Customer Reviews

The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena (Goosebumps, No 38)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Unlike the first several books in the series and many of the books that were to come in the Goosebumps 2000 series, this book really wasn't very spooky or scary. Jordan and his sister Nicole get to go to Alaska with their Dad because he has been paid to photograph an Abominable Snowman. Jordan and his sister are besides themselves because they have never seen snow and now they are going to be able to see it for the first time. However, while staying in a cabin in the frozen northern wilderness, the family's guide takes off with all the family's food and supplies while the Dad is taking some pictures of a frozen stream. The kids chase the guide, but end up getting lost and fall into the lair of the Abominable Snowman.

The story flows together really smoothly and there aren't any plotholes. There are a few things that don't make too much sense, however. And the story is not scary at all, leaving me without any goosebumps. Still it's a good story and makes for a decent read. Not R.L. Stine's greatest, but not too shabby, either.

You're starting to really hate Pasadena because of the very, but I mean very hot weather. You've got three ideas to chose from. (A) Live in the fridge. (B) Visit the Abom.inable Snowman. (C) Think of Snow. If you chosed B, you're correct! That was what Jordan and Nicole did. What do you do when you have snow from the Abominable Snowman's cave? You get rid of it, that's what! Read this book to give yourself Goosebumps!

This book was okay. It was a really sad plot and what happened to the pictures he took of it and what happened to Kara? I didn't like this book as much as the others. (Why don't you jump on over to R. L. Stines other book: "The Warewolf of Fever Swamp". (A young) reader from New Hampshire)

I have been reading these reviews a lot and I noticed one in particular that sparked my attention. Most of it was all about how terrible this book was and how it was great when you first read it and now that you're older it stinks. You said you loved them when you were younger. Duh! The books are not for teens or older kids! They are for younger kidsa, and you said you enjoyed them when yoyu were younger, which means they are good books! Don'ty tell other people "don't buy this book" unless when you were little you still hated them. They are not dirested at your age group. This book was very gold, but maybe not as good as dome others. The endings are always twisty, and even though this isn;t his BEST, R.L. Stine did a very good job, and you should try and read this.

this book was not R.l.Stines best book ever but here's how it goes , So a girls dad gets a chance to go photograph
a yeti . The girl and the sister aren't so thrilled but they go along. From then nothing goes right. I don't know
you may like it it's kinda strange but you never know.

The problem with "The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena" is that it freely exhibits a frequent problem with some "Goosebumps" books: a sloppy, too-implausible approach in delivering the story that almost insults to the reader. Trust me; I love most of the "Goosebumps" books, even as a kid when I sometimes noticed that certain stories were too farfetched beyond reason. After reading this one after many years, I found it's a prime example. I can't believe I rated a "Goosebumps" book only two stars, despite only the second half being awful, but that is what ruined the book.

You probably know the story already: two Pasadena siblings who have never seen snow tag along with their dad, who's a photographer, to Alaska, where there is word of an Abominable Snowman causing recent havoc. They find the beast, and trouble ensues. It's got the usual quarrelsome siblings, the false scares (which don't bother me too much), pranks, etc.

I think the story got off to a decent start. Stine uses some edginess with a couple of mean-spirited kids from down the street, some creativity with both a funny prank by the narrator and an interesting anecdote by the father, and some intrigue with the Abominable Snowman plot. The first half of the book is actually promising, though not scary, as the family heads off to Alaska and is led through the tundra by a worrisome guide. There's a feel of adventure in the air, a trace of danger. But the second half? Completely stupid.

Stine ruins all potential by forcing too many implausible plot points to advance the story. The father is somewhat irresponsible, taking giant risks with the kids when the monster is discovered. Also, the beastly snowman is at one point frozen in a block of ice in a 20-foot-deep cave, yet they manage to lift the block into a supply trunk*, haul it out, and secretly fly him back to California. There are even magic snowballs that create a blanket of snow when thrown. One dumb thing after another that takes you out of the story. I was actually getting aggravated. Then there are inane lines such as "Maybe he wants to roast us...Maybe he doesn't like his kids raw."

Sometimes you have to value these things from the context of the age group, because it's, after all, a kids' novel. But this "Goosebumps" entry particularly takes a turn for the absurd, and then the story struggles and falls apart. It squanders a promising first half that had the chance to develop into an exciting adventure about an Abominable Snowman who terrorizes the Arctic.

*The monster is not as tall as depicted on the cover.

Jordan and Nicole live in Pasadena. It's hot and they dream of snow. They are over the moon when their father is going to Alaska on an assignment and they get to tag along. Their father is a photographer and his new task is to prove the existence of the abominable snowman. Their guide is terrified of the snowman, but surely there can be no such thing as an abominable snowman?

Another nice Stine-book.

The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena is the best book I've read by R.L.Stine. I don't know why I like it so much. The story had so many unexpected surprises. It was great.

well the book is not up to my expectations,its about two kids who get bored down in the hot weather in their homtown and how there father a photographer takes them to alaska,and their trip turns down to an adventure

Jordan and his sister Nicole are going to Alaska! There happy to get away from the heat of Pasadena. But the state of Alaska is dangerous. It has a baest thats not as nice as you think. Will the Blakes get back to Pasadena alive