It's the place to be.... or is it?
So glad his father got the job on the inside. So glad he has finally gotten up the courage to say something to her. So glad she got up the courage to say something to him. So lucky he has his friends to work on the school project together. Everything is working out in this magical place, known to the world as Karloff Country, where Jay lives with his family.
Here there is plenty of food, plenty of electricity, plenty of good times. Outside the walls life is not the same.
Until one day the best friend, Connie, who lives across the street from Jay, isn't there any more. Overnight, her entire family and all of their belongings have simply disappeared. Until one day the girl he loves - the heiress to the billions of dollars - and he are trying to find out the truth and ending up with a whole lot of answers that make them start seeing a new version of their fabulous world.
Turns out survival is really the name of the game. Now it's time to see who will win.
400 pages 978-1338752014 Ages 14 and up
Keywords: horror, suspense thriller, classism, prejudice and racism, dystopian, African American and Black stories, African American author, 14 year old, 15 year old, 16 year old
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. He’s got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property’s main theme park. Life isn’t so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it’s to get away from all that.
As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay’s friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only... they aren’t leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call.
Whether they like it or not.
Yet Karloff Country didn’t count on Jay and his crew--and just how far they’ll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what’s more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?
