Point Horror

Point Horror is a series of young adult horror fiction books. The series was most popular among teenaged girls.[1]

History

The Point Horror series was launched in 1991 by Scholastic Inc, with the publisher re-releasing several of its previous titles under the Point Horror banner. Authors that published under the label of Point Horror includes R.L. Stine, Diane Hoh, Richie Tankersley Cusick, Christopher Pike, and Caroline B. Cooney.[2] The series was notable as Blind Date was one of R.L. Stine's first works and helped launch Stine's career.[3]

After an eight-year absence, Scholastic announced that three new titles would be released in May 2013, with more set to follow later in the year.

Literary criticism

While the Point Horror series did not attract much serious attention, Gillian Avery noted that the series was "invariably structured around oppositions" in that teen horror novels "does not 'put an end to the opposition between the real and the imaginary' but, instead, affirms the distinction".[4] Roy Fisher wrote that the series embodied and represented "the fears and anxieties of young people about their lives in general and about school in particular".[5] Others noted the series' similarity to Stephen King, saying that there "was little difference between the approach and design... other than length".[6]

Will Davis of The Guardian attributed the decline of the series to higher standards from teen readers and the series' lack of real-life issues.[7]

The series has received negative criticism for its portrayal of female characters. Mary Hilton wrote in her book Potent fictions that many young readers viewed the female characters as the ones who get "upset, killed, or dumped".[8]

Offshoots

There have been three off-shoots of the Point Horror series that, while all showing the "Point Horror" Logo, are often regarded as separate series in their own rights. They are Point Horror Unleashed, Nightmare Hall and Mutant Point Horror. Nightmare Hall is unique amongst the off-shoots as the entire series was written solely by Diane Hoh.

Publications

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

1986

Kerry's had a very bad year. But now his luck has finally changed. He's got a blind date with a girl who sounds really hot. He can't wait. He knows this girl is going to be really different. Kerry's right. Because his blind date really is the girl of his dreams. Or maybe his worst nightmares...

1987

Abby would do anything to be in the school's most exclusive sorority. And now she's got the chance. Because the sorority sisters have asked her to join them. All Abby has to do is get through the initiation. That might be a problem. Because this year, the initiation is going to be.... Murder.

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2013

2014

References

  1. ↑ Coles, Martin. Hall, Christine. Children's Reading Choices. Routledge, 1998, p 46.
  2. ↑ Reynolds, Kimberly. Frightening Fiction. Continuum, 2004, pgs 20-44.
  3. ↑ Memory Wipe: Point Horror AV Club
  4. ↑ Avery, Gillian. Representations of Childhood Death. Palgrave Macmillan, 2000, p 193-194
  5. ↑ Fisher, Roy. Education in popular culture: telling tales on teachers and learners. Routledge, 2008, p 54.
  6. ↑ Cullingford, Cedric. Children's literature and its effects: the formative years. Continuum, 2000, pgs 178-189.
  7. ↑ When did Point Horror lose its edge? The Guardian
  8. ↑ Hilton, Mary. Potent fictions: children's literacy and the challenge of popular culture. Routledge, 1996, p 136.
  9. ↑ Wilson Overstreet, Deborah (2006). Not Your Mother's Vampire: Vampires in Young Adult Fiction. Scarecrow Press. pp. 93–94. ISBN 0810853655.