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    The Secret Bedroom
    The Secret Bedroom
    The Secret Bedroom
    Ebook168 pages2 hours

    The Secret Bedroom

    By R.L. Stine

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Lea Carson can’t believe it when her family moves into the creepy old house on Fear Street. Creepiest of all is the secret room up in the attic.

    The room has been locked and boarded up for at least a hundred years. A murder was committed in that room, the story goes, and it has been closed up ever since.

    Lea knows she should stay away. But she thinks she hears footsteps inside the secret room. And voices.

    Someone—or something—is waiting for Lea in there.

    Should she open the door?

    Can she resist?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon Pulse
    Release dateJun 30, 2008
    ISBN9781439121351
    The Secret Bedroom
    Author

    R.L. Stine

    R.L. Stine has more than 350 million English language books in print, plus international editions in 32 languages, making him one of the most popular children’s authors in history. Besides Goosebumps, R.L. Stine has written other series, including Fear Street, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room, and Dangerous Girls. R.L. Stine lives in New York with his wife, Jane, and his Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Minnie. Visit him online at rlstine.com.

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    Reviews for The Secret Bedroom

    3.5/5

    75 ratings4 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I never read any R.L. Stine growing up, only ever experiencing the Goosebumps television show and preferring Are You Afraid of the Dark. So, seeing this on the table at my local library sale, I knew I had to give it a shot.I'd heard of the Fear Street books,but this was my first time reading one. It was definitely an interesting read. The tone feels darker than the Goosebumps tales I'm familiar with, especially with Lea's eventual plot of revenge against her school rival Marci and how that turns out! Not to mention what's finally revealed in the secret bedroom.Definitely worth a read, and I hope some kid here in my neighborhood enjoys it once I add it to my Little Redd Book Barn (LFL).
    • 4/5
      This is the first book I tackled after deciding to re-read the Fear Street series (I'm now in my late twenties). I don't think I finished this one when I first read it as a teen (if I did, I don't remember it). Stine's teen books are mostly character and plot-driven, with a lot of dialogue. This one is no different. It is one of the few Fear Street books that is supernatural. We meet Catherine, the ghost early on (a little before or right at the middle of the book). Part of the spookiness is eliminated when Lea (the main character) begins to interact with Catherine on a regular basis. The unseen is usually more terrifying that meeting a ghost head on. There is a spooky twist in the last third of the book that was unexpected. I was disappointed though that a lot of the details were glazed over or omitted (I found myself wanting to know more about the supernatural beings' back-story). Overall I was satisfied with this book, although I felt the ending was rushed.And also like many Fear Street books, I love the original cover art however, it never quite fits in with the actual story. For example with this book, the I'm not sure who the character is supposed to be on the front cover. We're given a description of the main character (Lea) who doesn't have short curly red hair. Also, the bedroom door doesn't open up outwards either. I might be nitpicking, but as a teen the covers always sold me on the book.Possible Spoiler Alert:We never learned how Catherine or her parents died. I wish there was a second book written, perhaps a prequel, about the origins of Catherine and her family. Towards the end of the book, the reader learns Catherine is evil. It would've been nice to know how she was evil (or what made her that way) when she was alive.
    • 3/5
      Possible Spoiler Alert:I didn't like this as much as I'd expect for a book in the series that actually has ghosts. I do have to note that half the ghost stuff was in her head, and we just barely have proof that any of it happened in the end. I think I wasn't as into this one as much because the character was slightly annoying.
    • 3/5
      Starting at a new school can be difficult. But for Lea Carson this tends to be just one of many problems. She has also moved into a somewhat dilapidated old house on Fear Street. Rumor is that in the boarded up secret room in the attic a murder occurred 100 years ago. Soon enough Lea starts to believe that there is something not quite right in the room above her own. When she discovers the secret she must decide if she is strong enough to resist the evil and banish it forever.I like this one alright. Lea's character seems to me to be kind of a doormat at times.

    Book preview

    The Secret Bedroom - R.L. Stine

    Lea Carson tripped and her lunch tray went flying out of her hands.

    As she struggled to regain her balance, she watched the tray sail toward a crowded table. Almost as if it were happening in slow motion, Lea saw it hit the side of a girl’s chair. Then she watched helplessly as the bowl toppled off the tray and the dark chili poured onto the sleeve of the girl’s white sweater.

