90s nostalgia is in full swing and horror fans love it. many people are reviewing movies they grew up with, while others are discovering those same titles for the first time. And it’s not just the cinematic horror that has everyone talking.
Over the last two years, interest in retro books has been on the rise. Combined with ’90s sentimentality, the decade’s teen horror fiction has become a special niche for collectors, many of whom are part of the enthusiastic community of instagram “bookstagrammers.”
You are reading: Teenage horror books from the 90s
A lot of the teen horror titles released during the ’90s are now available in e-book format, but the original editions with their colorful covers and witty catchphrases are the ones we look for as we peruse used bookstore shelves.
Here at daily dead, during a series of seasonal posts, I’ll be sharing books from my own collection, including where I bought them. in this round, I’m focusing on summer-themed titles. so, here it is… 90s teen horror books: summer edition.
richie tankersley cusick’s lifeguard (1991)
don’t ask for help. it might kill you.
Featuring one of the most recognizable takes on Scholastic’s Point Horror imprint, The Lifeguard remains one of Cusick’s most popular releases. The story centers on Kelsey, whose summer vacation turns into a nightmare when she begins to believe that one of the beach lifeguards might have a dangerous and deadly agenda.
See Also: Max Freedom Long: The Thrice-Coiled Serpent
purchased at 2nd & Carlos.
party on the beach of r.l. stine (1990)
some come to party. some come to die.
During the 1990s, r.l. Stine was one of the most prolific authors of teen horror. It’s important to note that the beach party is not part of Stine’s popular street scare series; instead, the book is a standalone title of dangerous obsession. During the ’90s, it seemed like every author wrote similar stories, but stine is second to none.
See Also: A Series Of Unfortunate Events – Book Series In Order
purchased with good will.
beach house by r.l. stine (1992)
…stay away from the water…
The beach party wasn’t stine’s only seaside nightmare. Following that book, Stine wrote another beach read: Beach House. while Beach Party focuses on the obsession subgenre, it taps into another ’90s thriller trope: slashers. beach house takes the ever-popular slasher movie trope and brings it to the seaside.
See Also: A Series Of Unfortunate Events – Book Series In Order
purchased with good will.
stay loose by linda cargill (1996)
On her seventeenth birthday, Mattie Sullivan is bound for danger.
one of the common elements of ’90s teen horror books is jokes, and cargill uses the idea to the fullest. With a classic whodunit structure, Hang Loose is different from other titles on this list. Instead of taking place while the main character is out of town, the book takes place on the island where she lives, adding another layer of danger.
See Also: Max Freedom Long: The Thrice-Coiled Serpent
purchased at 2nd & Carlos.
Carol Ellis Camp Fear (1993)
where your worst fears hide.
similar to r.l. stine, carol ellis wrote several titles for point horror. In Camp Fear, Ellis cleverly takes the pranking theme and takes it to another level. here, someone is playing on the characters’ greatest fears. Are the incidents harmless pranks or something much worse?
See Also: Max Freedom Long: The Thrice-Coiled Serpent
purchased at 2nd & Carlos.
a wicked summer of r.l. stine (1994)
chrissy is perfect, perfectly evil
cargill successfully upped the ante by drifting to the island where the main character lives, but r.l. Stine’s evil summer brings danger even closer. In the story, the main character, Amanda, makes a terrible discovery: the girl who is taking care of her little brothers could be a murderer.
See Also: Max Freedom Long: The Thrice-Coiled Serpent
purchased at 2nd & Carlos.
the claw of carmen adams (1995)
the mark of death?
summer is not always sun, sand and water. some people have to work. such is the case of the teenagers in the grip of carmen adams. after starting a summer job at an area zoo, strange and terrifying things begin to happen. With its unique setting, the claw has shades of a murderous animal story while maintaining a fun mystery to the very end.
See Also: Max Freedom Long: The Thrice-Coiled Serpent
purchased at 2nd & Carlos.
There you have it: seven ’90s teen horror titles for the summer. what are some of your personal favourites? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to share photos from your own collection via instagram and twitter, using #dailydeadteenretro.
[photo credit: all photos by bryce gibson.]See Also: Times Critics Top Books of 2021 – The New York Times