You're Dead to Me

October 15, 2024
Haunted by her own ghost, a high school senior races to solve her murder before prom night. Ruby is on scholarship at Oleander Bay Academy, works at her family's animal park, and secretly runs a TikTok account, @reputationkiller. She uses social media to expose the misdeeds of the rich elite in her small town, especially the Bling Brigade, the kids who rule the school. After one of @reputationkiller's biggest posts yet, Ruby's ghost appears in her prom dress, warning that Ruby has less than a week before she's murdered on prom night. While she's still reeling from this encounter, her secret social media identity is discovered. Now Ruby, who reads white, must team up with best friends Anton and Xavier (a gay couple who are cued Latine and Black, respectively) and a member of the Bling Brigade to find out who has it in for her. As they investigate, they realize that the town and those around them hold more secrets than they could have imagined. Through stakeouts and undercover missions, Ruby feels her way toward the truth as her ghost grows closer and continues to decay. As the countdown to prom progresses, Parker infuses a looming sense of dread into her depiction of a claustrophobic small town. The book has enough twists to keep readers guessing, all while examining the effects of Ruby's pursuit of justice. Twists and jump scares keep coming in this taut, fast-paced work that will keep readers up at night.(Thriller. 12-18)

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December 1, 2024

Gr 6 Up-The countdown to prom is on, and while most of the Oleander Bay Academy students can think of nothing else, senior Ruby Toller couldn't care less. She's more concerned with her secret social media account that she uses to expose her elitist peers and their sordid deeds. Ruby realizes she might be a victim herself, however, when she comes face-to-face with her own corpse, covered in wounds and blood, clearly trying to send her a warning. Can she figure out who is targeting her before it's too late? Parker presents a tense, twisting YA horror. Told from Ruby's first-person perspective, this engaging story boasts rich detail and a diverse cast of characters. It features a mild romance that has minimal depth and is more like a convenient crush than a main storyline. Though gruesome at times, a lack of real gore or explicit language makes this perfectly suited for middle school readers with a taste for the macabre. Chapters are named after song titles, which adds a fun prom playlist to balance the tension and terror. VERDICT This book will appeal to readers seeking a fast-paced high school horror with serial killers, supernatural visions, and plenty of suspense. Recommended for fans of Gretchen McNeil and Cynthia Murphy.-Lauren Hackert

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