Doe

Barrow (The Tournament) delivers a dark and simmering supernatural horror novel in verse that examines jealousy, belonging, and the dangerous allure of revenge. At West Easton High, Maris reigns as captain of the cheer squad, a tight-knit group of intersectionally diverse girls who find their only refuge in one another. Their bond feels unbreakable, but the arrival of new teammate Genevieve threatens that equilibrium. Maris’s resentment toward Genevieve builds as her coach’s attention shifts to the newcomer. A parallel story line set half a century earlier follows Doe, a paranormal, deer-like entity, as it encounters a similar group of girls, who bind the creature to themselves in a blood ritual to harness Doe’s ability to “send humans fleeing in fear.” When those girls later die in a fire, Doe finds itself unable to access its full power. As the narratives converge, Doe meets Maris, the last lingering connection to the girls who bound Doe to themselves—and perhaps the key to Doe’s freedom. Taking advantage of Maris’s deepening jealousy toward Genevieve, Doe begins communicating with Maris, feeding her anger and promising a way to reclaim her place at the top. Short chapters create a brisk, incantatory rhythm that steadily builds tension and dread. This chilling portrait of adolescent rivalry is both captivating and quietly disturbing. Ages 12–up. Agent: Faye Bender, Book Group. (June)