Goosebumps by R.L. Stine truly is a gateway to the horror genre for the younger generation and while most of the first 62 books are classic reads, Stay Out of the Basement fell short for me on my reread of the series. The second book in the series left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.
Dr. Brewer is doing a little plant-testing in his basement. Nothing to worry about. Harmless, really. But Margaret and Casey Brewer are worried about their father. Especially when they…meet…some of the plants he is growing down there. Then they notice that their father is developing plantlike tendencies. In fact, he is becoming distinctly weedy-and seedy. Is it just part of their father’s “harmless” experiment? Or has the basement turned into another little shop of horrors?
R.L. Stine has provided spine-tingling thrills without crossing into truly terrifying territory for many years now. The Goosebumps series has blended suspense and mystery along with horror, creating an unforgettable and nostalgic reading experiences for me recently. However, Stay Out of the Basement has been the biggest let down for me since I began my reread. This installment tends to lean more toward science fiction than pure horror which Goosebumps tend to lean.
Unlike many other Goosebumps books that maintain a nice pace with continuous eerie undertones, Stay Out of the Basement often lingers in moments where characters appear oblivious or naive regarding their circumstances. Moments which could have been more engaging had they maintained tension consistently throughout. While these are fiction books, this installment leaned towards to the more unbelievable than most.
Despite my criticisms–there remains undeniable charm inherent within any book penned by R.L. Stine; even less successful attempts still manage captivate me as a reader and have yet to ruin my love for this brand. While these books are made for younger audiences, they can still resonate with the older generation–a true testament to Stine’s abilities. Stay Out of the Basement just didn’t do it for me.
Stay Out of the Basement may not be my favorite of the R.L. Stine Goosebumps books, but it was still worth reading again as an adult. The lack of believability and less horror than science fiction ultimately made me happy to put this one in the rear.
Stay Out of the Basement is available at bookstores everywhere from Scholastic. The audiobook, narrated by Elizabeth Morton, is available at Libro.fm!
