Freaky Friday :|: 175

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's (Loves Books and Cats) Flashback Friday.

Title: Watcher in the Dark
Author: Beverly Hastings
Published: 1986
Publisher: Berkley
Summary:

A misleading cover and a spooky title promises more than this first novel delivers. In a contrived story with a number of holes that leave the reader asking too many questions, Erin Moore, a high school senior, babysits for four-year-old Abby when her father goes on a business trip. Tension mounts as one by one, the people Erin could turn to in a time of crisis are conveniently inconvenienced, while Erin becomes convinced that someone is after Abby. Is it Abby's college-aged half-brother? An unknown watcher? Unfortunately, the reader knows the answer all along, and there's not much mystery here, although suspense is high. Readers with a penchant for thrillers may enjoy this adequately written story about a teen caught in a babysitter's nightmare.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

1) Yes, I'm late again.  There are actually things to DO here in AZ that I find more entertaining than being on the interwebs.  So, you know, priorities.  2) New author!  This list will be short because Beverly Hastings wasn't what you'd call prolific.  Plus her catalogue is a mix of adult and YA so it'll be even shorter as a result.  Expect another new author rather soon.

It would appear Publisher's Weekly (the author of that blurb there) was not impressed with this title, consisting, or so they say, of standard babysitter stalker fare.  RL Stine already did this, that I know.  It looks like your standard whodunnit with a scared teenager.  I'd probably pass this one up even without reading PW's added disdain.

Freaky Friday :|: 174

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's (Loves Books and Cats) Flashback Friday.

Title: Zodiac Chillers - In Leo's Lair
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: September 25, 1995
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 164
Summary:

After breaking up with Eric, Nina is alarmed when Eric and her new boyfriend, both determined Leos, become jealous of each other and dangerously possessive of Nina, and Nina's soulmate, Jess, must come to her rescue.  (amazon.com)

A bit late, I know.  I was busy falling asleep to the movie Clue last night.  Anyway, I'm wondering how all of this zodiac stuff comes into line other than a contrived mention of the characters' astrological signs.  The dreaded 's' word gets me a bit twitchy but the whole zodiac thing has me intrigued.  Plus I want my free astro-pendant.  Think it's still available?

Freaky Friday :|: 173

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's (Loves Books and Cats) Flashback Friday.

Title: Zodiac Chillers - The Scorpio Society
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: July 25, 1995
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 168
Summary:

Belonging to an exclusive and secret club at her gothic-style boarding school has more of a sting to it than Elizabeth imagined, when the Scorpio Society's leader, the mysterious, charismatic Rachel, sets out to enlist Elizabeth--whether she wants to join or not.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Few things are worse than a person that just doesn't get the hint.  Seriously, I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND.  Some people are exceptionally desperate, I guess.  I'd read it just to see what angle the story takes; creepy stalker?  Overwhelming force?  Passive-aggressive under-handing?  Who knows?  Someone must.  There had to be at least ONE reader of this book at some point in time . . .  It wasn't me.

Freaky Friday :|: 172

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's (Loves Books and Cats) Flashback Friday.

Title: Zodiac Chillers - Rage of Aquarius
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: July 25, 1995
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 169
Summary:

One by one, grieving and guilty teenagers find themselves slowly dying to be with their dead friend Becky, who reluctantly took up one of their dares, and lost her life as a consequence.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

First off, holy crap I didn't realize until now that it's been more than a month since my last Freaky Friday post although that would make sense.  The last post I made was just before I went on vacation at  the beginning of August and then my life exploded a bit when I got back so . . .

Second, this is actually kind of appealing.  Something a bit different from what's out there even now although I'm not sure I get the point of the whole zodiac thing.  I'm sure there's something stringing it together.  Maybe each person who dies is a different sign?  I have no idea but it has my attention.

Freaky Friday :|: 171

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's (Loves Books and Cats) Flashback Friday.

Title: The Stalker

Author: Carol Ellis

Published: March 1, 1996

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks

Pages: 176

Summary: 

Janna loves to be in the limelight, and she's always dreaming of the attention a life on stage would give her. However, she thinks she is being followed by a stalker who is playing games with her mind, and her life. Is the stalker trying to get closer to Janna or is he making sure no-one else will?  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Dun dun dun!  I think the stalker topic is ever-poignant and never loses it's creep factor.  It just depends on how well it's done and what the author's done different that'll either make it stand out or sink into the thriller mists to be lost forever.

