Aisle Nine

Portals to hell have become commonplace since thousands of them appeared two years ago in Cho’s satirical workplace-apocalypse horror debut. Now that the portals—and the demons they unleashed—are mostly under control thanks to Vanguard, a weapon and surveillance manufacturer, humans have adjusted to a new normal. Meanwhile, Jasper, 17, remembers nothing about his life before the amnesia-inducing head injury he sustained five months ago. The humdrum of his everyday is only broken up by the portal in aisle nine of Here for You Mart, the big-box discount store where he works. He’s also been shoring up the courage to talk to taciturn 17-year-old Kyle, who is a part of the Vanguard that oversees the portals. When Jasper starts having nightmarish visions of an upcoming apocalypse, the normally disengaged teen finds himself leading the charge to stop doomsday. Cho skillfully builds a bizarre world grounded by contemporary ideals; the absurdity of Jasper working retail in dystopian circumstances serves as a piercing commentary on capitalistic values, resulting in a quickly paced, laugh-out-loud read. Kyle is Taiwanese American; Jasper has “floppy dark hair and darker eyes.” Ages 13–up. Agent: Dan Lazar, Writers House. (Sept.)