jell-O like, glow-in-the-dark goo. However, their little $2 purchase turns out to be not nearly so innocuous as they had thought.

The stuff begins to grow, and grow, and grow. And, then…..

Well, if you want to know more you are going to have to read the book.

And, once you have read it you will probably want to read the following two books.

R.L. Stine, Monster Blood II (Goosebumps). NY: Scholastic, 2004. 144 pages

R.L. Stine, Monster Blood III (Goosebumps). NY: Scholastic, 2007. 144 pages.

Monster Blood II and III continue the adventures (and misadventures) of Evan and Andy and the mysterious substance known to them as Monster Blood.

In Monster Blood II, Evan becomes a bit of a smart-alec so it is difficult to really feel too sorry for him and the troubles that plague him at his new school. In fact, Evan’s behavior is criminal at one point so I was glad that I was reading it with my son so I could discuss with him the error of Evan’s ways. Most of Evan’s problems are brought on by his own indiscretions, however, there is a new bully that you will love to hate. Conan Barber, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, is just as bad as he is big. Nevertheless, the problems Evan brings on himself, and those provoked by Conan, are nothing compared to the trouble that arises when Andy tries to help out with a little dose of Monster Blood. Andreaaaaa!

Monster Blood III introduces a new character, Kermit. He is smart, he is in fact a genius, and he is Evan’s weaselly cousin. Whichever direction Evan turns it seems that there is someone out to get him, — Conan, Kermit, his Aunt Dee, and eventually the police. What is worse than having Monster Blood turn you into a giant? Try being a feathered, blue giant. I think Monster Blood III is probably the best of the trilogy. It is full of action and animus.

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