Dark Fusion Series

A LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA PICK • In this second installment of the Dark Fusion series comes a twisted retelling of the Red Riding Hood fairytale where a shadowed city brims with danger.

“This page-turner winds briskly into a suspenseful battle beneath the full moon, and ends with multiple twists. Fine fare!”—Kirkus Reviews

Red rides around his tough urban neighborhood in his bloodred Mustang. It satisfies his urge to wander, and it usually keeps him safe from the gangs in town, the Wolves and the Crypts. But when Red’s grandmother is mugged by the Wolves, Red decides to join the Wolves as a pledge so he can learn how to defeat them. Soon he uncovers their terrible secret: They are werewolves with a thirst for human blood. Instead of feeling horrified, Red envies the Wolves’ freedom and power. Even as he trains to kill them—under an unlikely but cunning werewolf hunter—he has come to see them as pack mates. Until he is faced with a choice at the next full moon: Take up the Wolves’ murderous ways, or take them down.

The Printz Honor Award-winning author of Scythe presents an enchanting realm of dreams, where even the most unexpected creatures can harbor dangerous secrets. . . .

“Undeniably captivating. Multidimensional characters abound, and Cara’s wit and self-mocking tone lend an ease to the narrative. Another success for Shusterman!”—Booklist

Cara is so ugly that mirrors would rather break than show her reflection. Not even her own parents can deny her ugliness, and nothing can make up for the cruelty of her schoolmates. Tormented and tortured by the shallow people of Flock’s Rest, Cara has a miserable life. Then she receives a shimmering note from some exotic place suggesting that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Cara wonders if her destiny has something to do with her recurring dreams of a beautiful green valley where the people are so accepting that her ugliness doesn’t matter. Soon, Cara discovers that her valley of dreams is real. It’s a place where the ugliest of ducklings can become swans. A swan, however, can have a serious taste for revenge . . . deadly revenge.

Dread Locks is the first entry in the Dark Fusion series from master storyteller Neal Shusterman. He cleverly weaves together familiar parts of fairy tales and Greek mythology to tell the story of fourteen-year-old Parker Bear, rich and utterly bored with life—until a new girl arrives in town. Tara’s eyes are always hidden behind designer sunglasses, and her hair, blond with glimmering spirals, seems almost alive. Parker watches, fascinated, as one by one Tara chooses high school students to befriend; he even helps her by making the necessary introductions. Over time, her “friends” develop strange quirks, such as drinking gallons of milk, eating dirt, and becoming lethargic. By the time Parker realizes what Tara is doing, he is too embroiled to stop her. In fact, she has endowed him with certain cravings of his own. . . .To say more would spoil the spooky fun of this wild thriller—let the twist speak for itself and leave you still as a statue.