A red algae bloom has taken over Mercy, Louisiana, ever since a devastating hurricane
hit. Mutated wildlife lurks in the water that rises by the day, but Mercy has always been
a place where monsters walk in plain sight. Especially at its heart: the Cove, where
Noon’s life was upended long before the storm at a party.
Now, Noon is stuck navigating the submerged town with her grieving mom. Alone with
the pain of what happened, Noon buries the truth: she is not the right shape.
When Mercy’s predatory leader demands Noon and her mom catch the creature
drowning residents, she reluctantly finds an ally in his deadly hunter of a daughter and
friends old and new. But the next storm approaches, and Noon must confront the past
and decide if it’s time to answer the monster itching at her skin.
This collection features high-interest fiction titles that teens are excited to read right now. Selected for strong hooks, engaging storytelling, and broad appeal, these books span a range of popular fiction genres and often include widely read or in-demand authors.
Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism,Language: Racial or Ethnic Epithet/Slur,Language: Strong Language,Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes,Violence: General