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danah_kmt's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I binged this in 7h, and honestly it gave me so much anxiety and stress.
If the author's goal was to get me on edge that I was scared by every little sound I heard, and to give me chills then she succeeded.
I didn't think this book would be so psychologically engaging (I mean its a mystery ya, how bad can it be), but I was so on edge especially the latter half of this book, that I jumped every time my dog moved, so...
I predicted things, then changed my predictions, then went back, then changed them continuously trying to figure out the mystery; it's predictable but makes you doubt its predictability.
I'm also still in denial of the end of chapter 39, just refusing that reality...
I just kind of hated Rachel, so minus points there.
If the author's goal was to get me on edge that I was scared by every little sound I heard, and to give me chills then she succeeded.
I didn't think this book would be so psychologically engaging (I mean its a mystery ya, how bad can it be), but I was so on edge especially the latter half of this book, that I jumped every time my dog moved, so...
I predicted things, then changed my predictions, then went back, then changed them continuously trying to figure out the mystery; it's predictable but makes you doubt its predictability.
I'm also still in denial of the end of chapter 39, just refusing that reality...
I just kind of hated Rachel, so minus points there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Panic attacks/disorders
Home invasion, fear triggerspastry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a masterpiece. I was intrigued from the start, it was a little slow going in the middle for a bit, but honestly, this was brilliant. I'm not necessarily a huge horror connaiseuse, but I was still able to appreciate many of the references, and I was genuinely left wondering until the very end. So so so good. I'm still a little stunned tbh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Murder
valeriabee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Genuinely was afraid. Mostly because it made me think of what my biggest fears are and how those fears impact my life. Also, Rachel, after having gone through a trauma, has high anxiety and I also suffer from anxiety so part of my fear was just... the anxiety I was feeling while I was reading.
In part, I had anxiety because I was seeing how complicated the whole situation is and how hard it is to know/figure out who is telling the truth. It is so hard to decide who in this book is trust worthy (especially because it's written in first person) and that made my anxiety sky rocket. I didn't like not knowing or being unsure of what I was (and Rachel was) dealing with.
Moldavsky does a wonderful job of setting up and revealing the villain, the monster. I think it's in the way that she really makes you doubt yourself. For a minute you think, Rachel is right, it's this person... but then you think no way it doesn't add up. Or obviously it has to be this other person, why don't they realize this... but then why would it be them? What motivates them? Moldavsky really drives home the idea that "the real monsters aren't the ones created by man. The real monster is man himself." Something that Mary Shelley has proven to us in her own work 200 years ago with Frankenstein. I mean, it speaks to the common misconception and mislabelling of Mary Shelley's monster. People often address the green 'monster' as Frankenstein, but really he is Frankenstein's monster. Frankenstein is the doctor. I don't say this to be pretentious, but to point out that the fact that Dr. Frankenstein is the real monster, but people don't want to believe that their peers are capable of monstrosities, so they reassign the role to the supernatural, to the least human. It's not wrong to say Frankenstein is the monster, it's only wrong if you're not referring to the Doctor. Shelley and Moldavsky's point is that people are scarier than any supernatural horror movie or book.
It's funny because I was telling my friends about this book earlier and when I told them a fun fact I learned about Mary Shelley from this book, it gave me another realization of how the revelation at the end redefines the scene. It was so crazy to me how perfectly set up the revelation is. When you get to it you might think "oh duh thats so obvious it makes the most sense," but I think that's only because Moldavsky sets it up so well without giving it away.
Reading this book also prompted me to ask my students (who are high school students) whether they think people their age are capable of empathy, rather, how much empathy they think their age group has the capacity for. Then, what kind of person they think of when they think of an empathetic person. Because books like these where the rich kids are such... assholes, really makes me wonder whether it has to do with age, upbringing, privilege, etc. Like what is interfering with their capacity to have empathy or to simply not be assholes. I was surprised by my students honest answers, but also by their lack in faith for the capacity towards empathy in their age group. (I think it definitely is partially a developmental thing, you learn as you grow older and experience more life -- but it is very nuanced).
In part, I had anxiety because I was seeing how complicated the whole situation is and how hard it is to know/figure out who is telling the truth. It is so hard to decide who in this book is trust worthy (especially because it's written in first person) and that made my anxiety sky rocket. I didn't like not knowing or being unsure of what I was (and Rachel was) dealing with.
