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Quick answer: If you loved Point Horror, try The Babysitter, Trick or Treat, Fear Street: The New Girl, Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Killing Mr. Griffin. Each one is a fast, scary teen thriller full of stalkers, secrets and spooky twists.
Point Horror was a Scholastic series of teen horror and thriller novels published mainly in the 1990s. Authors such as R.L. Stine, Caroline B. Cooney, Diane Hoh and Richie Tankersley Cusick wrote books like The Babysitter, Trick or Treat and The Train, packed with stalkers, prank calls and twisty endings. Readers who grew up with them remember the eerie covers. These books share their scares, their pace and their teen heroes.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Babysitter | R.L. Stine | 12+ | readers who want a classic Point Horror |
| Trick or Treat | Richie Tankersley Cusick | 12+ | readers who like Halloween horror |
| Fear Street: The New Girl | R.L. Stine | 12+ | readers who want Stine's teen series |
| Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | younger readers |
| I Know What You Did Last Summer | Lois Duncan | 13+ | readers who like classic thrillers |
| Killing Mr. Griffin | Lois Duncan | 13+ | readers who like pranks gone wrong |
| The Face on the Milk Carton | Caroline B. Cooney | 12+ | readers who like identity mysteries |
| Christopher Pike: Remember Me | Christopher Pike | 13+ | readers who like 90s teen horror |
| The Cheerleader | Caroline B. Cooney | 12+ | readers who want a vampire Point Horror |
| One of Us Is Lying | Karen M. McManus | 14+ | readers who want a modern update |
| The Cellar | Natasha Preston | 14+ | readers who like modern teen thrillers |
| A Good Girl's Guide to Murder | Holly Jackson | 14+ | readers who like teen detectives |
| Coraline | Neil Gaiman | 9-12 | readers who like creepy fantasy |
| Cirque du Freak | Darren Shan | 11+ | readers who like vampires |
| Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark | Alvin Schwartz | 9+ | readers who like short scares |
1. The Babysitter by R.L. Stine
A teen babysitter receives threatening calls.
Best for: readers who want a classic Point Horror.
2. Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick
A girl in a new house faces a Halloween stalker.
Best for: readers who like Halloween horror.
3. Fear Street: The New Girl by R.L. Stine
A new girl in Shadyside hides a secret.
Best for: readers who want Stine's teen series.
4. Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine
A ventriloquist's dummy comes to life.
Best for: younger readers.
5. I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan
Teens are stalked after a hit-and-run.
Best for: readers who like classic thrillers.
6. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
A prank on a teacher turns deadly.
Best for: readers who like pranks gone wrong.
7. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
A girl sees her own face on a missing child carton.
Best for: readers who like identity mysteries.
8. Christopher Pike: Remember Me by Christopher Pike
A ghost tries to solve her own murder.
Best for: readers who like 90s teen horror.
9. The Cheerleader by Caroline B. Cooney
A lonely girl makes a deal with a vampire to become popular.
Best for: readers who want a vampire Point Horror.
10. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Students are suspected of a classmate's death.
Best for: readers who want a modern update.
11. The Cellar by Natasha Preston
A teen is kidnapped.
Best for: readers who like modern teen thrillers.
12. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
A student investigates a closed case.
Best for: readers who like teen detectives.
13. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
A girl finds a sinister other mother.
Best for: readers who like creepy fantasy.
14. Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
A boy becomes a vampire's assistant.
Best for: readers who like vampires.
15. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
Classic folk horror stories.
Best for: readers who like short scares.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Point Horror: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Point Horror. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For the classic feel, start with The Babysitter, Trick or Treat and Lois Duncan's I Know What You Did Last Summer. If you want more R.L. Stine, Fear Street and Goosebumps are endless. Modern readers who want the same thrill should try One of Us Is Lying or The Cellar. Cirque du Freak is perfect for younger horror fans.
Related: I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan: Summary and Key Takeaways · One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Point Horror?
A popular Scholastic series of teen horror novels from the 1990s.
Who wrote Point Horror books?
Several authors, including R.L. Stine, Caroline B. Cooney, Diane Hoh and Richie Tankersley Cusick.
What age are Point Horror books for?
They suit readers about 12 and up.
Are Point Horror books still in print?
Some titles have been reissued, while others are easier to find secondhand.
Is Point Horror like Goosebumps?
It is similar but aimed at older readers.
What is the scariest Point Horror book?
Fans often name The Babysitter or The Cheerleader.
What should I read next?
One of Us Is Lying for a modern teen thriller.