It is so hard to find horror books for middle schoolers and young teens. This one really grabs you with its short chapters and chilling plot. Abdi is a 13-year-old on the run from beasts who have wreaked havoc on the known world. He's in charge of his younger sister after the death of their mother, and they are on a quest to get to their father who they believe is on an island. Everyone is hiding, desperate to survive, and no one trusts anyone. Can Abdi keep his sister alive and get to safety? This book won awards in Europe and crossed over to the US in 2025. I love the hairy cover but have found that middle schoolers aren't picking it up, so booktalk this title and emphasize the horror and suspense. Highly recommended for middle school collections.
