The Goosebumps SlappyWorld book where Slappy dies and becomes a ghost
Shep has a ghost in his basement named Analee. But of course, no one believes him about her, and he doesn't know what her deal is. That problem is put on hold when he has to go on a class trip. His teacher Mr. Hansen brings out Slappy, using him for a prank. Slappy comes to life but they manage to put him to sleep. Shep thinks its over, but someone sneaks Slappy into his bag. Soon he is brought back to life. Eventually, he is seemingly killed for good, but it turns out a dead Slappy is even more dangerous...
This book provides examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Very downplayed, see below.
- Adults Are Useless: Shep's parents tease him about the ghost, his mother even openly mocks him for it at one point, and they do not believe him about Slappy either after Slappy comes alive, but deep down they do love their son, and they are not that bad of parents. Unfortunately, though, his father though near the end of the story punishes his son and instead of being concerned with what happened to his son, he is more concerned with paying Carlos' parents for all the damage.
- Downer Ending: Annalee tears up the words that put Slappy to sleep, allowing Slappy to gang up on Shep.
- Food Fight: At one point, Slappy (as a ghost) torments Shep with a private food fight throwing a bowl of spaghetti and a plate of custard pie onto him inciting laughter from the entire lunchroom from both the students and teachers (who probably saw it as a harmless prank either one he did to himself or by the group of girls he was talking to at the lunch table), but as he points out, no one laughs as hard as his crush does.
- Formula-Breaking Episode: This is a rare Slappy book where other people find out he's alive early on, in this case it is the rest of Shep's class, including the teacher.
- I See Dead People: Shep Mooney is the only person capable of seeing the ghost that's haunting his house.
- Nervous Wreck: Shep Mooney is pretty much constantly in a state of panic even before Slappy comes along. This is largely because he's frightened of the ghost in his basement, but he's nervous and twitchy even when he is nowhere near her.
- Not-So-Imaginary Friend: Others assume Annalee is Shep's "imaginary friend", not believing him when he says she is a ghost and really exists.
- Puppy Love: Shep has a crush on a girl named Maryjane. Thanks to Slappy, it doesn't end well though.
- Rejected Apology: Twice. First, Shep apologizes to Trevor for getting his ankle broken but he still becomes his enemy. Then at the end, he apologizes to Annalee for being scared for her. Again, this doesn't work.
- Sadist Teacher: Mr. Hanson, who has gotten the nickname Horrible Hanson due to the scary pranks he always pulls.
- Unfinished Business: It turns out the ghost Annalee is here to fulfill some. She was a jerk in life and has to do a good deed to move on. She does one... for Slappy, which works.
- We Used to Be Friends: Shep was friends with local bully Trevor until he accidentally broke Trevor's ankle. He apologized but it didn't fix anything.
