The Girl Who Cried Monster by R. L. Stine is Goosebumps book number 8 in the original series. The Girl Who Cried Monster is an updated take on the classic fable The Boy who Cried Wolf. The premise is the same a girl is obsessed with monsters, always acting like they’re real, discovers a real monster, and no one will believe her. The tale runs pretty typical until the bonkers ending, which is so out there it ruins it a little. Stine probably had a lot of ideas where to go and chose this one, and it just wasn’t great, but as a kid I might have thought it was cool instead of random and ill conceived that I do as an adult. This one is the most time stamped, as they have to go to the mall to get their photos developed, and the library uses stamps and a card catalog. The Girl Who Cried Monster will be one of the six stories to inspire the Goosebumps 2024 TV series. It is titled Goosebumps: The Vanishing. The series will star David Schwimmer.

Plot Summary: Lucy is 12 and obsessed with monsters, she tortures her little 6 year old brother Randy and her friend Aaron, with monster stories trying to get them to believe there is a monster anywhere and everywhere. Lucy is enrolled in a summer reading program at her local library that is close enough that she can skate to. The program requires her to read classic books and the librarian Mr. Mortman, a bald beady eyed man, has to quiz her over the material. Lucy bluffs her way through Huck Finn and is excited to check out Frankenstein, so excited that she forgets her skates, and has to go back to the already library, she worried about the door being locked but it’s not. As she retrieves her skates she see Mr. Mortman change into a insect-like Monster, with big bug eyes, antennas, and sharp teeth. Runs out of there with out being seen she can’t believe her eyes, and nobody else will believe her as well. She needs proof, but it might kill her to get it.

What I Liked: I loved the first monster that Lucy creates the Toetaker, actually sounds pretty terrifying, and I loved how she fakes her brother. I love that despite Mr. Mortman being a monster he is one heck of a librarian, one of the funniest moment when Lucy is trying to get away she knocks over the card catalog and Mr. Mortman has to clean up the card catalog. He also has the kids reading some great stuff. For a Goosebumps book the story is pretty focused on the plot. I loved that Randy after being pranked so much ends up getting excited by the fear. The Name Lucy Dark is awesome.

What I Disliked: The ending is so out of left field, it ruins a big chunk of the book, and it didn’t have to all Stine had to do was set it up, and he did not. This story feels like it was written without and ending then one tacked on at the end. Lucy should have brought a camera the first time after she saw Mr. Mortman change. Lucy being selfish and waits for Mr. Mortman to change before switching places, Lucy you’ve seen him change three times how about Aaron getting to see.

Recommendation: This one is not the worst out of the eight goosebumps that I have read but it is close. If you have to skip one it should be this one and Monster Blood so far. This one has one of the worst ending so far, and I was really enjoying the story until then. I do recommend reading the first chapter and the story of the Toetaker and the prank with it is really good. I get and read Goosebumps for my nephews that are four and six this one is more gross than scary which is one that might appeal to them more than me. I rated The Girl Who Cried Monster 3 out of 4 stars. My list so far from best to worst Stay out of the Basement, Night of the Living Dummy, The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, Say Cheese and Die, Let’s Get Invisible, Welcome to Dead House, The Girl who Cried Monster, and Monster Blood.