The Violent Season

July 1, 2021
Is it the town of Wolf Ridge or Wyatt Green who is cursed? November is always a deadly month in the small town of Wolf Ridge, Vermont--a month when, for decades, murders, suicides, and accidental deaths have taken place. Which leads to the (unanswered) questions: Why does anyone stay, and why are so many residents in denial that there is even a problem? Wyatt believes it is the so-called November Sickness that caused someone to murder her mother last year, and she tries to convince others, including her emotionally absent father, that the sickness is behind November's high mortality rate. While working on an AP literature project (culminating in a Great Gatsby-style party), Wyatt finds herself in a love triangle she views as Gatsby-esque, between possibly dangerous childhood friend Cash and popular Porter. Wyatt also continues to seek validation that the curse is real. She even reaches out to a Midwestern reporter who wrote an article on Wolf Ridge's mysterious fatalities. Although initially encouraging, the reporter, who is seeking real-world explanations, later dismisses the November Sickness as an urban legend. Wyatt ultimately must face hard truths if she hopes for real answers. The book sometimes veers into melodrama, and inconsistencies in characters' motivations and a lack of focus undermine attempts to build tension and may diminish readers' interest. Main characters default to White. Unsuccessfully tries to be too many things at once: thriller, psychological drama, and romance. (Thriller. 13-18)

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October 11, 2021
Every November in Wolf Ridge, Vt., the townspeople are “suddenly overwhelmed with a hunger for violence”—proven by a yearslong streak of unexplainable accidents, injuries, suicides, and suspicious deaths. At least that’s what self-proclaimed “diamond tough” 16-year-old Wyatt Green believes ever since her mother was murdered by an unknown assailant last November. Grieving and adrift, Wyatt spends her time desperately yearning for her best friend and unrequited love Cash Peters, who lost his mother to suicide two Novembers ago; he attempts to dissuade her from her theory amid their endless nights of smoking, drinking, and having occasional inebriated sex. But when a partnered English project throws Wyatt together with caramel-haired Porter Dawes, the school rich kid and golden boy—whom Cash just so happens to despise—Wyatt finds herself gaining much-needed perspective, and the power Cash holds over her fading, culminating in not-unexpected tragedy. Readers sensitive to violence and sexual assault may wish to steer clear, and occasionally predictable beats paired with an ambiguous ending may disappoint some. Still, those seeking a dark mystery will find much to appreciate in Walters’s sharp, atmospheric prose and distinctly drawn cued-white cast. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sharon Pelletier, Dystel, Goderich and Bourret.

November 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Every November is the same in Wyatt's small Vermont town. The cool winds blow in, and the town's thirst for death blows right in with it. Is it an illness? Something in their genetic code? Wyatt is haunted by memories of finding her mother's mutilated body at the top of the stairs, and the police have been useless in solving the crime. Her mother isn't the only casualty, as violent deaths abound. A search of newspaper headlines draws the attention of an outside online journalist. This journalist is perhaps the only character of color, described in a video call as having dark curls and brown skin. Parallel to the mystery, the novel is also a compelling look at abusive relationships, giving real insight into the hunger for affection that drives people to maintain unhealthy patterns. Wyatt is assigned to a group project with Porter, the school's golden boy who plans an elaborate Gatsby party, complete with costumes, a remote location, and a series of GoPro cameras: the perfect setting for a murder. It's going to be the highlight of the school year. When she is assigned to work with Porter, Wyatt's romantic life pivots, and her current quagmire becomes apparent to her. VERDICT This thriller delves into the difficult topics of abuse and even rape, making for a complicated blend of mystery and angst that will cause readers to pause.-Leah Krippner, Harlem H.S., Machesney Park, IL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2021
Grades 9-12 In the eerie town of Wolf Ridge, violence runs rampant each November, and people are hurt--even killed--by their neighbors. Wyatt is still grieving her mother and searching for the murderer when the "November Sickness" strikes her best friend and other peers, leaving Wyatt to find a way to prevent her loved ones from turning on one another. True to its title, Walters' debut is a thriller that explores the monsters that live deep inside human beings. The author's experience as an advocate for survivors of abuse lends emotional nuance and insight into the story of a town where hurt reigns and where Wyatt must unravel a dark truth that everyone else seems to willfully ignore. As poignant as it is creepy, and filled with memorable twists and reveals, this book asks what we do when others won't listen to our stories of survival. It deals with grief, death, violence, and difficult conversations seldom found in YA thrillers, all done in a thought-provoking way that will leave readers hungry for more of Walters' work.

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