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

 

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,

   

  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 visit their grandparents. They are excited about 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 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. In the end, she finds 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. Her credits included Broadway and numerous middle-grade novel narrations. 

  The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight is filled with creepy moments. I gave this spooky book four out of five stars!          

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