SOLVED. YA Horror novel. Teens behavior is controlled through their lunch at their high school. Girl has allergies and can't eat school lunch. Read mid 1980s's/late 1990's. [s]

[Kya]

I read this book years ago in the early 90’s I believe. The protagonists are a teen guy and girl. They notice that their peers behavior is being controlled with school lunch a kind of play on the movie “ Disturbing Behavior” but using school lunch. The book was written before the movie came out. The girl protagonist has food allergies and can’t eat the school lunch. The boy protagonists picks up on what’s going on and doesn’t eat the food. Thank you for any help!

[Kya]

Also the book could have been written in the 80’s and the author MAY be a male. I am unsure. Thank you!

[Kris]

Kya, would you say that this is a spoiler -- school food is controlling their behavior? We try to avoid putting spoilers in the header/topic title.

What happens earlier in the book? How do the teens start behaving strangely? Can you tell us more about the main guy and girl?

Is the genre: YA mystery?

[Rainbowheart]

Back to School?

Are the students definitely in high school, not middle school?

[Kris]

Amazon has a short "Look Inside" preview of Back to School by Betsy Haynes- Rainbowheart's suggestion:

https://www.amazon.com/Back-School-Be... There are different cover images.

[Kya]

Hey,
I just found these replies. I am sorry for the spoilers. The two protagonists are in high school. I appreciate any and all help!!

[Andria]

I think this is Nightshade: Attitude Problem

from a user review: "Eric has an attitude problem, as evidenced by saying "Yo" a lot and calling people dweebs. Not even juvie could stop his smart mouth. Until he ends up in Summerville, where his classmates are all dweeb zombies. All except one. Debbie seems normal, but Eric notices that she doesn't eat the school lunch. He begins to suspect something weird about the "vitamins" the coach wants him to take, but it all seems harmless, until another friend from juvie transfers in... and something horrible happens to him. Now Eric and Debbie have to find out what's wrong at Summerville High."

[Kris]

Would you can this a YA Horror novel?

Here's your description from May 18, 2017:

"read a book and have been trying to remember the title for years. A teenage boy and his father move to a new town. The boy has gotten into trouble previously. All the teens in this town are under some behavior modification by the use of school lunch with the exception of this boy and a girl who was new before him. The girl has food allergies. I have asked various librarians to help me locate this book but it's never the right one. They always tell me the same title whose author's name begins with Nicholas. I am not sure." https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Kya]

Yes definitely a YA horror. I am unsure of the time frame though. Perhaps mid to late 80’’s to late 90’s.

[Andria]

Kya, did you rule out my suggestion above?

[Kya]

Andria wrote: "I think this is Nightshade: Attitude Problem

from a user review: "Eric has an attitude problem, as evidenced by saying "Yo" a lot and calling people dweebs. Not even juvie could sto..."
This sounds pretty close, so much in fact that I went and bought a copy. I am waiting for it to come. I want to to look it over and see if this is the book. I will let you all know as soon as I do. Thank you!!!

[Kya]

Hey All,
The book is Nightshade: Attitude Problem by Andrew Coleman. I had to wait for it to come and find the time to read it. Thank you so much Andria. I have been searching for this book for a LONG time!!!