Kirkus
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In this graphic novel adaptation of one of Stine’s most beloved Goosebumps books, a Halloween mask inspires brutal scares…for a price. Carly Beth Caldwell is easily frightened; everyone picks on her, from classmates Chuck and Steve to her little brother, Noah. This Halloween, however, she intends to get revenge by using a particularly hideous mask purchased from the forbidden section of a mysterious costume shop. It’s way more effective than her mom’s homemade duck outfit. But, like any horror story curio, it comes with dangerous warnings and high-stakes instructions. As Carly Beth and her best friend, Sabrina, set out for a night of trick-or-treating, Carly Beth finds that the mask makes her absolutely terrifying, but it also threatens to take over her personality, turning her into something of a local menace. Eventually, she finds she’s unable to take it off. Readers who recall the original tale will relish watching timid Carly enact her righteous vengeance at the risk of her own identity. The artwork sells her scaredy-cat reactions as effectively as her masked, monstrous moments. Some comedic elements balance the body horror, such as a cute cameo from Stine and gag comic strips that close out the book. Carly Beth and her family are light-skinned; Chuck and Steve are tan-skinned; Sabrina is brown-skinned. Successfully injects new life into a thrilling Goosebumps classic. (information on adapting the book into comics form, search-and-find game)(Graphic horror. 8-12) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.