R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series, Vol. 4

Gr 4–8—Based on the "Goosebumps" horror stories, these five episodes from the first season of the television series serve up chills, screams, and eerie plot twists, with young actors from popular movies and television shows. Although the tales are a bit uneven, they will still keep Stine fans on the edge of their seats. In "Wrong Number," a couple of pretty but mean girls bully the wrong person, and revenge comes through their beloved cell phones. Suspense builds slowly here, and the dialogue is a bit artificial. A young man who was always "Afraid of Clowns" learns that his paranoia is well-grounded. In "Pool Shark," a young Hawaiian boy is the only one who can see the dangerous shark that lurks in the swimming pool. Three teens try to make a better ghost-hunting video than the one on TV, but they get a shocking surprise in an abandoned mental hospital in "Lights Out." There is a very good reason why Josh will never measure up to "The Perfect Brother," a tale that's more disturbing than scary. Readers of Stine's series will expect these spooky story lines and some unpredictably frightening endings. The special effects are awesome. Bonus features include promos of two of the episodes, and Debby Ryan ("Wrong Number") speaking out about bullying. For fans of the genre, a fun collection of spine-chillers.—MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School, Binghamton, NY