Moldavsky does a wonderful job of setting up and revealing the villain, the monster. I think it's in the way that she really makes you doubt yourself. For a minute you think, Rachel is right, it's this person... but then you think no way it doesn't add up. Or obviously it has to be this other person, why don't they realize this... but then why would it be them? What motivates them? Moldavsky really drives home the idea that "the real monsters aren't the ones created by man. The real monster is man himself." Something that Mary Shelley has proven to us in her own work 200 years ago with Frankenstein. I mean, it speaks to the common misconception and mislabelling of Mary Shelley's monster. People often address the green 'monster' as Frankenstein, but really he is Frankenstein's monster. Frankenstein is the doctor. I don't say this to be pretentious, but to point out that the fact that Dr. Frankenstein is the real monster, but people don't want to believe that their peers are capable of monstrosities, so they reassign the role to the supernatural, to the least human. It's not wrong to say Frankenstein is the monster, it's only wrong if you're not referring to the Doctor. Shelley and Moldavsky's point is that people are scarier than any supernatural horror movie or book.
It's funny because I was telling my friends about this book earlier and when I told them a fun fact I learned about Mary Shelley from this book, it gave me another realization of how the revelation at the end redefines the scene. It was so crazy to me how perfectly set up the revelation is. When you get to it you might think "oh duh thats so obvious it makes the most sense," but I think that's only because Moldavsky sets it up so well without giving it away.
Reading this book also prompted me to ask my students (who are high school students) whether they think people their age are capable of empathy, rather, how much empathy they think their age group has the capacity for. Then, what kind of person they think of when they think of an empathetic person. Because books like these where the rich kids are such... assholes, really makes me wonder whether it has to do with age, upbringing, privilege, etc. Like what is interfering with their capacity to have empathy or to simply not be assholes. I was surprised by my students honest answers, but also by their lack in faith for the capacity towards empathy in their age group. (I think it definitely is partially a developmental thing, you learn as you grow older and experience more life -- but it is very nuanced).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Violence
mrachelg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I should have known better than to start reading this so late in the day. Did I stay up until 4 30am reading this because I had to know what happened? Yes, yes I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
sunshinestark's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect for fans of horror, The Mary Shelley Club starts off strong and ends with just the right hook to grab you, making you want a sequel immediately. Filled with references to old, new, well known, and more obscure horror movies, we have a group of students obsessed with horror who play a twisted game with one goal: make their target scream. When Rachel moves from Long Island after a traumatic home invasion, she never expects to be initiated into the Mary Shelley Club. The club plans elaborate pranks meant to terrify others, and it's all a game - the person who creates the best scenario wins. But as the game progresses, it's clear someone is sabotaging them. With danger closing in, Rachel isn't sure who she can trust. All she knows is she has to survive, and she won't go down without a fight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thanks to Henry Holt Books for the free advance copy of this book.
đź“š Friends, every single YA thriller I've ever read, I hated. I also hate horror movies, I do not like to be purposely scared. Enter THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB. Whew, I could not put this down! I had to know! I guessed wrong! I kept guessing! I trusted everyone, I trusted no one. I loved it.
đź“š This book is not only a look at the weird things rich people do to keep busy, but also their classism and racism, plus an exploration of PTSD and the varying ways people cope with it.
đź“š I will say, if you like your thrillers to have action on every page, this might not be it for you. But I wanted to see each club member's Fear Test, so I didn't mind a little repetitiveness because it still moved quickly.
đź“š Friends, every single YA thriller I've ever read, I hated. I also hate horror movies, I do not like to be purposely scared. Enter THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB. Whew, I could not put this down! I had to know! I guessed wrong! I kept guessing! I trusted everyone, I trusted no one. I loved it.
đź“š This book is not only a look at the weird things rich people do to keep busy, but also their classism and racism, plus an exploration of PTSD and the varying ways people cope with it.
đź“š I will say, if you like your thrillers to have action on every page, this might not be it for you. But I wanted to see each club member's Fear Test, so I didn't mind a little repetitiveness because it still moved quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
pastelwriter's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Let me start this review by saying that this has been the first book that isn’t a romance to have me hooked to the pages by the end of the novel. I finished reading this earlier than I anticipated because I really wanted to know once and for all who the culprit behind everything that happened was. I may have rated this 3.5 stars but don’t let that make you think I didn’t enjoy this reading experience. I really had so much fun reading this book.
For the majority of the book, I was sincerely just Vibing. I found the book very easy to read and gripping. It wasn’t until the like 75% mark that I was really glued to the pages, but before then I was certainly invested. I found the writing style compelling. The pacing of the story wasn’t super fast, but it never felt like nothing was happening. There was a steady build-up to the conclusion of the book.
In addition, from early on I knew I would enjoy this book no matter what because the humor in this book was definitely my jam. I highlighted so many passages in this book because so many of the things characters said was genuinely funny to me.
