Book Review: "Monster Blood" (Goosebumps #3) by R.L. Stine
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Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ - 2 out of 5 stars
Format: Physical Paperback, Owned
Every time I think I've overcome the nostalgic pull of childhood in the 1990s, I read another book in the Goosebumps series. Now, I find myself watching tubes of Gak on eBay, kicking myself for not saving a closet full when I was a kid after spotting the minimum $25-per-tub price tag in 2026. (Mine glowed in the dark back in the day.)
Yet, items that we (collectively) now romanticize as making us feel young and free often came with unseen consequences and tragic messaging, especially when they hit the shelves before the dawn of the 21st century. Unfortunately, that truth extends to "Monster Blood” (Goosebumps #3) as well.
Stick around as I unravel the many layers of Book 3 and take a wide-eyed journey down memory lane. If you're a fellow Goosebumps fan or are simply wrapped up in millennial nostalgia, take a closer look at my “Goosebumps Challenge” blog or dive into my book reviews of "Welcome to Dead House” and “Stay Out of the Basement”.
[Warning: Some of the details in my review may contain 30-year-old spoilers, so read at your own risk.]
What to Know About "Monster Blood" (Goosebumps #3) by R.L. Stine
The Quick & Dirty Reading Details
Horror
Children's Fiction
Cursed Object
Twist Ending
Cat Lady Trope
Misogynistic Undertones
Dialogue Heavy
Fish Out of Water
Dangers of Curiosity
Ableism
TRIGGERS: Animal Harm, Misogyny, Anger Outbursts, Bullying
The Plot of R.L. Stine's "Monster Blood"
When Evan Ross’ parents decide to uproot his life and move to Atlanta, he and his trusted senior canine, Trigger, are forced to temporarily stay with his great-aunt Kathryn until his parents find a new house in their new home. After meeting and befriending a local girl in the neighborhood, the young protagonist buys a jar labelled "monster blood” at the old-school toy store in town, which ends up being like a slime-like material – think Gak from the 1990s. It quickly becomes apparent that the material is more than simply a toy; it's alive, growing, and ready to devour anyone in its way.
"Monster Blood" (Goosebumps #3) Book Review
My Thoughts
“I don't want to stay here. Please don't leave me here.” The first line of the third installment in the Goosebumps series perfectly summed up how I felt as soon as I realized the villain of the story was going to be a child-free, cat-loving aunt.
Maybe I'm just a salty, child-free, cat-loving aunt, or maybe I'm exhausted from realizing that so many of the narratives fed to us millennials as children were laden with misogyny that had a lasting negative impact. Based on the collective rage felt by women of my generation, I think the latter is most likely. It's important to note this sentiment up-front because it's a major focus of the storyline in "Monster Blood", which may impact your reading of Book 3 as much as it did mine.
Lazy Leaning into Demonization of Independence
In modern times, women in my generation have taken the crazy cat lady trope and turned it on its head, labeling it as aspirational instead of something to be feared. This turn of events is in spite of the negative messaging we received as young girls from the media, which is on full display in R.L. Stine's third novel in the Goosebumps series.
Within the first few pages, the story directs focus to the protagonist's aunt, Kathryn, putting a spotlight on the fact that she's unmarried, childless, and lives with a cat. Her existence outside the norm of society is placed upfront and center so that her reader is aware of her “otherness", which is perceived as negative based on how it's shared and commented on by the father and Evan.
The disdain goes beyond a simple personality clash or family feud, and, instead, lends itself to one of the oldest patriarchal traditions: the demonization of independence. A tale as old as time (hey Eve! How's the apple?), this sentiment has often been applied to women throughout history – in literature and the real world – that show any sign of individualism, desire for knowledge, display of free will or critical thinking skills; basically any indication they're a potential threat to the binary system that heralds men in charge.
[Here's a great article from the BBC that delves further into the cat lady trope: “Ancient Egypt to Taylor Swift: The historic roots of the 'cat lady'.”]
