History YMMV / TheGirlWhoCriedMonster

!!The book provides examples of:

* MoralEventHorizon: Mr. Mortman eating his own crickets, turtles, and pets is one thing because he owns them. Trying to kill Lucy for trying to get proof that he is a monster is quite another. He knows that no one would believe Lucy because she has a reputation for making up monster stories, something he even laughs about when she asks if there are any in ''Anne of Green Gables''. All Mr. Mortman would have to do is report to the police that Lucy is stalking him, and he could get a restraining order. Indeed, Lucy's parents are horrified when Aaron witnesses the murder attempt and convinces them that Lucy is telling the truth this time. See DesignatedVillain above.
!!The episode provides examples of:
* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: Mortman's transformation is very frightening and real looking, and is done surprisingly well for such a low budget show.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The book was criticized for Mortman's DesignatedVillain status, Lucy's unlikability, and the way [[spoiler: the Dark family are revealed as monsters despite the lack of foreshadowing]]. The episode has Mortman being a blatant sadist and makes it clear that the Dark family doesn't harm humans. This makes it easier to see it as more of a straightforward example of good versus evil. Lucy is also less smug and entitled than in the book, making her more likable. It's also made clear that in this version (although this is even more clear in the [[AllThereInTheManual Presents book]]), Lucy and Randy [[spoiler: did not know they were monsters]] until the end, fixing the foreshadowing issue and making it clear that Lucy was trying to keep the people in town safe.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The book was criticized for Mortman's DesignatedVillain status, Lucy's unlikability, and the way [[spoiler: the Dark family are revealed as monsters despite the lack of foreshadowing]]. The episode has Mortman being a blatant sadist and makes it clear that the Dark family doesn't harm humans. This makes it easier to see it as more of a straightforward example of good versus evil. Lucy is also less smug and entitled than in the book, making her more likable. It's also made clear that in this version (although this is even more clear in the [[AllThereInTheManual Presents book]]. Lucy and Randy [[spoiler: did not know they were monsters]] until the end, fixing the foreshadowing issue and making it clear that Lucy was trying to keep the people in town safe.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The book was criticized for Mortman's DesignatedVillain status, Lucy's unlikability, and the way [[spoiler: the Dark family are revealed as monsters despite the lack of foreshadowing]]. The episode has Mortman being a blatant sadist and makes it clear that the Dark family doesn't harm humans. This makes it easier to see it as more of a straightforward example of good versus evil. Lucy is also less smug and entitled than in the book, making her more likable. It's also made clear that in this version, Lucy and Randy [[spoiler: did not know they were monsters]] until the end, fixing the foreshadowing issue and making it clear that Lucy was trying to keep the people in town safe.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The book was criticized for Mortman's DesignatedVillain status, Lucy's unlikability, and the way the Dark family are revealed as monsters despite the lack of forshadowing. The episode has Mortman being a blatant sadist and makes it clear that the Dark family doesn't harm humans. This makes it easier to see it as more of a straightforward example of good versus evil. Lucy is also less smug and entitled than in the book, making her more likable. It's also made clear that in this version, Lucy and Randy did not know they were monsters until the end, fixing the forshadowing issue and making it clear that Lucy was trying to keep the people in town safe.

* MoralEventHorizon: Mr. Mortman eating his own crickets, turtles, and pets is one thing because he owns them. Trying to kill Lucy for trying to get proof that he is a monster is quite another. He knows that no one would believe Lucy because she has a reputation for making up monster stories, something he even laughs about when she asks if there are any in ''Anne of Green Gables''. All Mr. Mortman would have to do is report to the police that Lucy is stalking him, and he could get a restraining order. Indeed, Lucy's parents are horrified when Aaron witnesses the murder attempt and convinces them that Lucy is telling the truth this time. See DesignatedVillain above.