Freaky Friday :|: 170

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's (Loves Books and Cats) Flashback Friday.

Title: The Body
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: 1996
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Pages: 208
Summary:

A new girl in town must unravel the mystery of Lisa Randolf, who fell off a cliff under strange circumstances, and, left paralyzed, is so terrified over the incident that she refuses to speak.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

OMG is Lucius Malfoy the culprit???  AVADA KEDAVRA!!!  You now, if it were me and I fell off a cliff I'd probably refuse to speak about the incident too.  I wouldn't want to sit down to tea (because coffee is disgusting, I'm a tea drinker) and be all like, "So that day when I went ass over tea kettle down that cliff face . . ."

Freaky Friday :|: 169

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's Flashback Friday.

Title: Silent Witness
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: February 1994
Publisher: Point
Summary:

After her friend Allen dies, his mother gives Lucy Monroe some of his belongings, including a videotape that contains evidence of a crime--evidence someone will do anything to destroy.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Ah.  It appears dumbasses were videotaping their illegal activities long before YouTube came around.  Nice to know people haven't actually gotten dumber; they've just acquired more access.  Perhaps the perpetrator should be less worried about destroying and more concerned about their life of crime in general.  Maybe it's not working out.

Freaky Friday :|: 168

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's Flashback Friday.

Title: Camp Fear
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: 1994
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 224
Summary:

The past can't hurt you, it can kill you. Almost everyone at Camp Silverlake is afraid of something but, there is a much deeper darker fear - the fear that one terrible, deadly secret will be discovered.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Anything set at a summer camp is a win for me.  I have this weird attachment to anything summer camp.  I have no idea why since I've never actually been to summer camp but I like the idea.  There's a lot of ambiance there for me but it's more in a horror story of way.  I've seen Friday the 13th too many times apparently.  As if I have dreams of going to a fucked up summer camp.

Freaky Friday :|: 167

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's Flashback Friday.

Title: The Stepdaughter
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: April 1993
Publisher: Point
Pages: 218
Summary:

Everyone thinks Livvie is crazy not to like her mother's new husband, but Livvie is convinced that the person wanted by police for a fifteen-year-old murder and her stepdad are one and the same.  (amazon.com)

It's always the step-parent.  It's built into their genetic code, to be nothing short of evil, hiding a terrible secret or tortures small animals in the basement.  Or all of the above.  And OF COURSE the marrying partner doesn't believe a word of it from their child's mouth.  Such good parents.

Freaky Friday :|: 166

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's Flashback Friday.

Title: The Window
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: 1993
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 176
Summary:

It should have been the skiing holdiay of a lifetime, but Jody sprains her ankle and finds herself alone with nothing to do but gaze out of her cabin window. Looking into the cabin of her neighbour, she witnesses a fight and murder - or does she?  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

You know it's scary because the cover has a blood smear on it.  *nods*  Horrifying.  Except when I read about it being a ski weekend I'm not really making the connection between that and the roses.  Valentine's Weekend?  Or at least make the smear a bloody hand print.  I know there's a movie like this.  They spoof it on The Simpsons and Family Guy.  I'll be damned if I know what movie it is though.

Freaky Friday + 165

Freaky Friday is a weekly post highlighting YA horror published between 1980 and 1999, originally inspired by Sharon's Flashback Friday. (Since I've just now realized that maybe just a hint of a blurb of information in these weekly posts would be helpful, especially to newcomers, so they didn't have to dig through my site to figure out what the hell I was talking about.  I'm glad I'm so on top of things.  What week am I on?)

Title: My Secret Admirer
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: 1994
Publisher: Scholastic Children's Books
Pages: 192
Summary:

Jenny is understandably confused and scared when she simultaneously receives anonymous love letters and is the object of some very cruel pranks, and she is determined to find the culprits.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Oh the torn lives we live.  Whatever will Jenny do?  Perhaps . . . maybe . . . the object of love and the jerk master are one and the same?  Maybe?  Am I close?

Freaky Friday :|: 164

Title: Overnight Bite, Fangs #2
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: August 20, 1996
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 119
Summary:

Disguised as a bat, vampire boy Damian flaps around Ginger's attic, trying to overhear what she whispers to her giggling slumber party friends. Ginger goes upstairs to investigate the strange noises, and awakens hanging upside down in the closet.  (amazon.com)

What?  I'm willing to read these just to see if they're filled with as much WTFery as they look.  This takes cheese to a whole new level of mold.

