It Came from Ohio: My Life as a Writer (Goosebumps) [Hardcover]

R. L. Stine (Author), Parker (Author), Joe Arthur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Goosebumps

A best-selling author tells kids everything they ever wanted to know about him--and Goosebumps! What was R.L. Stine like as a kid? How did he start writing books? Where does he get all his scary ideas? These and many more questions are answered in this humorous, fast-paced biography. Photos, line drawings.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7. In this entertaining autobiography, the prolific author of horror books talks about his childhood, his dreams of becoming a writer, and his eventual success with the "Fear Street" and "Goosebumps" series. As autobiographies go, this one isn't especially dramatic, but Stine tells his story with both humor and verve. Readers get the idea that he genuinely loves his work and sincerely cares for his audience. This book is written in the same conversational tone as his fictional books. Black-and-white photos of the author, his family, and friends, as well as some of the cartoons he did as a young man, are sprinkled throughout. Also included is a list of the 20 questions most often asked by children (and the answers), a feature that should make report writing a bit easier for this author's many fans.?Melissa Hudak, North Suburban District Library, Roscoe, IL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. The Stephen King of children's books spills his guts at last in this as-told-to memoir, taking stabs at finding the high spots in a deceptively uneventful childhood and stints at a college humor magazine and specialty periodicals, all of which prepared him to launch his eye-poppingly successful Fear Street and Goosebumps series. Festooned with exclamation points and one-liners, his genial narrative reads like an extended version of a typical author's talk; influenced by radio, TV, comic books, and science fiction, he began creating homemade magazines at an early age, graduated at 12 to novels, and after college held a succession of jobs, including substitute teacher: "the scariest thing I ever did." Although he keeps his income under wraps, he is open about his family, work habits, and storytelling techniques; quotes fan mail; and thanks editors and coworkers; then closes by advising young writers to "read, read, read." Muddily reproduced black-and-white portraits ("Me, age eight--scary!") and hilarious pages from hand-drawn early efforts further humanize this outrageously prolific, horribly entertaining author. John Peters

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (April 1997)
• Language: Italian
• ISBN-10: 0590366742
• ISBN-13: 978-0590366748
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hoot for Young Readers, July 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: It Came from Ohio: My Life as a Writer (Goosebumps) (Hardcover)

I was searching for a first "Chapter Book" to give to my son, when another Mom and her daughter recommended this book. The hardback has a nifty 3-D panel on the front and it looked like it would excite your typical boy into cracking the cover. What a success! The only time the little fellow put the book down was when he was howling with laughter so hard that he dropped the book onto his toe. I could barely get him to sleep at night. His 12 year old sister loved the book, too. Our family highly recommends this book!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, October 6, 2002

By 

Deirdre (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It Came from Ohio: My Life as a Writer (Goosebumps) (Hardcover)

This book is really fun & interesting. R.L. Stine tells about why he likes scary things. You get to see his early works he did as a child. You also get to find out what "R.L." stands for and when his birthday is. Very informative! If your child is an R.L. Stine fan, this is the book for them.

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and creative, May 21, 2010

By 

D. Aldrete (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It Came from Ohio: My Life as a Writer (Goosebumps) (Hardcover)

R.L. Stine is one of my favs, for the immortal kid inside all of us. Stine is funny and amuzing, he knows how to capture the nostalgia and magic from our childhood.