Title: The Nightmare Room #7 – The Howler Author: R.L. Stine Cover Artist: Vince Natale

INTRODUCTION

“A story of confines” or: “Apologies to the Bigfeet”

I first read The Howler about two months ago and’ve been dreading this review. Don’t get me wrong, though. The book isn’t bad. But apparently Stine decided to write a serious story. From the title, I was expecting something more Teen Wolf and less Lake Mungo. How does one then rectify this within the confines of a comedy blog?

That’s what this blog is, right? A comedy blog? After all, I’m coming off the heels of my most comedically sound entry yet, The Tale of the Mogul Monster.

Structurally, that book overdelivered. (i.e. The protagonist has deep insecurities brought on by trauma; the plot forces him to overcome this trauma, bettering him as a person.) But a Jefferson Bible retooling of Mogul Monster could easily look like a Matt Christopher book. Meanwhile, the titular monster is totally superfluous at best. The book was clearly made within the confines of “ooky stories for kids,” something I exaggerated towards the end of my review, post-ironically refusing to engage with a book that paired such mature themes with a snowboarding Bigfoot shaman.

Writing for a specific audience, under specific confines, is difficult for any author who’s trying. But I suppose bending the rules and subverting expectations is an indispensable facet of art. Sometimes, it works out. Sometimes, it doesn’t. At risk of sounding corny, such is the nature of the beast.

And on the topic of beasties, it’s time to stop pontificating and get to the story.

The Story

Ian is the brother Spencer never had. Sure Spencer has an older brother, but that guy’s a jerk. The opening few chapters are told in flashback, heavily foreshadowing Ian’s demise. Meanwhile, Spencer’s memories are all colored by a looming trauma and survivor’s guilt.

Thinking about it now makes me feel really sad.

Ian, Spencer, and two others go ice skating on a lake. After being subjected to a game of keep-away, the ice gives out beneath Ian. The protagonist reaches out to save his friend, but their hands slip. Both boys end up falling below the ice, and Ian fatally drowns. Spencer’s comments on the afterlife may be the closest R.L. Stine has come to making me cry since The Ghost Next Door:

Does he know that I tried? Does he know that I risked my life for him?

Does he forgive me for not pulling him out?

From this point on, the book starts to follow more typical Stine fare.

[✓] Unnecessarily cruel sibling: Nick.

[✓] Random annoying kid: Scott.

[✓] Best friend of opposite sex: Vanessa.

[✓] Mysterious shop: Little House of Spirits (ghost supplies; not liquor).

[ ] Werewolves: Surprisingly none.

Inevitably, time passes, and Spencer becomes worryingly obsessed with the idea of contacting a ghost. Ian’s ghost. Spencer hoards ghost hunting equipment, but he always ends up buying gag gifts by mistake. What does he expect? But one day he finds a gadget that actually seems to work: the Howler. It can channel the voices of ghosts, many of which supposedly howl in pain. While there are plenty of ghostly fakeouts (i.e. Scott, then a cat, then Nick), Spencer successfully overhears the wail of a ghost crying for help. And since kids see ghosts sometimes, Spencer manages to catch a glimpse of a spirit moving around outside.

Someone decided this book “needed” more zany shenanigans, so Spencer pranks Scott using the Howler. Perfect revenge since Scott is always bragging about how haunted his house is. Exemplifying Stine’s general moon logic, this prank somehow unleashes a flurry of ghosts from a nearby closet.

Still a better prank than a fake Bigfoot foot.

Suspiciously, the ghosts disappear, and Spencer returns home. Things seem to be going well when he stands up to his brother, but Spencer soon finds himself terrorized by specters. Evidently, he didn’t beware of hitchhiking ghosts. When Spencer tries investigating, it backfires and culminates in evil spirits chasing him out to the frozen lake where the book started. Spencer is then confronted by the ghost of Ian, who’s apparently been hanging around, trying to thank Spencer for risking his life.

Ian’s ghost skates around the evil spirits at lightening speed, searing a hole in the ice, causing the evil ghosts to fall through and disappear. Don’t even get me started with the wonky logic of ghosts falling. The book concludes with Nick demanding that Spencer fork over the Howler. Nick doesn’t know how dangerous the item is, and Spencer doesn’t fight back when he takes it. Sweet revenge.

The Verdict

The book seems to hinge on the motif of letting go. Ironically, Spencer’s trauma is brought about when he accidentally slips and literally lets go. For most of the remaining book, Spencer is unable to let go of anything; he obsesses over Ian, pranks Scott, and bickers with Nick, none of which seems to positively impact his life. Ultimately, the twist ending reinforces the theme, as Nick’s greed punishes itself, and Spencer doesn’t need to do anything. Overanalyzing? Absolutely.

In the most shocking twist of all, this book shows something genuine. One could even say, “Man, this is totally different from the Goosebumps books.” But like in a positive way.

Best quote

“Yes!” I lifted the phone—and punched in 911.

I pushed the emergency number, then pressed the phone to my ear and listened.

Silence for a second or two. And then…

“Hahahahahaha!” A high, shrill cackling laugh, tinny and distant-sounding.

…Flavor Flav?