Stinetinglers 4: 3 Chilling Tales by the Master of Scary Stories

R.L. Stine is back in Stinetinglers 4 with 3 novellas all set in the town of Hollow Hills. The first story stars Tony, who loves old comics. Unfortunately for him, he stumbles across a door that he shouldn’t be going in and ignores the warnings, leaving him in danger of being discontinued. Then we meet Kylie, who has just landed a summer job at the new pet store, but there’s something sinister brewing in the store’s basement, and she might be taking home more than planned. The final story brings us to Teddy, who has a new substitute teacher who has a secret that no one seems to believe. Will Teddy be able to convince everyone to believe him?

What I Liked: This Stinetinglers does things a little differently as it includes 3 novellas that are all taking place in the same town and are loosely connected as we see characters reappear in each of the stories. Each of these stories has its own unique thrills and chills, and each is just as spooky as the others. The stories do a fantastic job of building up tension before things happen and leave it open at the end of the story, so you remain on the edge of your seat, terrified. Each chapter has a small image in the first chapter that gives us a glimpse of what to expect while reading. The author does a great job of describing things throughout the book; therefore, the stories come to life, and you can visualize each scene as you read.

The three stories included are: The Day I Was Discontinued, Guess What? I’m a Monster, and Mr. Howell. The Day I Was Discontinued is an intriguing story that takes us on a journey with Tony, who has been transported into another world that is full of discontinued comic book characters. This journey is full of adventure and thrills as you wonder what comes next for our hero. Guess what? I’m a Monster starts normally with Kylie beginning a new job at a pet store, but things get a lot more complicated as she encounters some mysterious creatures in the basement of this store. Kylie can’t keep her curious hands to herself, though, and this just might mean things change drastically for her and in irreversible ways. Mr. Howell takes the other novellas and turns them all on their heads because of the facts that you find out at the close of this story. How does this play into the other stories, or does it play into them?

Final Verdict: Stinetinglers 4 is the perfect short book for children ages 8 and up who are looking for something a little scarier than Goosebumps. Each of the novellas included in this book is sure to have you on the edge of your seat, questioning what you know of this world. Children, along with adults, will enjoy the different worlds that you get thrust into once you enter the town of Hollow Hills.