Ruin Road

Black high school senior and football star Cade Webster has his life mapped out: attend college on a sports scholarship, get drafted into the NFL, and use his resulting fame to vacate his family from their gang-run neighborhood in Virginia. After anonymous threats lead to football games being canceled and his father’s cancer seemingly worsens, Cade’s future feels uncertain. While purchasing a Super Bowl ring from a timid cashier at a pawn shop, Cade laments that he “wished everyone would stop acting so scared around me.” Soon, people start behaving differently around Cade. It appears as if everyone has begun acting without fear; his shy friend Gabby isn’t afraid to sing, and his father and younger sister leave for a vacation despite their previous reluctance. But when people start doing dangerous things, Cade must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice to save his loved ones. This edge-of-the-seat thriller uses occult horror elements to explore racism, classism, family, and grief. Cade’s struggle between wanting to save his friends and family while also securing his own future is gripping, making this a genre-bending adventure that will leave readers wanting more. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)