Freaky Friday :|: 163

Title: Vampire Cats, Fangs #1
Author: Carol Ellis
Published: August 20, 1996
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 116
Summary:

When her best friend, Richie, moves away Tiffany adopts a stray cat named Blackjack, a mysterious vampire feline who is really Richie in disguise and who has returned in time for her big sister's wedding.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

A new author and this is for real right here.  I'm not sure how the cats being vampires come into play but apparently someone's either a shapeshifter or has been reincarnated (totally just did a Freudian slip and typed reincatnated).  As a vampire cat.  Okay . . .

Freaky Friday :|: 162

Title: Starstruck
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Published: November 1, 1996
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 240
Summary:

Meeting handsome actor Byron Slater after winning a contest, Miranda Peterson enjoys the attention of the media and the glamour of Byron's world, until she stumbles on the private actor's deadly secrets.  (amazon.com)

Could be interesting in a Patrick Bateman sort of way.  This one isn't really tugging me one way or another.  It could be good but it's pretty low on my list of squee-worthy YA horror cheese.

Freaky Friday :|: 161

Title: Summer of Secrets
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Published: July 1, 1996
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 224
Summary:

Lost on a dark country road, Gayle and her best friend Stephanie are hit by a truck that was following them without any light. Their damaged car was only the beginning, for mysterious "accidents" are suddenly occurring. Gayle knows she must find the answer soon--danger is only a heartbeat away.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

I don't understand how the cover relates to this.  Is there a roll in ze hay involved?  This looks like your token tacky romance novel, not your token YA cheese horror novel.  I think someone needs to Photoshop a knife into the guy's hand or something because there's a severe disconnect here.

Freaky Friday :|: 160

Title: Overdue
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Published: April 1, 1995
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 224
Summary:

Kathleen is working late in the library when someone returns five grisly books about death, all overdue. Then close friends begin having tragic accidents. Kathleen is sure of one thing--the killer will strike again. Is her death overdue?  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

OMG, epically, cheesily yes!  Horror in the library.  I love it.  I don't care how terrible it could end up being.  I'd read it and worship it like it so rightly deserves.

Freaky Friday :|: 159

Title: Someone at the Door
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Published: October 1, 1994
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 256
Summary:

The phone and the radio were dead, but they'd already heard the news: a mass murderer was on the loose. Hannah and her younger sister, Meg, were miles from the nearest neighbor, trapped in a raging blizzard, home alone. When two wounded, bleeding strangers show up, Hannah doesn't know whether to help them or turn them away.  (amazon.com)

Ho hum.  How droll.  This is one of those been there, done that titles.  I guess every author needs at least one of these in their repertoire.  At least if you're as prolific as one of these guys.

Freaky Friday :|: 158

Title: The Drifter
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Published: July 1, 1994
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 240
Summary:

With her mother determined to transform Glanton House into an inn, Carolyn Baxter is wary of Joss Whitcomb, the handsome, compelling stranger who takes the job of handyman in exchange for room and board, who possesses a dangerous knowledge of local legends.  (amazon.com)

How dangerous can knowledge of local legends be?  Unless he's the one making the legends . . . DUN DUN DUN!

Freaky Friday :|: 157

Title: The Locker
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Published: April 1, 1994
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 224
Summary:

Is someone reaching for help--from the grave? Join Richie Tankersley Cusick on the first day of school, where something as ordinary as a girl's locker suddenly becomes a doorway to terror.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Well that is not informative whatsoever.  So . . . is something living in the locker?  Is the locker haunted?  Is there a body stuffed in there?  What?

Freaky Friday :|: 156

Title: Help Wanted
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Published: 1996
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Pages: 224
Summary:

Cusick's latest thriller brings to life what every teenager both wants and dreads--the part-time job. When Robin Bailey takes a job as a tutor for Mr. Swanson's shy daughter, the unreasonable demands soon begin to outweigh the compensation. Eventually Robin's job becomes her worst nightmare.  (fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Oh look!  Freaky Friday finally has it's own banner!  It's only been 3 years!  Woohoo!

Anyway, sounds like a job I would quit.  Because it's so much easier to attempt to sate your boss's murderous rampages than just walking away.  Obviously.