Ghost Camp (Goosebumps series)

Ghost Camp (Goosebumps series)

Children's Fiction

The 45th book in the Goosebumps series, this book follows brother Harry and Alex Altman in their adventures at Camp Spirit Moon, which their parents signed them up for last minute. As they are walking towards the camp it appears to be abandoned until they run into a camp counselor who says that it is a camp tradition to play jokes like making the camp seem deserted. They then come across Uncle Marv, the head camp counselor, who teaches them the camp salute and shows them to their cabin. As the boys are getting settled, they each step in a sticky blue liquid. Uncle Marv comes to take them to the Welcome Campfire where all the other children are gathered. Alex makes friends and Harry falls for a pretty girl named Lucy. When Harry's hot dog falls off his stick into the fire, Lucy reaches in and grabs it, and only afterwards realizes she should be in pain. Later, Uncle Marv tells ghost stories about a monster eating the campers and fog descending on the campers one night, killing them and forcing their ghosts to remain forever at the camp. Then, a fog overtakes the campfire area, and when it clears, Harry and Alex find themselves alone again. When they go to their cabin the other campers come out proclaiming it to be a joke. More weird events occur, such as one of their bunkmates elevating from their bed, one camper stabs his foot but pulls out the rod without flinching, and another camper stabs himself in the neck with a fork. Lucy then tells Harry in secret that the ghost story was true and that all of them are indeed ghosts, and asks Harry to help her by letting her take over his mind and body, which he refuses. Harry goes back to his bunk to grab Alex and take him home. As they are running away, they run into the monster from the first story, but by telling themselves that the monster doesn't exist, they will him away. Uncle Marv then shows up with the other ghosts who fight over who gets to take over the boys bodies till eventually thye just disappear into a flash of light. As Harry and Alex walk away, Harry discovers that one ghost was successful in taking over Alex.

The whole Goosebumps series has been challenged over claims that they contain excessive violence for books intended for children under the age of twelve, and charges of depicting occult or satanic themes.

R.L. Stine

New York: Scholastic Inc.

1996

Softcover

English