I Am Made of Death

To teenage Thomas Walsh—who is used to working odd jobs to pay the medical bills for his Deaf mother’s deteriorating health—becoming a watchful interpreter and covert spy for exorbitantly wealthy, “mute” teen Vivienne Farrow is unusual. Hired by her father for his signing skills, Thomas feels that this should be an easy paycheck. But Vivienne is cunning and, resentful of her father’s determination to keep watch over her, aims to get Thomas fired. Unbeknownst to Thomas, Vivienne is dealing with lasting trauma from a childhood incident that manifests as a monstrous reflection and a voice that can kill. As she desperately seeks a solution—a surgical exorcism that could end her—Thomas follows close behind, and the bond that develops between them has the potential to save more lives than their own. Evocative prose by Andrew (Your Blood, My Bones) expertly renders spine-tingling horrors, while Vivienne’s stubbornness and determination—as depicted via her and Thomas’s alternating narration—prove her a winning heroine. The inclusion of characters from The Whispering Dark as major players may act as a roadblock for readers unfamiliar with Andrew’s previous works. The protagonists cue as white. Ages 13–up. (Mar.)