In "Monster Blood", Kathryn is “freed” from her chains of cat-loving independence when the blob monstrosity consumes Sarabeth after she returns to true form – an evil witch, naturally.
“And Sarabeth was now a young woman with fiery red hair and pale skin and yellow eyes, the same yellow eyes that had haunted Evan since he'd arrived. “
With the cat/witch/ familiar gone, it's revealed that the aunt was held captive by the evil woman for two decades, controlling her every move. While it doesn't say it on the page, it can be inferred that Kathryn's childless singledom was a result of welcoming Sarabeth into her life and not her choice. What good, sane woman would ever choose that existence? (* sarcasm to the nth degree * )
Washed Over Prejudice
Kathryn is also deaf. Evan's father suggests that she refuses to learn other methods of communication, like sign language, as a result of personal stubbornness. When, in actuality, it's a result of witchcraft, a curse that's been placed on her. Even without this knowledge, though, the insinuation that her communication struggles are solely her choice further reinforces a negative connotation around existing outside the space of what society deems acceptable.
Furthermore, I'd argue the complete dismissal of Kathryn's hearing challenges crosses over into ableism – another problematic behavior that was constantly present in '90s and '00s media.
Curiosity Killed the Catfish
Independent women aren't the only ones villainized in Goosebumps Book 3. Evan and Andy's curiosity falls under a similar umbrella. It's the driving force to their finding the monster blood jar in the first place.
Their desire to explore led them to the toy store, which was “in town” and outside of the safe boundaries of their neighborhood. Once there, Andy's curiosity pulled him to the back of the store into an off-limits area, where he found the monster blood blob. And while its later growth and dangerous desire to consume were a result of witchcraft, it only became a possibility because the two curious kids were bold enough to source it out and bring it home.
Such a narrative emphasizes the dangers of knowledge; the damage that free will can cause. In many cases, this messaging can be harmful, putting kids off exploring and expanding their horizons. However, I imagine that young readers drawn to the thrills and shrills of horror, like Goosebumps, are more than likely to be encouraged by any warnings as opposed to being discouraged.
Redemption With a Heartwarming Friendship & Good vs. Evil Storyline
The saving grace of "Monster Blood” is the friendship between Evan and Andy. While there isn't much on the page in developing that friendship, it does reflect that childhood process of meeting a new person and instantly becoming besties based solely on being in the same place at the same time.
Most of my best friends growing up were based on being in the same class and in the same town, bonding over shared trauma of circumstance. Escape the geographical restraints that held us together, and it turns out we didn't really have that much in common. So, with that said, I think the lack of relationship development can be forgiven in this circumstance.
The storyline also wins by pushing the good-overcoming-evil narrative. It's a concept present in many children's stories, including many of the Goosebumps series, but its popularity is for good reason: it reinforces hope for the future, and kids, more than anyone, need that encouragement with so much time left in their journeys.
Such an optimistic theme also helps carry an otherwise struggling plot. I'm also giving bonus points for not seriously harming the dog, Trigger, although forcing him to sleep outside wasn't acceptable.
Monster Madness for the Loss
"Monster Blood” isn't my favorite novel in my Goosebumps journey so far. However, it has been my favorite one to review! It offers a lot of opportunity for analysis through the perspective of feminist criticism, but if you're looking to enjoy it for the sake of reading a quick horror novel, I'm afraid the heavy dialogue, flat characters, and sluggish plot are likely to leave you disappointed.
Would I Recommend: No
Would I Re-Read: No
Buy “Monster Blood” by R.L. Stine
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Thanks for sticking around to the end of my book review! If you're interested in reading this Goosebumps novel for yourself, you can grab a copy via my affiliate link on Bookshop.org*.
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Reading Aesthetic: “Monster Blood”
Want even more “Veal”? As a zine and collage fanatic, I can’t help but create an artistic visual element for each of my book reviews. See the full post >> Reading Moodboard "Monster Blood”.
Goosebumps Books Quotes : “Monster Blood”
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