    The girl screamed and leapt to her feet, her hands flying up like two startled white birds trying to escape. She shook her shoulders, then began grabbing at her sleeve, pulling off red beans and chunks of tomato.

    The girl turned angrily toward Lea. Everyone at the table, a couple of astonished-looking boys and a girl with a disapproving frown, turned to glare at Lea. Lea could feel her face reddening, growing hot.

    Why did I have to take chili? she thought. Why couldn’t I have just picked a sandwich?

    My new sweater! the girl cried, still scraping and pulling at the sleeve. She had wavy red hair, cut stylishly short, and pale blue eyes that flashed angrily at Lea, then back to her sweater.

    I’m sorry, Lea managed to say. There was something wet on the floor. I slipped.

    I’d better go put some cold water on it, the girl said, ignoring Lea’s apology, ignoring Lea entirely. She turned and stalked past Lea, deliberately staring straight ahead.

    I’m really sorry, Lea called after her.

    Holding her stained sweater sleeve, the girl hurried through the lunchroom doors without turning back.

    Lea heard laughter at another table and knew they were laughing at her. She bent down to pick up her tray, feeling all eyes on her.

    I just want to die, she thought.

    Only my second week in this school, and I’ve already made a total fool of myself.

    It was hard enough, she thought, for someone as shy as she was to adjust to a new high school, to make new friends, to feel comfortable. Sure, she was pretty enough. Cute, everyone said, with her sparkling green eyes and her dark brown hair cut in a shaggy pixie style with bangs that grazed her eyebrows.

    Lea has a great smile, everyone always said. Her smile lights up her face.

    Well, she hadn’t had much to smile about at Shadyside High. The kids all seemed so snooty and stuck-up. And now she had tripped in front of half the school and poured chili all over that red-haired girl in the white sweater.

    Here, a voice said, startling Lea from her thoughts. Have a handful of salad.

    Oh. It was one of the boys from the table. He had picked up Lea’s tray and was scooping up the remains of her lunch. Thanks, Lea said uncertainly.

    He grinned at her as she took the tray from him. She could feel her face grow hot again.

    He’s cute, Lea thought.

    Not really handsome. But cute. He had a friendly, open face with curly brown hair and brown eyes. He was short, like Lea, not very muscular, very boyish looking. He was wearing a maroon and gray Shadyside High sweatshirt over faded jeans.

    He retrieved Lea’s silverware from the floor and deposited it on the tray. That looked like good chili, he said, still grinning.

    They were both squatting down below the tabletop, Lea holding the tray as he continued tossing lunch remains on it. Lea licked her lips, a nervous habit she just couldn’t break. I slipped, she said.

    Well, duh, she thought. That was pretty obvious, wasn’t it?

    Marci’ll get over it, he said reassuringly. But then he added, In a hundred years or so. His grin faded.

    She was really mad, Lea said.

    That’s obvious too! she scolded herself. Why do you have to sound like such a dweeb?

    She’s a redhead, he said, as if that explained anything.

    They both stood up. He wiped his hands on his jeans and looked to the lunchroom door. Marci hadn’t returned. The other kids at the table had left.

    You’re new here, he said, staring into her eyes, studying her.

    Yeah. This is my second week, Lea said uncomfortably, holding on to the tray with both hands. Next week will probably be better, she added wryly.

    What’s your name?

    Lea. Lea Carson.

    I don’t know any Leas, he said, pulling the bottom of his sweatshirt down over his wiry frame. I’m Don Jacobs. You’ve probably heard of me. I’m the guy who picks the salad up from the floor.

    Lea laughed. He waited for her to say something, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.

    I hate being shy, she thought. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

    He looked toward the lunchroom door again, then back to her. You a senior?

    No. Junior.

    Whose homeroom?

    She licked her lips. She had to think. Mr. Robbins.

    Where do you live?

    On Fear Street, Lea told him. A few blocks from the old cemetery.

    Fear Street?

    Lea was already used to this startled reaction from people when they heard where she lived. "My parents just love to fix up old houses, she explained. When my dad was transferred here to Shadyside, they bought the shabbiest place they could find. They’ll spend years making it beautiful, and then he’ll be transferred again."

