Goosebumps: Piano Lessons Can Be Murder by R.L. Stine

Gooosebuuumpss!

I have never read any of these books because they came out when I was past that reading level. I remember my sister reading them, but never really paid attention. I know my third grade students in North Carolina ate up these books--the grosser the better! I liked that they were actually enjoying their independant reading selections.

While at the library, I tried to pick out one that seemed "gross." I think I succeeded with a picture of hands playing the piano. I took piano lessons, so you could say I was hooked. I always liked my lessons, but thought practicing at home was murder (heehee). Anywho, Jerry is our main character. He has just moved into a huge old house in a new town with his mom and dad. He is notorious for his practical jokes, making his wild accusations later pretty unbelievable. While investigating the new digs, he finds a beautiful piano in the attic--perfectly tuned and everything!

At night, he keeps hearing a low, sad classical piano song being played and investigates several times. His parents become concerned he is having psychological issues and send him to a therapist (very forward thinking for a book published in 1993). Jerry contends that a girl ghost plays the piano every night and that she has no hands! Meanwhile, Jerry starts taking lessons from Dr. Shreek (hmmm, think that name is foreshadowing?) at his New Method Piano Training School. The place has a weird vibe and Jerry never meets any other students.

Dr. Shreek does keep commenting on Jerry's hands though, saying what "beautiful/excellent hands" he has (I counted at least 12 times in this 124 page book). Another interesting character in the book is Mr. Toggle "a mechanical genius" who works at the school building robots to perform simple functions around the place. Starting to see a connection...? Well, turns out Dr. Shreek is actually a robot created by Mr. Toggle to steal the hands of children. Human hands are too complex for Mr. Toggle to build but he loves the beautiful music. Jerry is rescued by the girl ghost from his house and the ghosts of the other children whose hands have been taken. Mr. Toggle is carried off into the woods and never seen again. The family piano is sold and replaced with a giant TV.

I didn't expect the book to end so quickly and happily. While looking for a cover picture, I found an article that mentions that this is one of the few Goosebumps that has a happy ending. Hmm. Wouldn't you know I would pick that one. I can see why kids like these books--not great works of literature by any means, but entertaining and the right amount of scary for an elementary age kiddo reading in the daytime.