I also really liked the characters here! Rachel was definitely a character I enjoyed following. I love her need for control—her urge to gain agency over the traumatic experience she had. I love how she was trying to use horror movies and the Mary Shelley Club as a coping mechanism. All in all, she was a great lead.
I also liked Rachel’s best friend Saundra. She wasn’t the deepest of characters, but she was sweet and reliable. She was always in Rachel’s corner even if it could cost her social capital. She also was always encouraging Rachel to have a normal teenage life and experience, and that was so important for Rachel who could have easily stayed home all day just watching horror movies or hanging out with the Mary Shelley Club.
Speaking of the Mary Shelley Club. Thayer, Bram, Felicity, and Freddie the rest of the members in the group were all compelling in their own ways. Thayer was cute as hell. I definitely developed a soft spot for him. His interactions with Rachel were primarily so sweet that I couldn’t help but love him. The fact that Rachel early on just Got Him and his humor and his way of being was just so valid.
Bram and Freddie were like two sides of the same coin. I had so many fraught emotions when it came to these two boys. I loved them. I hated them. I wanted to trust them. I didn’t trust them. I wanted to know everything about them. I wanted Rachel to get away from them. I wanted Rachel to get closer to them. I wanted it all. They were playing with my heart from the very start because deep down I’m but a simple bitch. I didn’t even mind the love triangle vibes because in so many ways the two of them were so unreliable.
The only “con” I have to mention is that a big part of me was confused as to when this book was set. The characters talked about Miley Cyrus, Pitbull, and Lady Gaga (specifically the Paparazzi song), and I was just confused. The teens didn’t always sound like teens nowadays so that’s why I was like ??? I’m confused. But really it wasn’t a big deal. I was just confused. Still. I’m willing to chalk this up to the fact that we’re dealing with characters that are super rich.
Anyway. Something else I loved about this book is that we follow Rachel, a working class kid, who is transplanted into this world of super rich kids. She clearly feels the divide between them and herself. Yet she finds solidarity with the Mary Shelley club. Sure, most of them are still rich kids, but at least they get her interests. They don’t judge her for the things that happened in her past. They just join forces to pull off these Fear Tests where they prank other students to scare them. It was just pulled off really well—especially with the solidarity Rachel and Freddie build because they’re both kids that come from much humbler backgrounds than their peers.
Overall, I definitely recommend this book. I had a lot of fun reading it. I think that if you love horror and enjoy self-aware and meta media, you will enjoy this.
P.S. The main reason I didn’t rate this higher than 3.5 stars was because I couldn’t believe how much of a class traitor Freddie was. Lol. Like, listen. I just can’t believe Freddie would turn on Rachel when they were both working class Latinx kids in a school full of rich kids with so much money they were in a different stratosphere. Like, I could never. I was hoping the twist would be that Freddie and Rachel would turn against the other members of the group. Like, sorry, but I’m different. Down with the rich. Lol.
But seriously. I was hoping so badly that the antagonist wouldn’t be Freddie, and it was really because I wanted him and Rachel to turn against all these rich kids. Which is to say that I’m not against the two of them turning “evil." Freddie turning evil wasn’t inherently my issue here. I can stand behind antagonists in fiction in the sense that I can find a well crafted villain very compelling and can even root for them.
So, I guess my other issue here is that Freddie played me like he played Rachel. I was really rooting for him. His interactions with Rachel really had me swooning. I really bought that he was interested in her and genuinely liked her. He was always so kind, and I really am a sucker for sweet soft boys which is what he portrayed himself as. So, although I wasn’t really surprised that he was the antagonist because the seeds for it were definitely planted, it still hurt because ultimately I guess I’m a sucker for the tope of lovers who do evil together. Why couldn’t I have my two Latinx kids saying "eat the rich"? Oh well. Freddie really could have been baby, but he went ahead and turned against Rachel. So sad.
For the majority of the book, I was sincerely just Vibing. I found the book very easy to read and gripping. It wasn’t until the like 75% mark that I was really glued to the pages, but before then I was certainly invested. I found the writing style compelling. The pacing of the story wasn’t super fast, but it never felt like nothing was happening. There was a steady build-up to the conclusion of the book.
In addition, from early on I knew I would enjoy this book no matter what because the humor in this book was definitely my jam. I highlighted so many passages in this book because so many of the things characters said was genuinely funny to me.
I also really liked the characters here! Rachel was definitely a character I enjoyed following. I love her need for control—her urge to gain agency over the traumatic experience she had. I love how she was trying to use horror movies and the Mary Shelley Club as a coping mechanism. All in all, she was a great lead.
