Book Review: The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight by R.L. Stine

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!

  The Goosebumps Series has been a staple in many a kid's growing up. It has spawned several series, a televison show, and recently two films. A worldwide phenomenon, Goosebumps remains a literary favorite of children and adults alike. For Halloween I decided to pick up a few Goosebumps books. The first one I read was actually the first R.L. Stine book I picked up decades ago. "Reader beware," Stine warns, "you are in for a scare."

  The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight is the twelfth book in the Goosebumps Series by R. L. Stine. It is published by Scholastic Books. In it we are introduced to Jodi and Mark, two kids on their way to visiting their grandparents. They are excited for the spooky ghost stories and their grandmother's famous chocolate chip pancakes. Arriving at the station they are greeted by Stanley. He is the superstitious and somewhat befuddled groundskeeper of their grandparents' farm. He and his sixteen year old son, Sticks, live in a small home on the grounds. All seems normal until Stanley utters the words, "The scarecrow walks at midnight...."

  Stanley owns a book that has supernatural things in it. He is devoted to the tome and speaks of it often. When Jodi begins to see odds events play out in the fields of the farm. She and Mark grow increasingly weary as their grandparents begin to act strangely. Gone are grandma's pancakes. In their place are bowls of cornflakes. Grandpa is also acting strangely, seemingly low on energy and ghost stories. As Jodi continues to see walking scarecrows, she chalks it up to Sticks playing pranks. What she finds in the end is a spooky plot being played out by unlikely forces. As the scarecrow walks at midnight, will anyone be safe on the farm?

  The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight is a fun romp into the spooky realm of juvenile horror. It is the best time of year to be curled up with a spooky book, and this one checks all the boxes. Reading Goosebumps as an adult is surprisingly similar to when you read them as a kid. I found the same smile creep across my face at the humor. And I was surprised at the twists, having forgotten them altogether. It is a great way to take a break from longer adult fiction.

  I read this novel in part with the narration of actress, Lexy Fridell. Her ability to read as a child is amazing, considering she is an adult woman. Her credits included Broadway and numerous middle grade novel narrations. I enjoyed her portrayal of Mark the most. His lazy kid mentality was never lost in her presentation. I enjoyed her reading of this book a lot.

  Settle back alone or read to a child, the Scarecrow Walks at Midnight is a book filled with creepy moments. A four out five spooky Jack O'Lanterns for this Halloween!          

Have fun reading this week. Let me know in the comments below what you are reading.

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  Because there is always time to read,
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