Welcome to The Real World According To Sam! Today I'm back with another Goosebumps book for our Halloween festivities!! I had taken a break from reading this series for a bit, but Halloween seems like a great time to get back to it.
Goosebumps #5: The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb
Author: R. L. Stine
Genre: Children's Horror
Year: 1993
Genre: Children's Horror
Year: 1993
Synopsis:
Something Dead Has Been Here....
Gabe just got lost -- in a pyramid. One minute, his crazy cousin Sari was right ahead of him in the pyramid tunnel. The next minute, she'd disappeared.
But Gabe isn't alone. Someone else is in the pyramid, too.
Someone. Or some thing.
Gabe doesn't believe in the curse of the mummy's tomb. But that doesn't mean that the curse isn't real.
Does it?
Review:
Gabe is spending some time with his parents in Egypt. He has gotten to see some pyramids from the outside, but what he really wants is to be on the inside, with his uncle. Gabe's uncle is an Egyptologist and is currently working at a dig site at the Great Pyramid. Lately, many workers have turned up sick and there are many problems. Could they be related to an ancient curse? Gabe's parents end up having to leave, but they let him stay with his uncle and cousin, and from there, problems arise.
So this book is pretty run of the mill. Gabe is a kid that wants adventure, but gets bored pretty quick. His cousin Sari annoys him by teasing him often and being a bit of a know-it-all. His uncle has a cool job and is a nice guy, but he doesn't seem to make some of the best judgment calls. All of this is a recipe for disaster. The story is pretty straightforward. A kid goes with his relatives and gets to lightly explore some pyramids, finds a bit of trouble, and has to find a way out of it. A mystery pops up that needs a bit of solving, and in his usual fashion, R. L. Stine throws in twists. The mummy and pyramid information is basic, so there won't be anything new for people that know about ancient Egypt or kids with Egypt fascinations. For those who aren't, there could be some fun there. This isn't a fully fleshed out fantasy story, so the twist at the end is fun, but it isn't grand scale by any means.
What Goosebumps succeeds in being, is a quick story that has light creeps at times, with fun settings and generally relatable kids. Lots of kids want adventure and talk things up, but often end up bored with the reality of the situation. Kids are fascinated with strange things and think that they can do things that they probably shouldn't. Kids want to be the heroes of their own stories. That is what this book is. It is a kid in a new, but interestingly familiar setting, that has to face some pretty scary stuff and has to figure out how to save the day for himself and his family to survive. If you take it for what it is, it is a pretty good read. I like the setting and I think Gabe is a kid that could really exist. I've known some kids like him. You throw in a challenge and even if they are leery about it, they still want to meet it and show how brave they can be, while still being scared.
Is this a revolutionary story? No. Is it an award winner? Not really. But is it lighthearted fun that is good for Halloween time? Absolutely. If your kid is at this reading level, but isn't quite old enough to be able to enjoy The Mummy movies, then for sure let them start off with this. Pique the interest and later on, kick up the intensity and complexity. It isn't a bad start for the topic and story type. Don't expect older kids to love this or for it to be fantastic for an adult. It is light fun. That being said, I give The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb a Lone Star rating of ✯✯✯. Again, it is a quick read, with some adventure, a small creep factor, and a decent amount of fun. I can't wait to read the next book in the series to see what other adventures will be had.
This concludes another review here at The Real World According To Sam, where I bring the books straight to your screen and even provide my own two cents about them. See you tomorrow!
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