* CriticalResearchFailure: Mr. Mortman assigning ''Huckleberry Finn'' and ''Frankenstein'' for a preteen to read as part of a summer program. He also buys her BlatantLies that she liked the description for ''Huckleberry Finn'' the best. Lucy is established as BrilliantButLazy, and usually, those books are assigned at a high school level, if not college. The TV series fixes this by having Lucy check out ''Frankenstein'' with no reading program and half-heartedly receive recommendations from Mr. Mortman.

* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: Lucy's freakout.
-->'''Lucy:''' Mom! Dad! There's a monster!
-->'''Randy:''' What?!
-->'''Lucy:''' In the library!
-->'''Dad:''' (''Making meatballs'') Don't you say "hi" anymore?
-->'''Lucy:''' Hi Dad! There's a monster in the library!
** As Lucy's freakout continues:
-->'''Mom:''' You're making them too big.
-->'''Dad:''' I happen to ''like'' big meatballs.
** Then there's the classic "''Life'' is a phase I'm going through!"
* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: In a twisted sort of way, the ending. After Lucy's parents devour Mr. Mortman ({{it makes sense in context}}), they say that they can't wait until their children get their "training fangs", and Lucy and her brother seem quite happy with this.
** Arguably made even better since throughout the story, Randy had been scared by all manner of his sister's "monsters." But, with the newfound revelation that he himself is also a monster, he might very well have reason to no longer be afraid.

* MoralEventHorizon: Mr. Mortman eating his own crickets, turtles, and pets is one thing because he owns them. Trying to kill Lucy for trying to get proof that he is a monster is quite another. He knows that no one would believe Lucy because she has a reputation for making up monster stories, something he even laughs about when she asks if there are any in ''Anne of Green Gables''. All Mr. Mortman would have to do is report to the police that Lucy is stalking him, and he could get a restraining order. Indeed, Lucy's parents are horrified when Aaron witnesses the murder attempt and convinces them that Lucy is telling the truth this time. See [[Main/DesignatedVillian Designated Villian]] above.
* NightmareFuel: ''The Girl Who Cried Monster'' is one of the most well-remembered books of the ''Goosebumps'' series, and for good reason. It seems to be your average CryingWolf plot where a girl, Lucy Dark, sees a local librarian, Mr. Mortman, becoming a bug-eating monster after the library closes. Nothing really out of the ordinary until the {{twist ending}}, where Lucy's parents invite Mr. Mortman over for dinner. And by that, we mean it literally. Lucy's parents invite Mr. Mortman ''to be their dinner'', because, as it turns out, the entire Dark family is comprised of monsters. And they seem to be quite efficient at devouring other living beings. Lucy and her little brother Randy have yet to grow their fangs, though. ''Yeesh...'' And as a FridgeHorror, Randy is so afraid of all the made-up monsters Lucy tells him about; imagine how he must feel finding out that he, as well as his family members, are the genuine article!

* MoralEventHorizon: Mr. Mortman eating his own crickets, turtles, and pets is one thing because he owns them. Trying to kill Lucy for trying to get proof that he is a monster is quite another. He knows that no one would believe Lucy because she has a reputation for making up monster stories, something he even laughs about when she asks if there are any in ''Anne of Green Gables''. All Mr. Mortman would have to do is report to the police that Lucy is stalking him, and he could get a restraining order. Indeed, Lucy's parents are horrified when Aaron witnesses the murder attempt and convinces them that Lucy is telling the truth this time.

* MoralEventHorizon: Mr. Mortman eating his own crickets, turtles, and pets is one thing because he owns them. Trying to kill Lucy for trying to get proof that he is a monster is quite another. He knows that no one would believe Lucy because she has a reputation for making up monster stories, something he even laughs about when she asks if there are any in ''Anne of Green Gables''. All Mr. Mortman would have to do is report to the police that Lucy is stalking him, and he could get a restraining order. Indeed, Lucy's parents are horrified when Aaron witnesses the murder attempt and convinces them that Lucy is telling the truth this time.

* MemeticMutation: Lucy's "''Life'' is just a phase I'm going through" is constantly posted on tumblr.