It Waits in the Forest

Gr 9 Up–This is a dark and haunting novel that draws from Caribbean mythology and will leave readers eager for more by Dass. Selina is an outcast on the small island St. Virgil due to her mother’s bad reputation and a past tragedy that left her father dead and her mother in a coma. She works in a shop owned by her boyfriend’s sister, Allison. Selina and Allison run a con where Selina pretends to have psychic abilities by snooping through customers’ personal belongings. Despite her skepticism towards her mother’s psychic teachings, Selina finds herself using them to maintain the ruse. Everything changes when an unsettling man seeks help at the shop and new attacks start. With the help of an ex-boyfriend, Selina delves into the murders, uncovering connections that stir up old emotions. This novel delivers everything a horror reader could want: high stakes, intriguing characters with questionable motives, and page-turning suspense. Readers will root for Selina as she navigates through the challenges and dangers of her world, all while facing the harsh treatment of those she has known her whole life. Selina’s relationship problems will also interest readers.