    Lea sighed and glanced at a table by the wall, where Deena Martinson, her lunch spread out in front of her, gave Lea a little wave. She followed it up with a wide-eyed look of surprise as she noticed who Lea was with. So far, Deena was the only friend Lea had made at Shadyside.

    My friend is waving at me, she told Don awkwardly. It’s getting late. I’d better get a new lunch and join her.

    I hear the chili’s real good, he said with a straight face.

    Thanks for helping me, Lea said.

    She started to move toward the food line, but he reached out and held her arm. Since you’re new here and everything, he said, his eyes darting toward the doorway, I mean, would you like to go to a movie or something Saturday night? He scratched his curly, brown hair and gave her his most winning, boyish grin.

    Lea was practically startled speechless, but she managed to utter a yes. She stood awkwardly grinning at him, trying to think of something else to say.

    Good, he said, but then his expression quickly changed. Lea followed his gaze to the doorway, where Marci stood, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at the two of them.

    Later, Don said, and hurried off to join Marci.

    Lea hurried to the food line. Maybe my lonely days here are over, she thought happily, her hands unsteady as she dropped the soiled tray onto the pile and took a clean one. Thinking about Don, about how funny he looked scrounging around on the floor to help retrieve her lunch, she picked up a tuna-fish sandwich and a box of apple juice and hurried to join Deena.

    What were you and Don Jacobs talking about? Deena asked, wiping crumbs off her chin with a paper napkin.

    Oh, mainly about how I spilled my lunch all over that girl standing there in the doorway with him, Lea told her, plopping down across the table from her.

    You spilled your lunch on Marci Hendryx, and I missed it? Deena cried with an expression of exaggerated disappointment.

    Deena had a fragile-looking, heart-shaped face framed by very fine blond hair that she wore down to her collar. She was always complaining about how pale she was and how she couldn’t do anything with her hair because it was so fine, but she was actually very pretty.

    Deena had probably always played an angel in the elementary school Christmas pageants, Lea thought on first meeting her.

    Don seems nice, Lea said, taking a tentative bite of her sandwich, trying to decide whether or not to tell Deena that he’d asked her out for Saturday night. Finally she decided there was no way she could keep from telling her!

    He’s very nice, Deena said, watching over Lea’s shoulder as Marci and Don talked heatedly in the lunchroom doorway. Everyone likes Don. He’s just one of those guys when you meet him, you like him. He has a million friends.

    And girlfriends? Lea asked.

    Just Marci. Deena turned her glance on Lea. Don and Marci, she said, making a face. Man, does she keep him on a tight leash.

    Huh? Lea practically choked on her sandwich.

    They’ve been going together since we were in preschool, I think, Deena said, her eyes back to the doorway in time to see Marci storm off, Don scurrying after her.

    He asked me out, Lea revealed in a low voice, even though no one else was nearby.

    Who? Don?

    Lea nodded, her bangs flying up, then dropping back in place on her forehead.

    Just now? Deena’s delicate mouth formed an O of surprise.

    Yes. Just now. He asked me out just now. Lea had to laugh at her new friend’s astonished expression.

    Deena reached across the table and tapped the back of Lea’s hand with one finger. Watch out for Marci, she warned.

    Deena, come on, I’m sure Don—

    Just watch out for her, Deena repeated seriously.

    Lea twisted around to check out the lunchroom doorway. Several kids were leaving. The lunchroom was clearing out. It was just about time for the bell for fifth period to ring.

    What did you spill on her? Deena asked, sliding her chair back and standing up.

    Chili, Lea said, starting to feel embarrassed all over again.

    On that white cashmere sweater she was wearing?

    "It was cashmere?" Lea cried, horrified.

    To Lea’s surprise, Deena was laughing.

    It’s not funny, Lea said. I was mortified!

    It is funny—if you know Marci was Deena’s explanation.

    They walked to their lockers, Deena still chuckling and shaking her head, Lea thinking about Don, wondering why he had asked her out if he and Marci had been a couple for so long.

    See you later, Deena said, heading down the hall to her class.

    But Lea didn’t hear her. She was thinking about Marci and Deena’s warning to watch out for her, and she was wondering if she hadn’t already made an enemy, on this, her second week in school.

    Lea’s

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