STINETINGLERS

This collection of 10 scary short stories from the bestselling Goosebumps author promises—and delivers—chills, twists, and surprises.

Each entry opens with a brief introduction addressed to readers from Stine describing his inspiration for the story. The book includes a range of subgenres, including cosmic horror, body horror, paranormal, and more. One boy finds himself stuck in time, unsure if he will ever get beyond 6:10. A young athlete’s body betrays him as his skin begins to stretch and slip off. And a practical joker realizes he may have gone too far when he explores cries for help coming from a spooky house. Each story ends with a classic Stine twist and campy humor. This combination is sure to appeal to returning fans and surprise those new to his writing. The stories, whose settings include small-town Indiana, where a transplant from Brooklyn settles down, and a seaside town where kids hang out at the beach, include clues to a contemporary setting (smartwatches, TikTok) and feature timeless preteen fears involving children who act like—and may be—literal monsters; feeling uncomfortable in bodies that are rapidly growing strange and unfamiliar; uncertainty about identity; concerns about being forgotten; fears of being perceived as strange or mundane; and parents who don’t understand you. Black-and-white spot art adds to the spooky atmosphere. The racially indeterminate characters are minimally described.

Quick doses of horror that send a tingle up your spine.