What Bone-Chilling Story Does R.L. Stine Tell in Talks at Google?

TL;DR

R.L. Stine creates an audience-driven ghost story called “The Haunted Car,” in which John and Lily become trapped inside a car controlled by a hideous ghost. John discovers a book called “How to Get Rid of Ghosts,” uses a rusty knob to switch off the radio, and makes the ghost disappear. Read on to see how the audience shaped the characters, car, ghost, and escape.

Transcript

so welcome to our take your kids to work day authors at Google presentation here in New York does anyone know who RL Stein is everyone ever read raise your hand if you know who are else diners who read his books pretty cool I wish he was here today because he has written and sold more than 300 million copies of his books that's a lot yeah 300 milli... Read More

Key Insights

• 📔 RL Stein got his start writing funny books and joke books for kids before moving into scary stories.
• 💖 RL Stein's new book series, Goosebumps HorrorLand, offers readers a chance to experience a virtual scary theme park on the EnterHorrorLand.com website.
• 🏘️ RL Stein shares a true spooky story about a haunted house of mirrors from his childhood.

Questions & Answers

Q: What bone-chilling story does R.L. Stine tell in Talks at Google?

R.L. Stine and the audience create a ghost story called “The Haunted Car.” It follows John and Lily as a battered SUV starts driving by itself while a ghost urges it to go faster.

Q: How did R.L. Stine involve the audience in creating The Haunted Car?

He asked the audience to name the characters and describe their appearances, the car, and the ghost. He also let them vote on choices, including whether John should jump out or press the gas pedal and whether he should use a knob or a book.

Q: Who are John and Lily in The Haunted Car?

John is the boy whose father brings home a beat-up car, and the audience describes him as tall and lean with big, bulging eyes. Lily is a new girl in the neighborhood with blonde hair, a tan, and brown eyes who joins him in the car.

Q: What does the haunted car look like?

The audience describes it as a red, rusted SUV with fire prints, many dents, and a broken window. John’s father says the seller was eager to get rid of it.

Q: What happens when John and Lily enter the haunted car?

John hears a whispered voice asking him to take it for a ride, although Lily says she heard nothing. The car then starts by itself and rolls down the street while the voice demands that it go faster.

Q: What does the ghost in The Haunted Car look like?

John sees the ghost in the mirror as the car speeds toward a brick wall. The audience describes it as a hideous old man who is white and transparent, covered with dripping black ooze, and has one eye drooping out.

Q: How do John and Lily escape from the haunted car?

A bump opens the glove compartment, revealing a rusty old knob and a book called “How to Get Rid of Ghosts.” John reads the book, follows its instruction to place the knob on the radio, and switches the radio off, causing the ghost to scream and disappear.

Q: Which R.L. Stine books and series are mentioned in Talks at Google?

The introduction names the Goosebumps series, the Fear Street series, and the two-book thriller Dangerous Girls. It also states that R.L. Stine has written and sold more than 300 million copies of his books.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Who: R.L. Stine appears at the Take Your Kids to Work Day Authors at Google presentation in New York.

• Number: R.L. Stine has written and sold more than 300 million copies of his books.

• Definition: “The Haunted Car” is a ghost story created by R.L. Stine with audience participation.

• Who: John is tall and lean with big, bulging eyes, while Lily has blonde hair, a tan, and brown eyes.

• Definition: The haunted car is a red, rusted SUV with fire prints, dents, and a broken window.

• Definition: The car starts by itself as a whispered voice from the radio demands that it go faster.

• Definition: The ghost resembles a transparent white old man with dripping black ooze and one drooping eye.

• Tool: A book called “How to Get Rid of Ghosts” tells John to use the rusty knob on the radio.

• Definition: Switching off the radio makes the ghost scream and disappear, returning John to the front of his house.

• Compare: The presentation mentions the Goosebumps series, the Fear Street series, and the two-book thriller Dangerous Girls.