Season of Fear

Gr 10 Up–Ilse Odenwald is 18 years old and unable to be afraid. Normally, this would not be a problem, but the women of her village must offer their dread and horror to the Saint of Fear. The Saint is what protects the village from the monsters that live in the woods. Although she can’t feel fear, Ilse participates in the ritual to appease the Saint. But the Saint finds out she is deceitful and threatens the life of Ilse’s sister, Thea. Ilse must venture into the woods to learn about being afraid. This is a horror- and fantasy-filled Bavarian tale with a sapphic romance, but it’s also much more than that. Readers travel through the woods with Ilse in this coming-of-age tale that teaches the importance of sisterhood and accepting ourselves as we are, even when it makes us different. Cooper weaves German words throughout the story to help the tale seem more authentic. The descriptions of the settings and pacing helps readers fall into the narrative. The gore and horror is not overly done but pair well with the vibes of the story.