GOOSEBUMPS HORRORLAND #7: MY FRIENDS CALL ME MONSTER
by R.L. Stine
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 9780439918756
Ages 9-12
144 pages
Michael "Monster" Munroe's sixth-grade class isn't studying the Civil War like other sixth-grade classes. Instead, all they hear about from their odd teacher, Mrs. Hardesty, is monsters, monsters, monsters. Mrs. Hardesty has other bizarre quirks, too. She resembles a bird, with her beak of a nose, close-together eyes and feathery hair. And she keeps the classroom so dark that it's hard for the students to see anything.
Well, Monster Munroe just cannot resist. He rigs up one of the window blinds so that whenever he blows a dog whistle, no one can hear the whistle but the blind rolls up. His classmates are enjoying the show until Monster drops his whistle and Mrs. Hardesty snatches it up. As a punishment, he and his friends, DeWayne and Daisy, can either stay after school for two hours every day for a week or they can do community service.
When the three opt, reluctantly, for the community service, they're sickened by the project their teacher has picked out for them. They have to literally dumpster dive, pulling out any bottles and cans that are recyclable, separating them from stinky, slimy garbage. That experience is so disgusting that Monster, Daisy and DeWayne vow they will get revenge on their teacher. And when Monster spots a stray black cat, he decides that sneaking it into Mrs. Hardesty's house would be just the ticket. After all, she talks all the time about the bad luck black cats bring. While Daisy and DeWayne aren't as enthused, they allow themselves to be persuaded to be part of the caper.
The three sneak the cat into the house. The plan is to stick it in the basement and then skedaddle. But inside they hear creepy moans, groans and thumps coming from one of the rooms upstairs.
When the noises die down, and no one seems to be in the house, Monster has a brainstorm. He decides the cat should go into the attic. Up there, they let it out of the carrier, but before they can leave, they hear a door slam. It's Mrs. Hardesty! And they're trapped in her attic. But they're not alone for long…because the cat meows. Mrs. Hardesty climbs up into the attic, where the kids hide behind old furniture, holding the cat.
Mrs. Hardesty yanks a drop cloth off of a very tall object. It's all Monster can do not to gasp out loud, because he simply can't believe what he's looking at. He's even more shocked at what she does next. With Mrs. Hardesty right there, so close to them, will Monster, Daisy and DeWayne ever be able to pull off an escape? As wild as their predicament is, it's nothing compared to what happens next.
MY FRIENDS CALL ME MONSTER is filled with terrifying moments, crazy transformations and wild plot twists --- plus, it's hilarious. As always with this series, readers can enjoy horror-filled adventures while looking forward to the continuing HorrorLand theme park story with its accumulating familiar cast of characters, who seem to find themselves deeper in jeopardy with every installment.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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