Editorial Review

“Ramos (The Disturbed Girl’s Dictionary, 2018) blends themes of discrimination, income inequality, and the effects of grueling education with some of the best elements of horror in their latest. Aspiring horror filmmaker Yuiza is leaving their home in the Bronx to attend the upscale boarding school Our Lady of Perpetual Mercy, where they’ll be surrounded by wealth—unlike their working-class, Puerto Rican neighborhood. Their scholarship covers tuition and little else, leaving Yuiza in weighty debt. When Yuiza decides to investigate the constant odd behavior of the students and faculty, things turn dark: not only does the school hide a dangerous past but their fate as a scholarship student might literally lead to their demise. This twisty thrill ride of a novel shines thanks to Yuiza’s all-encompassing passion for horror, which drives the plot forward. Meanwhile, Yuiza’s fears and frustrations as a queer Puerto Rican teen at a wealthy, predominantly white school are powerfully felt. Fans of horror movies in particular will appreciate this creepy story that centers survival for queer, BIPOC characters in the face of white supremacy.”—Booklist