The Cemetery Boys - Hardcover

Brewer, Heather

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062307886 ISBN 13: 9780062307880

Publisher: HarperTeen, 2015

Synopsis

Part Hitchcock, part Hinton, this first-ever stand-alone novel from Heather Brewer, New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, uses classic horror elements to tell a darkly funny coming-of-age story about the dangerous power of belief and the cost of blind loyalty.

When Stephen's dad says they're moving, Stephen knows it's pointless to argue. They're broke from paying Mom's hospital bills, and now the only option left is to live with Stephen's grandmother in Spencer, a backward small town that's like something out of The Twilight Zone. Population: 814.

Stephen's summer starts looking up when he meets punk girl Cara and her charismatic twin brother, Devon. With Cara, he feels safe and understood—and yeah, okay, she's totally hot. In Devon and his group, he sees a chance at making real friends. Only, as the summer presses on, and harmless nights hanging out in the cemetery take a darker turn, Stephen starts to suspect that Devon is less a friend than a leader. And he might be leading them to a very sinister end. . . .

About this title

Review:

"Stephen is a well-developed character, with the right amount of snark, lust, and angst. Instantly engaging--with plenty of suspense surrounding the town's secret--this supernatural mystery will please fans of Brewer's previous vampire hunter series and new readers."--School Library Journal

"A sinister tale of a frightening legend and the power of belief. With an ending that will shock and sadden, Brewer takes readers on a journey of friendship, recklessness, secrets, and betrayal. This is a perfect choice for those who enjoy mystery and suspense with dark and twisted characters."--Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"Dark, twisted, brilliant."--Madeleine Roux, New York Times bestselling author of Asylum

"Every aspect of this story is just plain creepy--in the best way possible. If you want some teen angst, a hilariously blunt narrator and small-town attitudes with your horror, pick this one up."--RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

"The novel's final pages will surely shock readers: The author takes great glee in not just presenting a great reveal toward the end, but also twisting the knife. Keen-eyed readers may spot the twist, but few will predict just how far it goes. A slick, spooky, chilling mystery."--Kirkus Reviews

From the Back Cover:

Welcome to Spencer.

Population: 814.

It's a backward town--and it's hiding a terrible secret.

When Stephen's dad says they're moving, Stephen knows it's pointless to argue. They're broke from paying Mom's hospital bills, and now the only option left is to live with Stephen's grandmother, a woman as bitter and stuck as the town of Spencer itself.

Stephen's summer starts looking up when he meets punk girl Cara and her charismatic twin brother, Devon. The twins have family problems of their own and aren't exactly close, but Stephen is drawn to them, each for different reasons. With Cara, he feels safe and understood--and yeah, okay, she's totally hot. In Devon and his group, he sees a chance at making real friends.

Only, as the summer presses on, and harmless nights hanging out in the cemetery take a darker turn, Stephen starts to suspect that Devon is less a friend than a leader. And he might be leading them to a very sinister end.

Mixing classic horror elements with a darkly funny coming-of-age story, New York Times bestselling author Heather Brewer brings her razor-sharp edge to a story about the dangerous power of belief and the cost of blind loyalty, taking readers to the brink of madness and past the point of no return.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperTeen
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0062307886
• ISBN 13: 9780062307880
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288