Final Cut

Gr 10 Up–Haze Lejeune, 18, is drawn back to her hometown by a casting call for her favorite genre—a slasher movie. She’s thrilled at the chance to play the “final girl” in a feature film for the first time and to revisit the town where, fifteen years ago, her father, the infamous Pine Springs Slasher, brutally murdered his film students. Determined to keep her identity a secret, Haze throws herself into her role, but still burns with unanswered questions about her father’s past. When dangerous, life-threatening accidents start happening on set, she begins to wonder if her father was truly the killer after all. Fast-paced and chilling, this book will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story contains vivid depictions of murder and blood, making it best suited for mature teen audiences. Think Stephen King, but with the intensity dialed down. The diverse, relatable cast includes LGBTQIA+ characters, as well as Vietnamese and Black representation. The teen characters form bonds early on, which gives emotional weight to the increasingly gruesome events. A light, PG-rated romance adds a softer thread to the narrative.