The Dead Enders

Gr 10 Up—Georgie, Erik, Davis, and Ana are an unlikely foursome, bonded by witnessing the arson of a vacation cabin in their hometown. Gold Fork is a tourist's dream, but the teens feel stifled, especially by the Weekenders, vacationers who seem to have a never-ending supply of money and hubris. Georgie, the town pot dealer, is especially over Gold Fork. Her savings were stashed in the burnt cabin, and she's desperate to build her funds back up so she can get out of town. They all have their issues—Erik lost a football scholarship, Davis was just dumped, and Ana's about to lose her surrogate grandma. As their lives intersect, with one another and with some of the Weekenders in unexpected ways, their relationships are about to come unraveled. The writing is beautiful with several noteworthy passages, a fascinating setting, and a dreamlike feel. However, pacing is slow, and the story doesn't pick up steam until the last 30 pages. The four protagonists narrate alternately, but their voices aren't distinct enough to make this format successful. The most fleshed-out character is Gold Fork itself, and the inside peek at what it's like to live in a town year-round that others consider a vacation paradise, is intriguing.