A sophomore is about to find out what happens when a dream school is really a nightmareYuiza Rivera-Vásquez (she/her andthey/them) is accepted to a prestigious, predominantly white, girls' boarding school, Our Lady of Perpetual Mercy, which is located upstate, hours from their home in the Bronx. She would rather stay home and make horror movies with her friends, but Mami is insisting she go and pursue a bigger future. After arriving on campus, it doesn't take long for Yuiza and her mom to notice the statues of Christopher Columbus, Lewis and Clark, and Robert E. Lee, not to mention the school motto, "Manifest your destiny," and the students of color doing service jobs for work-study. At night, wrapped in a Puerto Rican flag their mother gifted them, Yuiza starts to have dreams that point to the school's long, sordid past. At times, the story is framed like a movie script (complete with alternate endings) from one of Yuiza's beloved horror films. Against a mildly supernatural backdrop, Ramos demonstrates and comments on the worst elements of white supremacy, past and present. The claustrophobic setting is well executed, the social commentary around historical injustices is compelling, and the well-drawn characters include strong Puerto Rican representation. The messaging isn't always seamlessly incorporated into the story, however, and experienced genre readers may delight in-or feel less than surprised by-the horror tropes that the final act leans heavily into.Strongly atmospheric but wavering in its execution.(Horror. 14-18)

Gr 9 Up— This horror novel features a non-binary, Puerto Rican teen intent on dismantling the systems that oppress them. Yuiza (they/them, she/her) is obsessed with horror movies, using them as a lens to view the world. They are upset to discover that their mom is sending them to a prestigious all-girls school on a scholarship and work-study program. A series of events seemingly set up against them causes Yuiza to quickly accumulate debt that she is expected to pay off through her work-study job. Meanwhile, Yuiza experiences visions of the school's sordid past and how it relates to those close to her. To take down the corrupt school, which acts as a microcosm of society's overall oppression, Yuiza teams up with other BIPOC students. Yuiza's love and knowledge of horror films are represented throughout, both in the way she describes events as horror tropes and in the syntax of the text, which often reflects a movie script, particularly when introducing a new character or depicting a flashback. Yuiza is well developed, with a rich family life and ability to connect with those around them. While Yuiza's story is important, the book feels underdeveloped in some key areas. The narrative occasionally lacks cohesion, with abrupt transitions between sections and ambiguous dialogue attribution. Overall, the plot is engaging and discusses important topics related to oppression and its toll. The cast of characters is diverse in gender representation and sexual orientation. VERDICT A modern take on horror for fans of Faridah &2;b&7;k&3;-&5;y&7;m&7;d&3; and Jordan Peele films that falls short due to a lack of clarity.— Nicolette Pavain