Solstice: A Tropical Horror Comedy

In this campy paranormal tale reminiscent of occurrences at 2017’s ill-fated Fyre Festival, Alison takes aim at social media culture and privilege. Adri Sanchez, 18, has always followed her Peruvian parents’ wishes, working hard at the family diner in Atlanta and taking on a dull legal internship for the summer. But she seizes the chance to have a little fun when she receives a ticket to Solstice Festival, “the music festival for the 1%,” an exclusive event on a tropical island that costs around $10,000 to attend. When guests arrive on the Caribbean island of Myla, food and shelter prove scarce; communication with the outside world is impossible; and the luxury perks people paid so much for are nonexistent. Aspiring journalist Adri sets out to discover how one of the year’s most hyped events could be such a disaster, only to stumble across a guest’s corpse, uncovering a much deeper mystery. Her attempts to solve the murder lead her to an old Mylan myth, and then to a desperate, legend-laden struggle for survival with the other guests. Alongside social media feeds and media reports, Adri’s narrative serves as the voice of reason and commentary amid creepy occurrences. Populated with spoiled, unsympathetic background characters and set against the local legends of an island culture, Alison’s story has an uncomfortable edge, making for a tale that’s at once earnest, lightly frightening, and filled with drama. Ages 14–up. [em](Feb.) [/em]