The Fear

January 1, 2022
This perspective-jumping thriller shows you the two sides of fear. Izzy has had a crush on Justin forever, but in her last year at Rock Bay High, will she be able to finally talk to him, or will the sudden violent death of a classmate put a wrench in the situation? After a meme daring everyone to repost how they are most afraid to die races through the teenage population, a student appears to have been killed exactly in the way she had feared. Izzy must race against time to find the killer, and with no shortage of suspects, everyone is under suspicion: her loner lab partner, Axel; his older cousin, Tristan; and even Justin, who has been acting strange. It becomes clear no one is safe from experiencing fear. This swift-moving slasher adventure proves to be a page-turning mystery. The book is written in the first-person perspective, allowing readers a deeper view into Izzy's mind; whether she is thinking Axel is innocent or the killer, her stream of thought and persistent questioning give readers clues to help connect the dots before surprising them with clever plot twists at the end. Main characters read as White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. This fast-paced thriller will keep readers guessing. (Thriller. 12-18)

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July 2, 2022

Gr 9 Up-Someone has challenged the students of a sleepy fishing town to share the way they fear dying online, and that's all people are talking about. Soon, it becomes clear that the people who have posted are being killed off, in just the way they described. Murder styles vary from drowning in icy water to starving to being dragged behind a vehicle. Izzy, the white protagonist, is playing the role of junior detective, sure she can form a bond with whomever of her classmates is behind this. (The possibility that the perpetrator is not a high school peer is really never given serious consideration.) A handful of characters are described as having Black skin, but this trait seems to be the extent of their racial identity. The narrative flips back and forth between Izzy and The Fear, whose narrative is a visceral stream of consciousness reflecting on years of abusive parenting. Occasionally, the book will jump back in time, just a bit, to rewind in the killer's eyes: how they went about stalking and overpowering a victim. The book's pacing is unbalanced, however. Readers want more insight into the killer and unfortunately, the majority of the narrative is dedicated to trying to build fear through high school gossip chains. VERDICT A unique blend of mystery and abuse narrative that will have readers intrigued; not for the fainthearted.-Leah Krippner

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