Solstice

December 16, 2019
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.

December 15, 2019
Eighteen-year-old Adri spends her days bouncing between school and working at her family's diner. Her Peruvian immigrant parents have sacrificed to send her to one of Atlanta's top private schools, so the pressure is on to do well. Meanwhile, the Solstice Festival is going to be the music festival of the century: The lush Caribbean island setting and hobnobbing with the 1% while listening to hit acts justify the $10,000 price tag. Out of the blue, Adri's BFF announces big news: Elena's father has bought tickets for both the girls to attend Solstice. There is just one hurdle--Adri's parents. They refuse permission, but she goes anyway and texts them from the plane. After that it all starts to go downhill. Myla Island is beautiful but has no cell reception, the promised limos are not there to take them to the venue, and when they do arrive, nothing is ready--no tents, only one food truck, and forget toilets. But all that fades away once the first dead body shows up. Part teen drama, part horror story, this is a delightful novel that readers will want to finish in one sitting. The quirky, campy tone along with off-page violence that is never gratuitous or grotesque make it an appealing choice for younger teens and reluctant readers. Adri's observations of socio-economic differences between entitled festival-goers and Myla locals add depth. Perfect for anyone looking for humor with a side of death. (Horror. 13-18)

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