The Haunted Mask (Goosebumps)
How ugly is Carly Beth’s Halloween mask? It’s so ugly that it almost scared her little brother to death. So terrifying that even her friends are totally freaked out by it. It’s the best Halloween mask ever. It’s everything Carly Beth hoped it would be. And more. Maybe too much more. Because Halloween is almost over. And Carly Beth is still wearing that special mask…
Goosebumps The Haunted Mask Cover (1993)
GOT U COVERED 📘
Author: R.L Stine
Published: 1993
Series: Goosebumps
Tagline: If looks could kill…
Description: Carly Beth holding a green monster mask up to her face.
“Carly Beth was breathing hard, her breath escaping the mask in low, noisy grunts. I sound like an animal, she thought, puzzled. What is happening to me?” - p.59
SYNOPSIS 📖
Carly Beth Caldwell is an eleven year old girl who would jump at the sound of a pin drop. She is spooked by everything and unfortunately has to endure endless amounts of ridicule at her expense because of her “scaredy-cat” nature. This Halloween, she wants nothing more than to be the one to finally terrify others. It’s her chance to get revenge and have the last laugh. When Carly Beth enters a local party store, she finds the exact mask to do the trick. Only this mask is a bit more grotesque and sinister...it’s perfect!! Little does she know that the mask she so desperately wants has a treat in store for her.
After spotting the perfect monstrous mask in a secret back room, Carly Beth knows it’s the one she has to have, but the store owner is hesitant to sell it. After pleading and outright insisting, he gives in and an excited Carly can’t wait to spend Halloween night getting her revenge. However, after putting on the mask, it immediately starts to change her…into something else, something sinister.
“She felt a tingle of excitement she’d never felt before. And a strange feeling she couldn’t describe. A hunger…” - p.70
THOUGHTS 💭
I was pretty excited to return to this book out of pure nostalgia. Like many fans, Goosebumps was my gateway into the horror genre and single-handedly created and birthed my love for reading books.
As a former bullied kid myself, I felt bad for Carly Beth in the first few chapters of this book, because you can feel that the ridicule she faces on a daily basis is starting to really affect her. Something that the television episode was able to depict really well. She so badly wants to be treated normally and can’t understand why others feel the need to scare her all the time, even though she’s well aware why she’s an easy target. The pranks that gets pulled on her by Chuck and Steve (her classmates) are quite mean spirited, especially the worm sandwich one 🥪🐛 Yuck! Not to mention, she doesn’t get much support from her friend Sabrina, who brushes it off and low-key also enjoys the humour it brings. Carly Beth even gets laughed at by some of the teachers and the entire school when another prank 🕷️ takes place at the school Science Fair. So needless to say, she has it pretty rough.
When Carly Beth takes off to buy a mask to get revenge on everyone, she uses her life savings (lol) of 30 dollars. That anecdote made me chuckle. Probably because I also used to save up all my chores earnings so that I could buy Britney Spears’ single CD’s and the amount of money I earned, albeit not that much, made me feel rich and independent as an 8 year old. I digress. I like that we got a nod to one of horror’s most famous monsters himself, Freddy Krueger, although it was misspelt (twice) and other notable figures like: E.T, Star Trek, Uncle Fester and Frankenstein. As a kid I’m sure I had no damn clue who these references were so it was cool to revisit this book and be able to of course catch it now.
The character development during the “mask-on” chapters was great and where the story started to settle into its fun, spookiness. We not only got to read what changes were happening physically, but also how she felt about those changes emotionally. Her relishing in her newfound bravery and inner darkness. How she felt powerful scaring the town little kids. How she had changed so much that she even started to scare herself. It was quite fun to read. I smiled many times picturing this little monster girl causing devious mayhem in the neighbourhood.
Speaking of which, I loved the setting and atmosphere of the neighbourhood on Halloween night 🎃🍁 . R.L Stine’s writing really shone through and came alive. Reading these chapters, I was able to vividly imagine the scenes and get into the spirit of trick-or-treating through Stine’s descriptive writing. Having never been trick-or-treating myself, I always enjoy when authors are able to transport me into a state of imagination where I can experience the excitement and action attached with the setting. What I also really appreciated, is that the chapter endings didn’t have as many fake outs as the series will become known for. It had cliffhangers that actually was built upon or resolved in the following chapter.
As for the pacing, it was as fast paced as a two minute bag of microwavable popcorn. It’s a quick, easy read that cuts to the chase and never feels like it’s dragged out.
This book is a must read for all Goosebumps fans. Definitely one to add to your October TBR. At the heart of the story is a girl who just wants to be treated by those around her with kindness. I feel this is one of the strongest stories that Stine has created. He was able to write a story that conveyed a deeper meaning of love and self-acceptance, while still providing all the fun goodness we love from the original series.
I grade this book an A++
It should also be mentioned how well done the television adaptation is. No wonder it ran for 2 episodes and was the premiering episode of the series. From the great acting of Kathryn Long who plays Carly Beth, to the scenes and dialogue ripped straight from the book, and the creepy score music which captured the Halloween spirit. It was giving all treats and no trick.
Find the TV Episodes 📺 and audiobook 🎧 below:
