Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
In The Scammer, Tiffany D. Jackson delivers a chilling look at psychological manipulation on a college campus. When an ex-convict brother moves into a freshman dorm at a D.C. HBCU, the “American Dream” turns into a web of secrets and missing persons. Sharp, suspenseful, and deeply relevant, this “New Adult” thriller explores the dangerous price of being a “good friend” and the resilience required to break free from a predator’s control.
Lots of teens find themselves in obsessive and toxic relationships, whether romantic or platonic. While most are not as volatile as Rabbit and Juliet, young people could learn from the mistakes Rabbit makes. There are many occasions where Rabbit does not listen to her own hesitations and goes along with Juliet’s plans. In the end, Rabbit does snap out of it, though almost too late. It is clear that she will be haunted by her relationship with Juliet for the rest of her life.
Ryan La Sala’s Beholder is a haunting exploration of obsession, mirrors, and monsters both real and imagined. Blending art, horror, and queer identity, it examines how beauty and darkness coexist. Though not for the faint of heart, it offers a chilling descent into the dangers of what looks back when we dare to stare too long.