Goosebumps HorrorLand #9: Welcome to Camp Slither [Mass Market Paperback]

Boone Dixon and his sister, Heather, are pretty excited about their upcoming adventure at Camp Hither. Heather immediately makes friends on the camp bus, while Boone is sitting near the palest boy he's ever seen. Oddly, the boy, who says his name is Roddy, is clutching a rabbit's foot. Roddy seems to think he will need some extra luck at Camp Hither. He tells Boone about the scary things he's heard about the camp. Supposedly, the counselors make the campers swim across a lake filled with snakes. Boone tries to reassure Roddy, saying that people are teasing him. But Roddy remains obviously terrified.

Boone scoffs at Roddy's notions, but is surprised when he asks the busload how many of them have previously camped at "Camp Slither." Not one person has been there before; they are all newcomers. Still, Roddy's fears seem even more unfounded when he screams "Snake!" at the rattle of Heather's bracelet. Obviously, Roddy is just the nervous type.

Of course, Roddy finds great significance in the head counselor's name: Dr. Crawler. But Boone tells him it's just a name. Nathan, their cabin counselor, brushes off Roddy's fears, too. He offers to take Roddy snake hunting, to the nervous camper's horror. When the nurse sprays them with sunscreen, she assures them that the camp staff all want the campers to stay safe. Nothing makes Roddy feel safe, though. And when Boone, Roddy and their fellow cabin-mates goof around by spraying each other with the sunscreen the nurse gave them, Boone finds it slightly odd that his skin turns scaly...and strips of it begin to peel away. However, he persuades himself that it's just a case of dry skin.

At the first meeting of the campers, even Boone is dismayed at the noise he and Roddy hear. It's the loudest hissing you can imagine. When Roddy asks Dr. Crawler what the sound is, the counselor claims it's just crickets. No one is buying that explanation. Boone begins to wonder: Is the hill they're on crawling with creepy, slithering snakes? And when Dr. Crawler proclaims that the big event of their camp stay will be the swimming race across Lake Hither, Boone can't help but think of the story Roddy told him on the bus.

When the boys go on a hike with Nathan, Roddy points to a deep rut in the side of the lake, suggesting it's the track of a giant snake. Nathan pulls a prank that scares both Roddy and Boone. Afterward, Roddy says he's going back to the cabin. Little does Boone realize the significance of that leave-taking until later --- but by then he'll be too scared to do much beyond trying to survive.

WELCOME TO CAMP SLITHER will be embraced by Goosebumps Horrorland's many fans, who will enjoy another episode of thrills and chills as Boone shares his terrifying tale. Of course, readers also are treated to the next chapter in the ongoing HorrorLand theme park story. Boone Dixon has a very special invitation waiting for him --- if he lives long enough to accept it.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

Boone and Heather are psyched about spending the summer at Camp Hitcher. They are told about the legends of the man-eating snakes, and about campers disappearing. Will they be next?

In the second story, Boone arrives in Horrorland and teams up with the other kids from the previous story.

"Welcome to Camp Slither" is a creepy tale that will make your spine tingle. It's a great story to tell in front of a campfire. I was disappointed that the character Heather didn't make into Horrorland.

Our grandson wanted this book which we were having a hard time finding. Amazon had the book in stock at a great price. Just what he wanted and in time for Christmas!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews  5.0 out of 5 stars