"Goosebumps: Curse of Camp Cold Lake" is a children's horror fiction novel written by R.L. Stine. This thrilling story revolves around a twelve-year-old girl named Sarah Maas, who is sent to Camp Cold Lake for the summer. However, little does she know that this camp is haunted by a sinister curse. As soon as Sarah arrives at the camp, she realizes that things are not as they seem.
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Camp is supposed to be fun, but Sarah hates Camp Cold Lake. The lake is gross and slimy. And she's having a little trouble with her bunkmates. They hate her.
So Sarah comes up with a plan. She'll pretend to drown -- then everyone will feel sorry for her.
But things don't go exactly the way Sarah planned. Because down by the cold, dark lake someone is watching her. Stalking her. Someone with pale blue eyes. And a see-through body. . . .
So I had never read this book as a child because the cover terrified me and by the time I was old enough to not be scared by things like that, I convinced myself I had fully outgrown childish things like Goosebumps oh, the irony. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon.
As soon as Sarah arrives at the camp, she realizes that things are not as they seem. The other campers and counselors are strangely cold and unwelcoming towards her. Sarah becomes determined to fit in and make some friends, but her efforts are met with nothing but hostility.
Thoughts on The Curse of Camp Cold Lake?
So I had never read this book as a child because the cover terrified me and by the time I was old enough to not be scared by things like that, I convinced myself I had fully outgrown “childish” things like Goosebumps (oh, the irony). I had only heard about the drowning scene through Goosebumps Completionist’s video on the controversial books in the series.
The drowning scene in particular intrigues me because I can very much imagine Sarah’s plot as something an angsty adolescent would fantasize about or dream up — something that resonates with me as someone who also went through some traumatic experiences in childhood that genuinely made me consider whether or not dying would help.
However, I can see where people think this is a romanticization of suicide considering it suffers from what I call “Thirteen Reasons Why Syndrome”. In a way, it portrays suicide or suicide attempts as a sort of revenge against people who have wronged them, which is just inaccurate to reality.
Still, it makes you wonder whether or not some baggage is being brought into a book where that was not the intention. After all, Sarah does face some serious consequences as a result of her actions, and her plan literally does not work. Absolutely nobody cares that she’s “drowned” or tries to save her and leave her (which says a lot about the camp she’s staying at, but I digress). Could Stine have intended for the drowning scene to have these connotations or are readers somewhat projecting onto it?
Anyways, that’s enough rambling on my part. What are your thoughts? Do you sympathize with Sarah or do you think she’s a whiny brat? Was this book a harmful depiction of something serious or is it just not that deep? Did you love the book? Hate it? I’d love to know. Thanks for reading!
The camp itself also appears to be haunted. Sarah hears strange noises, sees ghostly figures, and experiences chilling phenomena. She soon learns about the tragic history of Camp Cold Lake - many years ago, a camper had drowned in the lake, and it is believed that her spirit still haunts the grounds. Desperate to unravel the mystery and put an end to the curse, Sarah begins investigating. She discovers a hidden diary that belonged to the deceased camper and learns about the camper's troubled past. The diary hints at a dark secret buried at Camp Cold Lake, and Sarah becomes determined to uncover the truth. As Sarah delves deeper into her investigation, she faces increasingly dangerous situations. She encounters vengeful spirits, eerie apparitions, and even finds herself trapped in a terrifying underwater maze. With each eerie encounter, Sarah gets closer to unraveling the curse and freeing the spirits of Camp Cold Lake. In a startling twist, it is revealed that Sarah herself unknowingly played a part in the camper's death all those years ago. The curse was placed on her as punishment for her role in the tragic incident. Sarah must now confront her past actions and find a way to break the curse before it consumes her. With the help of a few unlikely allies, Sarah manages to uncover the hidden truth and confront the vengeful spirit haunting Camp Cold Lake. She realizes that forgiveness and redemption are the key to breaking the curse. In a climactic showdown, Sarah bravely faces the spirit and manages to set both herself and the camp free from the curse. "Goosebumps: Curse of Camp Cold Lake" is a gripping tale filled with suspense, mystery, and supernatural elements. R.L. Stine masterfully weaves a story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as they eagerly follow Sarah's journey to break the curse and find redemption..
Reviews for "The Sinister Past of Camp Cold Lake: Curse Unveiled in Goosebumps"
1. Sara - 1/5: I was so excited to read "Goosebumps Curse of Camp Cold Lake" as I've always been a fan of the series. However, this installment was a huge disappointment. The plot was weak and predictable, and I found myself bored throughout most of the book. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging read.
2. Mike - 2/5: As a longtime fan of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series, I was let down by "Curse of Camp Cold Lake". The story lacked originality and felt like a rehashed version of previous Goosebumps books. The scares were predictable and failed to captivate my interest. The writing style also felt rushed and poorly executed, with little attention to detail. While the book had its moments, it ultimately fell flat and failed to live up to my expectations as a fan.
3. Emily - 1/5: I couldn't even finish "Goosebumps Curse of Camp Cold Lake". The writing was poorly done, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The characters were unlikable, and their actions and choices made no sense. The plot was hard to follow and seemed disjointed. The lack of suspense or genuine scares left me uninterested and disengaged. Overall, this book was a huge disappointment and not worth the time or money. I would not recommend it to anyone.