The Haunted Mask (Goosebumps) (utgåvan 1995)

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#11 "If looks could kill...."
Carly Beth has no idea what she wants to be for Halloween. But she knows it needs to be really scary. When she finds an old mask at a nearby party store she begs the man to let her buy the mask despite his reluctance. Everything seems good and scary at first, but when Carly Beth starts getting strange thoughts while wearing the mask and even has trouble getting it off, things start to get really creepy! ( )

This was one of my favorite Goosebumps books growing up. The idea of a mask that fuses to your face, the mask being that of the Unloved, it's such a cool concept and something that really hits home when you're little.

There's something great about the portrayal of it all, too. The exhilaration that Carly Beth initially feels at being able to frighten others rather than being scared herself, how quickly she takes it too far, how after a while she just gives into it completely in her need for revenge - the blurring of the line between how much of what she did was due to the mask and how much was simply her is great stuff in is a kid's book. The reaction of the shop owner, as well, is something I love. No fear, no anger, just a quiet sadness.

I still enjoyed this book a ton, and it was great reading it over again now that I'm older. I could see the old mental pictures coming back like a movie. Fun stuff.

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