The Haunted School
By: R. L. Stine
About This Book
He's hearing voices . . . from another world! Tommy Frazer's dad just got married. Now Tommy's got a new mom. And he's going to a new school -- Bell Valley Middle School. Tommy doesn't hate school. But it's hard making friends. And his new school is so big, it's easy to get lost. Which is exactly what happens. Tommy gets lost -- lost in a maze of empty classrooms. And that's when he hears the voices. Kids' voices crying for help. Voices coming from behind the classroom walls. . . .
AI Overview
Plot Summary: "The Haunted School" by R. L. Stine is a part of the popular "Goosebumps" series. The story revolves around Tommy Frazer, a new student at Bell Valley Middle School, who is trying to make friends and adjust to his new surroundings. Tommy, along with his friends Ben and Thalia, becomes involved in the school's dance committee. During their preparations, they get lost in the school while searching for red paint. Tommy stumbles upon an abandoned room filled with life-size statues of kids, which sets off a series of eerie events. He discovers a plaque indicating that a class of students disappeared in 1947 and encounters a mysterious girl with white hair and grey eyes.
The plot thickens when Tommy and Ben find an old elevator that leads them to a grayscale parallel world called Grayworld. There, they meet the trapped students from the Class of '47, who were photographed by a sinister photographer named Mr. Chameleon. The students are stuck in this colorless world because Mr. Chameleon used his camera to trap them. As Tommy and Ben explore Grayworld, they begin to lose their color, mirroring the fate of the trapped students.
Key Themes:
- Friendship and Adjustment: The story highlights Tommy's efforts to make friends and adjust to a new school.
- Curiosity and Exploration: Tommy's curiosity leads him to discover the hidden room and the elevator, which sets off the main plot.
- Trauma and Loss: The disappearance of the Class of '47 and their entrapment in Grayworld serve as a backdrop to explore themes of trauma and loss.
- Petty Evil: The reason behind Mr. Chameleon's sinister act is petty, adding a layer of psychological complexity to the story.
Critical Reception:
- Reviews: The book is praised for its ability to deliver scares and mystery, making it appealing to readers of the "Goosebumps" series.
- Goodreads: The book has an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, indicating a generally positive reception from readers.
- Spaghetti Book Club: The review highlights the creepy atmosphere and the unique concept of Grayworld, which adds to the book's appeal.
Overall, "The Haunted School" is a classic "Goosebumps" tale that combines elements of mystery, horror, and friendship, making it a compelling read for fans of R. L. Stine's work.