I also liked Rachel’s best friend Saundra. She wasn’t the deepest of characters, but she was sweet and reliable. She was always in Rachel’s corner even if it could cost her social capital. She also was always encouraging Rachel to have a normal teenage life and experience, and that was so important for Rachel who could have easily stayed home all day just watching horror movies or hanging out with the Mary Shelley Club.
Speaking of the Mary Shelley Club. Thayer, Bram, Felicity, and Freddie the rest of the members in the group were all compelling in their own ways. Thayer was cute as hell. I definitely developed a soft spot for him. His interactions with Rachel were primarily so sweet that I couldn’t help but love him. The fact that Rachel early on just Got Him and his humor and his way of being was just so valid.
Bram and Freddie were like two sides of the same coin. I had so many fraught emotions when it came to these two boys. I loved them. I hated them. I wanted to trust them. I didn’t trust them. I wanted to know everything about them. I wanted Rachel to get away from them. I wanted Rachel to get closer to them. I wanted it all. They were playing with my heart from the very start because deep down I’m but a simple bitch. I didn’t even mind the love triangle vibes because in so many ways the two of them were so unreliable.
The only “con” I have to mention is that a big part of me was confused as to when this book was set. The characters talked about Miley Cyrus, Pitbull, and Lady Gaga (specifically the Paparazzi song), and I was just confused. The teens didn’t always sound like teens nowadays so that’s why I was like ??? I’m confused. But really it wasn’t a big deal. I was just confused. Still. I’m willing to chalk this up to the fact that we’re dealing with characters that are super rich.
Anyway. Something else I loved about this book is that we follow Rachel, a working class kid, who is transplanted into this world of super rich kids. She clearly feels the divide between them and herself. Yet she finds solidarity with the Mary Shelley club. Sure, most of them are still rich kids, but at least they get her interests. They don’t judge her for the things that happened in her past. They just join forces to pull off these Fear Tests where they prank other students to scare them. It was just pulled off really well—especially with the solidarity Rachel and Freddie build because they’re both kids that come from much humbler backgrounds than their peers.
Overall, I definitely recommend this book. I had a lot of fun reading it. I think that if you love horror and enjoy self-aware and meta media, you will enjoy this.
But seriously. I was hoping so badly that the antagonist wouldn’t be Freddie, and it was really because I wanted him and Rachel to turn against all these rich kids. Which is to say that I’m not against the two of them turning “evil." Freddie turning evil wasn’t inherently my issue here. I can stand behind antagonists in fiction in the sense that I can find a well crafted villain very compelling and can even root for them.
So, I guess my other issue here is that Freddie played me like he played Rachel. I was really rooting for him. His interactions with Rachel really had me swooning. I really bought that he was interested in her and genuinely liked her. He was always so kind, and I really am a sucker for sweet soft boys which is what he portrayed himself as. So, although I wasn’t really surprised that he was the antagonist because the seeds for it were definitely planted, it still hurt because ultimately I guess I’m a sucker for the tope of lovers who do evil together. Why couldn’t I have my two Latinx kids saying "eat the rich"? Oh well. Freddie really could have been baby, but he went ahead and turned against Rachel. So sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gore
jainnyreads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I received a free e-ARC of this book from the publisher through Colored Pages Tours in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! I have read very, very few thrillers because I don't often like the genre. However, I'd say THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB has blown me away and made me look at the genre differently! It was just absolutely incredible and completely un-put-down-able. I love any Young Adult novel featuring spoiled rich kids causing trouble, and this novel did not disappoint. I also enjoyed the exploration of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic divides throughout.
Additionally, I appreciated Moldavsky's work in handling trauma and grief in the main character, Rachel. Overall, I do wish there were some more answers regarding the revelation of the Mary Shelley Club at the end, but I also think the ending was perfect. Enough to wrap up the story well but leave you wanting more (a sequel perhaps!?)
I confidently recommend this novel to fans of thrillers and those new to the genre. After reading THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB, I fully intend on picking up more of Moldavsky's books!
I absolutely loved this book! I have read very, very few thrillers because I don't often like the genre. However, I'd say THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB has blown me away and made me look at the genre differently! It was just absolutely incredible and completely un-put-down-able. I love any Young Adult novel featuring spoiled rich kids causing trouble, and this novel did not disappoint. I also enjoyed the exploration of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic divides throughout.
Additionally, I appreciated Moldavsky's work in handling trauma and grief in the main character, Rachel. Overall, I do wish there were some more answers regarding the revelation of the Mary Shelley Club at the end, but I also think the ending was perfect. Enough to wrap up the story well but leave you wanting more (a sequel perhaps!?)
