(2) YA Theater kid Hughie Wolfe, one of the few Indigenous students at his high school, is disappointed when the fall play is cancelled. He sets his sights on a new project: a haunted house fundraiser at the rural crossroads, a location plagued by rumors of an Indigenous ghost. Hughie is excited to volunteer until he learns that the organizer wants to feature Indigenous stereotypes, including an "Indian Maiden" and an "Indian burial ground" as the main attractions. To make matters worse, there are reports of a creepy figure terrorizing brown girls at the crossroads, scaring them as they walk to their vehicles at night. As Hughie considers how to speak up about bigotry against Indigenous people, he and his friends investigate the stalker and discover that some rumors are based in truth. The story (set in the same universe as the realistic Rain Is Not My Indian Name and Hearts Unbroken, rev. 11/18) adeptly centers important conversations about the racism Indigenous youth face; the plight of missing Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people; and the lack of police, media, and governmental support in searching for them. This eerie cross-genre novel will entice readers in search of spooky and truthful storytelling.

Reviewer: S. R. Toliver | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(3) YA Jack, an out-and-proud queer seventeen-year-old, receives anonymous love notes from an obsessive admirer, who then blackmails Jack after he starts writing an online teen-sex-advice column. This sex-positive, unapologetic celebration of the gay community strikes a good balance between an intriguing mystery and inspiring, no-holds-barred social commentary about sex education, homophobia, consent, and integrity.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) YA Seventeen-year-old abuse survivor Charlotte (formerly Piper) is starting over in a new city with a new name, but the spectre of brutality follows her as she sets out to save another potential victim--and find love in the process. Melodramatic prose and situations, combined with at times seemingly gratuitous scenes of torture and violence, mar this fast-paced and well-meaning thriller.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(2) YA Moses Cruz, leader of a diverse group of orphan teens, stalks then kidnaps Alix Banks in hopes that she'll help expose her father's corrupt PR firm. At times, this conspiracy thriller veers away from the action and toward moralism, but Bacigalupi excels at the fully rounded characterization of his two narrators. Alix and Moses's developing romance, while unusual (and occasionally disturbing), feels convincing.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(4) YA Fourteen-year-old Thea has led a sheltered life and is more than a little naive. So when she gets caught up in an online role-playing game, and in particular with a fellow player, she may be in over her head. This tense thriller offers useful lessons but sometimes verges on preachy as it explores the dangers of online predators.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA Pretty Little Liars series. After the drama of the previous installment, Deadly, this book is a bit of a letdown. The four PLLs experience significant personal and professional successes (Aria, for example, sells a painting for a fortune), but, of course, A is prepared to ruin everything. While fans might guess what's next, a few surprises--and the usual cliffhanger--will keep them coming back for more.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA In this third and final Fame Game volume, Kate might have a stalker, someone is leaking secrets about Carmen, and Madison is, as usual, seeking screen time. The juicy drama is regrettably toned down (and ordinarily nasty Madison is significantly more subdued), but fans will glean lots more reality-show secrets--and enjoy a conclusion that sends the characters off to successful careers.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA After setting her ex's car on fire and receiving a temporary restraining order, Rosie's parents send her on a cross-country road trip to keep her out of trouble for the summer. Nine days in a car with three nerdy guys ends up helping her reevaluate her life. The cast of quirky characters and Rosie's sassy personality make this book a diverting summer read.

Reviewer: Renee Combs

(4) YA Pretty Little Liars series. In their sixteenth book, the PLLs confess that Ali is still stalking them, and they're given round-the-clock security. But as usual, A is one step ahead--and the girls are arrested for murder. The plot arc will be familiar to long-time fans (any new readers will be baffled), but Shepard delivers another suspenseful ending--and reveals another big secret.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA When the attentions of a secret admirer take on a darker tone and a classmate disappears, psychic Clarity finds herself in another suspenseful mystery. The Cape Cod high school setting and subplots involving friendship and romance keep the story grounded. Returning characters from and plot references to the first title (Clarity) provide context, but this second installment is an engaging stand-alone read.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Pretty Little Liars series. All the Pretty Little Liars continue to be terrorized and manipulated by "A," but Emily, who secretly gave up a baby for adoption, has the most to lose. The girls suspect, therefore, that their stalker is a woman who wanted Emily's baby. This twelfth installment answers few questions, but it's characteristically well paced and still contains some surprises (like a cross-dressing dad).

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA Distanced from his family after his parents' divorce, Rig turns to the Internet to catch up on his older sister's life in college. What he finds is a disturbing website filled with photos of Kari taken in secret. When his mother dismisses his concerns, Rig asks for his estranged father's help to save Kari. A tight plot and brisk dialogue lead readers to a tidy, abrupt ending.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(2) YA Clara and her father rent a summer house on the seashore to escape Clara's pathologically possessive stalker ex-boyfriend. The insightful first-person narrative eloquently articulates Clara's thoughts and emotions, and the oceanfront setting is a picturesque stage on which she sorts through the complexities of romantic attachments--both how they can go horribly wrong and how they can nurture and sustain her.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2011

(4) YA Violet (The Body Finder) psychically senses the body of a murdered boy, prompting a profiler to solicit her help with a cold case. At the same time, the arrival of two new students at school coincides with threats against Violet. Violet's supernatural ability is fascinating, but tension built through the alternating narratives of Violet and her stalker fizzles once the stalker is indentified.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) YA SideStreets series. Amy is excited to score a summer job at the resort where her best friend is also working. She needs a good reference for film school--and her new boss is hot. But when her crush on him moves quickly from flirtation to more, Amy must decide how far she's willing to go. Some authentic-sounding dialogue enlivens this movie-of-the-week tale.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) YA Abby meets and falls in love with "Luke" online. Then she disappears, leaving everyone to agonize over her whereabouts and safety--but also their own guilt. Perspective switches between Abby and her loved ones; impersonal police reports help readers understand the danger and trauma of the sexual exploitation Abby undergoes. Littman avoids preachiness in this disturbing cautionary tale about online predators.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Orca Currents series. Cameron's been the man of the house since his father was killed in a car accident. Now the driver is appearing everywhere--possibly stalking the family--and Cam has to decide the best way to handle the situation. Peterson keeps readers engaged from page one of this suspenseful and touching (yet admirably unsentimental) hi-lo book.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) YA In this penultimate Touch series entry, Camelia again senses that someone is in danger through psychometry (confirmed through anonymous letters to and from a stalker). Now she's hearing voices, and Camelia fears that her gift might overwhelm her. With the same setup as its predecessors, Voices lacks suspense but still delivers a tense climax and a mystery resolution that's just right.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA Sixteen-year-old Jamie has the somewhat dubious distinction of being the youngest paparazzo on the scene. When career-destroying pictures of a hot young star end up on Jamie's camera, she's unsure what to do. Though the story line tends to meander, readers may find this look at fame from both sides of the camera to be a satisfyingly salacious guilty-pleasure read.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(4) YA Ty has stalked sixteen-year-old Gemma since she was ten. He kidnaps her from a Bangkok airport and takes her to a desolate house in the Australian outback. Written as a letter from Gemma to Ty, the novel explores the relationship between captured and captor. While the story and eventual rescue seem contrived, the raw emotional tension throughout is engaging.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang