Good Morning Bookworms, and happy hump day!

I hope you’re having a good go of the week so far. I overslept, so I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but I can’t really complain all that much. Besides, how miserable can I be when I have another book review to share?

Today I’m sharing my review of Goosebumps #52, How I Learned to Fly by R.L. Stine.

I grew up reading these spooky books, and lately I’ve been needing something simple that won’t stress me out, and these books are a godsend. These books are so easy to pick up randomly, and I chose this one in particular because I recalled loving it as a kid.

So, does this book stand the test of time? Keep on reading for my review!

Blurb

Wilson Schlame loves to make Jack Johnson feel like a total loser. And Jack’s had it. That’s how he ended up down at the beach. In a creepy, old abandoned house. In the dark. Trying to hide from Wilson.

But everything is about to change. Because Jack just dug up the coolest book. Its called Flying Lessons. It tells how humans can learn to fly.

Poor Jack. He wanted to get back at Wilson. But now that Jack’s learned how to fly, things down on earth are getting really scary…

GoodReads

Amazon

***Brief disclosure***

I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a tiny commission for purchases made through the Amazon links in this post. It’s a great way to help me keep things running on my blog if you’re already intrigued enough to make a purchase. 

The Review

Gosh, reading these books is so darn nostalgic!

I read Goosebumps as a kid in the 90’s, and this book reminded me of how I used to look up at the sky and wonder what it would be like to fly.

If you were that kid growing up, this is definitely the book for you!

This book follows our protagonist Jack. His nemesis Wilson constantly has to outdo him at everything and embarrass him publicly. That all changes when Jack finds a book in an old house that claims he can learn how to fly. Is this some stupid joke, or could he finally have a way to show Wilson and especially his crush Mia that he’s better?

This book was quite a bit different from most of R.L. Stine’s other Goosebumps books. It’s not necessarily creepy, but is an intriguing, cautionary tale nonetheless. A lot of the elements really worked for me.

Jack as a protagonist was great. I think this is because there are a lot of similarities to myself as a child that I could really connect with. Jack loves superheroes and sketches them in his spare time. He’s also trying to show the world that he’s worth something, which is admirable for a young teen. He is a bit self-centered, but that’s how kids are when going through puberty, so I thought that was realistic.

Wilson was a formidable nemesis. He always has the one up on Jack, and he apparently also has the luxury of wealthy parents that buy him pretty much whatever he wants. He targets Jack pretty relentlessly throughout, constantly making him feel bad about himself. He’s a jerk through and through, and I’ve known quite a few individuals like him throughout my life, so he seemed realistic as well.

Could the characters been a little more three dimensional? Sure, but I wasn’t very disappointed.

The plot was super fun! I mean, learning to fly? How awesome is that? It was easy to root for Jack along his journey, and though the process by which he learns to fly seemed a little too easy, it was still a lot of fun. I liked how part of the story went into fame and its pitfalls. It’s definitely a ‘be careful what you wish for’ situation, and I think a lot of young kids could benefit from that, especially given how the world is today.

All in all, this was a solid Goosebumps read. It may not be scary, but it was very entertaining throughout. Can’t wait to reread more of these gems!

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have you read this story? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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