I confidently recommend this novel to fans of thrillers and those new to the genre. After reading THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB, I fully intend on picking up more of Moldavsky's books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
justagirlwithabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Seventeen-year-old Rachel and her mom are new to the Manchester area after moving from Long Island because of a traumatic home invasion that took place a year earlier. Masked men broke into their house when Rachel was alone and attacked her, but she defended herself and lived to see another day, though the experience left its mark; she suffers from nightmares, anxiety and anxiety, has trouble making new friends at her new school, and just can't seem to shake the past. But then, things begin to look up as she meets and joins in with the Mary Shelley Club, a small, eclectic group of fellow students and horror fans who take their love of fear to the next level, staging their own "Fear Tests" as part of a game. Come up with a plan, scare the victim until they scream, and the person with best Fear Test when it's all said and done wins. But things start taking a dark turn the more Rachel gets caught up in the group and their game, and it seems like her past, and a masked intruder, isn't as far away as she once hoped.
This one got off to a sort of slow start, but by maybe a fourth of the way in, things started picking up and the storyline turned a bit more macabre, which I ate up, in one 4 and a half hour sitting! I really appreciated all the references to the cult classics of the horror genre, both film and text (as a former English teacher and current librarian, all the asides related to horror literature were a hit for me!). The storyline really focuses most on this traumatic incident that occurs at the very beginning, and then everything builds from there. We don't ever find out much about Rachel and her mom's story really; we only know them through the lens of this bad moment a year ago. While this might not work for some, I think it worked fine here, especially as a Young Adult novel that really carries itself well as a "slasher" type of story (it'd make a great older teen horror movie!). I didn't fully see the twist at the end when all was revealed, so it wasn't super predictable, which was great as well.
What I loved: the (mostly) fast pace, all the references to classic horror novels, authors, and films, the build up to the somewhat surprising ending, the 'slasher film' feeling of the story overall (5-stars for entertainment value!)
What I didn't love: the end-end of the ending (it felt like it ended quite abruptly rather than smoothly tapering off and letting us go - there were some loose ends that would've been nice to have wrapped up), not a lot of love for the main character (she was a bit abrasive, but then if this had been a horror film, we wouldn't need to have lovable characters to still get caught up in the scary of it all), the more mature content (in regards to language, casual underage drinking, drug use, and sexual commentary ... as a junior high librarian I was hoping this would be a great addition to my library shelves but it's much to 'new' young adult rather than just middle grade-YA).
I would definitely recommend this to older young adults who enjoy a good horror/thriller with a plot twist (as well as adults who can appreciate a pretty decent YA slasher novel when they see one). As a librarian, I would recommend this to general public libraries where young adult horror has a readership.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group (Henry Holt and Co.) for the Early Review copy in exchanged for honest feedback.
This one got off to a sort of slow start, but by maybe a fourth of the way in, things started picking up and the storyline turned a bit more macabre, which I ate up, in one 4 and a half hour sitting! I really appreciated all the references to the cult classics of the horror genre, both film and text (as a former English teacher and current librarian, all the asides related to horror literature were a hit for me!). The storyline really focuses most on this traumatic incident that occurs at the very beginning, and then everything builds from there. We don't ever find out much about Rachel and her mom's story really; we only know them through the lens of this bad moment a year ago. While this might not work for some, I think it worked fine here, especially as a Young Adult novel that really carries itself well as a "slasher" type of story (it'd make a great older teen horror movie!). I didn't fully see the twist at the end when all was revealed, so it wasn't super predictable, which was great as well.
What I loved: the (mostly) fast pace, all the references to classic horror novels, authors, and films, the build up to the somewhat surprising ending, the 'slasher film' feeling of the story overall (5-stars for entertainment value!)
What I didn't love: the end-end of the ending (it felt like it ended quite abruptly rather than smoothly tapering off and letting us go - there were some loose ends that would've been nice to have wrapped up), not a lot of love for the main character (she was a bit abrasive, but then if this had been a horror film, we wouldn't need to have lovable characters to still get caught up in the scary of it all), the more mature content (in regards to language, casual underage drinking, drug use, and sexual commentary ... as a junior high librarian I was hoping this would be a great addition to my library shelves but it's much to 'new' young adult rather than just middle grade-YA).
I would definitely recommend this to older young adults who enjoy a good horror/thriller with a plot twist (as well as adults who can appreciate a pretty decent YA slasher novel when they see one). As a librarian, I would recommend this to general public libraries where young adult horror has a readership.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group (Henry Holt and Co.) for the Early Review copy in exchanged for honest feedback.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug use