2003-09-27 Be Careful What You Wish For...

R.L Stine has captivated young readers for many years... and continues to do so with his award winning Goosebumps series.
I started collecting Goosebumps Books from the age of twelves, up untill I was fifteen, and althought I'm eighteen now and probably too old... Be Careful What You Wish For is one of my favourite stores.
A 12 yearold girl, called Sam Byrd has alot she wishes for. She wishes she wasn't quite so tall as she is...or as clumsy. Plus, her enemy Judith is determined to make her life miserable with comments like: 'Why don't you just fly away, Byrd?'
Then, one day on her way home from School, raising her face to the sky as she pedalled, the rain feeling cool and refreshing against her skin...She reached Jeffers' Woods: a long stretch of tree's that devides her neighbourhood from the next.she cycled down a narrow bike track that twisted through the trees, but the sky was beginning to darken, so she decided to turn round and hurry home. As she did, Sam saw a woman standing in front of her....
"She wasn't young, she wasn't old. she had two dark eyes like two black coals, on a pale, white face." Instead of running home like she had intended, Sam turned round and smiled at the old woman. 'Can I help you?' She asked.
This is how Sam Byrd's problems begin... Sam is kind to the old lady, and shows her the way to Madison Road. In return to her kindness, The old lady grants Sam three wishes of her choice.
As the story unfolds, Sam Byrd learns that, although life isn't that easy, it is often best left as it is.
R. L Stine's twist at the end is, as always, brilliant. Although this is a story from the early day's of Goosebumps, it is still one of his best. Brilliant if you are just getting into Goosebumps, or brilliant to add to a current collection.
Enjoy!