The Blonde Dies First

April 8, 2024
Black 17-year-old Devon Harris is determined not to be forgotten when her identical twin sister Drew graduates from high school a year early and inevitably leaves home for college. Though they’ve never been “the twins of sitcoms old,” Devon plans a perfect summer of fun and bonding; after all, this is the last opportunity she’ll have to spend time with Drew and their four neighborhood friends. After the crew mess around with a Ouija board, a “knockoff Slenderman” demon appears, dropping the group into a real-life slasher film and throwing a wrench into Devon’s “Best Summer Ever.” While blonde Devon evades the demon’s initial attempt to kill her, she’s not ready to celebrate—after all, isn’t the blonde supposed to die first? In keeping the stakes high and the twists coming, Wellington (Their Vicious Games) deftly dismantles horror genre cliches in a script-flipping hair-raiser that pointedly examines gentrification’s impact on
communities. Murky logic occasionally drives the supernatural chills, but the story sizzles with fully drawn protagonists, complex relationships, and slow-burn romance as portrayed through Devon, whose struggles to understand Drew and express her love for another girl haunt her throughout every step of this subversive Brooklyn-set summer thriller. Ages 14–up. Agent: Quressa Robinson, Folio Literary.

May 15, 2024
Devon Harris just wants to bond with her sister and make lasting memories, but a demon keeps getting in the way. Devon's "genius" twin sister, Drew, is graduating a year early from her private school and moving on to bigger and better things. Devon is in public school, and she's feeling all kinds of ways about this upcoming change. To try to establish a lasting connection with Drew before she leaves, Devon plans the Best Summer Ever, including movie nights in the park and a visit to the zoo in their beloved Brooklyn neighborhood. But Devon's plans are disrupted by an unsettling incident when someone gets out a Ouija board at a party. Soon, the teens are being pursued by a demon that seems to be following horror movie tropes. With a deliberate nod to the classic '90s self-referential horror film Scream, this book riffs on horror conventions with an edgy updated twist that includes a far more diverse cast of characters than is typical for the genre (the twins are Black). The buildup to the action is a bit slow but does pay off. And, although the side characters are unfortunately more engaging than Devon--whose constant ruminations about her crush, a girl named Yaya, and her complicated relationship with Drew become grating--the Brooklyn setting and the commentary on gentrification and social class add genuine appeal. A fun read offering a fresh take on the horror genre. (Horror. 13-18)

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Starred review from June 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* A tight-knit crew of Brooklyn teens uses horror-movie rules to survive a demon in Wellington's entertaining, genre-savvy thriller. When Black 17-year-old Devon learns her genius twin sister, Drew, is heading off to college a year early, she panics. They've been growing apart, and this summer is Devon's last chance to reconnect. The first step in Devon's "Best Summer Ever" plan, for which she recruits their four best friends from the block, is to make nice with Drew's rich, private-school friends, even when they produce a Ouija board at a house party. Despite the neighborhood group's dislike of "demonic white shit," they think nothing of it until Devon is attacked at work by a shadowy figure, who kills her coworker instead when she eludes it. When their friend Malachi is attacked next, the group realizes that the "knockoff Slenderman" is following slasher movie conventions, meaning Yaya (Devon's secret crush) must be the Final Girl. Wellington both pays homage to and subverts horror-movie tropes, cheekily name-dropping Scream as the initial model but referencing plenty more. As self-aware as the horror is, the story feels authentic in the details of the Brooklyn neighborhood and its slow gentrification and in the complex relationships among the diverse group--particularly Devon's and Drew's tumultuous but loving dynamic. A gory good time with heart.

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Starred review from July 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-The book is told from Devon's point of view, starting at the beginning of a very important summer in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Devon is determined to make it the "Best Summer Ever" because she just found out that her twin sister Drew-an actual genius who was sent to private school-has managed to graduate high school a year early, making this summer the last chance that Devon has to reconnect with her. Devon and friends head to a graduation party for Drew, which is thrown by her mysterious private school friends. During the party, Drew's friend Avery brings out a Ouija board and guides the group through a ritual to summon a demon. While the summoning initially seems like a cheap party trick, the group soon discovers that they truly did summon a demon-and it wants all of them dead. Following the basic tropes for classic horror films, this fast-paced thriller puts a brand-new spin on demon-possession. The characters are highly relatable, and deeply fleshed out. While each character is initially assigned a trait that designates the likely order that the demon will try to kill them, they learn that they are all far more complex, and people can fit in more than one category. Readers will be racing to reach the explosive conclusion. The book explores how time can change not only a person, but a whole community, addressing racism, family bonds, and the courage to face your fears. Most main characters are Black, with several supporting characters who read as white. VERDICT A recommended purchase for all libraries where thrillers are popular.-Ashley Grillo

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