The North Star YA Award Nominee - 2019

*Trigger Warning - child abuse; implied sexual abuse*

Jam lives in a world free of monsters — the angels in society have ensured the world is safe, and no bad people can hide in their society anymore. But when an unexpected messenger comes and insists that a monster is lurking, Jam gets pulled into “the hunt.” Scared and in denial, things only get more complicated when Jam learns the monster is connected to the house of her best friend, Redemption.

This novel is a beautiful portrayal of a black transgirl living in a family and society in which she is accepted without question. She’s often non-verbal, relying on sign language to communicate when she doesn’t feel comfortable voicing. Redemption, her best friend, is being raised by three parents, one of whom is nonbinary. The relationships between Jam and her family and friends are central to the novel, but the story primarily revolves around difficult topics, namely child abuse. Jam must wrangle with how to save those hurt by monsters when society refuses to believe the monsters still exist. While heavy, this novel does an incredible job exploring the themes of denial, change, and good versus evil.