The 1990s are back! Here’s my list of favorite YA books that are set in the 1990s. Bring on the neon! Updated for 2022, because the 90s are popular 4-ever!
YA Books Set in the 1990s
Ah, the 1990s. Scrunchies. Boy bands. Rollerblades. Fanny Packs. The days before smart phones and social media. Here’s my list of YA books set –not written — in the 1990s. Most are contemporary but there is one time travel book in there!
There was a HUGE trend of 90s books back in 2012, and now there are a few new ones in the 2020s.
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The Mall by Megan McCafferty (2020)
Story set at a New Jersey mall in the ’90s.
Girls on Fire by Robin Waserman (2016)
On Halloween, 1991, a popular high school basketball player disappears. In the wake of this incident, bright but lonely Hannah Dexter is befriended by Lacey Champlain, a dark-eyed, Cobain-worshiping bad influence in lip gloss and Doc Martens.
The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed (2022)
Four high school seniors confront racism and police brutality during the Rodney King beating and protests in 1992.
Break in Case of Emergency by Brian Francis (2020)
Set in a small town in the 1990s, this is the story of a girl on the edge of a breakdown, dealing with family secrets, and trying to learn who she really is.
Fireworks by Katie Cotugno (2020)
A drama set in the world of boy bands and girl bands.
Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany Jackson (2020)
This one also has music themes as it is set in the 1990s Brooklyn rap world.
Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers (2008)
Johnny’s had a tough life. His goth look usually includes black nail polish and little mascara. When he discovers Debbie Harry, the lead singer of Blondie, he not only likes her music but realizes that he kind of, sort of, wants to BE her.
Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert (2014)
In high school, Kara helped maintain the “Stories of Suburbia” notebook, which contained newspaper articles about strange events from suburbs all over America. Four years later, Kara returns to her hometown to revisit the disastrous events that led to her departure.
The Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone (2012)
A girl in 1995 falls in love with a guy in 2012.
Drain You by M. Beth Bloom (2012)
A satirical vampire novel. (Maybe I’m the only one who loved it but I stand behind that opinion!)
The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mack (2011)
Two teens go on the computer in 1996 and see their lives 15 years into the future.
Paper Airplanes by Dawn O’Porter (2014)
In 1994, two friends who live on the British island of Guernsey confront loss and betrayal.
Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers (2012)
A girl visits her estranged mother in 1990s New York.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth (2012)
Set in the early 1990s, this debut novel about a girl who loses her parents and finds her identity was made into an indie film.
Have you read any of these or do you have any to add to the list?
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Hope you enjoy reading some YA Books Set in the 1990s!
I love this! I started reading Let Me Hear a Rhyme and I loved how nostalgic it felt! Did you see that video of the Gen Z athletes who were giving a 90s Pop Culture quiz???
“Nostalgic” might mean “getting older” lolol
I was all about the musical references in Time Between Us. So many good bands mentioned in that one.
I might need a re-read!
This was a super fun post! I even found a few new books to add to my TBR! Lucky Caller isn’t set in the 90’s, but they do a radio show that focuses on music from the 90’s — if you’re interested! 🙂
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
YES that book is what inspired all this 90s content. I’m sad that it wasn’t set in the 90s and didn’t feature any real 90s music but it was still fun.
“Bring on the neon” haha! Love it. The Mall will almost certainly be on my TBR, and Fireworks looks fun (I’ve only read one Katie Cotugno book but i liked it).
I am SO excited for The Mall. That’s where I was hanging out back in the day!
If you’re into YA horror like me, I am pretty sure My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix is also set during the 1990s and I loved that one. But I could be wrong on the date!
lol I’m a little squeamish on horror but will check this out for my list – thanks for the rec!
Im so excited for The Mall too!!!
I think The Perks of Being a Wallflower was 90’s. Released and set in the 90’s but still an amazing book!!?
Yes, I think you are right! I decided to limit this to “historical fiction” (wince) – books set but not written in the 90s, but it is an amazing book – and movie!