THE MONSTERS WE MADE

A hoax turns terrifyingly real when a paranormal influencer investigates a former mining town.

For two years, 18-year-old Lenny Gilson and her boyfriend, Evan, have traveled the country investigating unexplained phenomena for their YouTube channel, “Odd Kids.” But ever since Evan’s tendency to control their relationship led Lenny to declare a break, they’ve been a couple only on camera. An anonymous tip sends them to Reed Ranch in Scarberry, Nebraska, purportedly the site of alien activity in 1961—and the setting of Lenny’s recurring dreams. However, unbeknownst to Lenny, Claire Reed has staged a hoax to garner advertising for her Aunt Maeve’s ailing tourist attraction. As “the big fat rainbow thorn in Scarberry’s side” whose mom “got addicted to a bunch of stuff,” Claire longs to leave the conservative town—but not until she’s sure her aunt and cousin, a leukemia survivor, won’t lose their home to developers. When cattle turn up mutilated and people disappear, Claire and Lenny work together to investigate. Is this the work of the legendary monster Old Lucky? Or have the townspeople angered the Old Gods? Though most secondary characters feel two-dimensional, Claire’s and Lenny’s alternating third-person chapters explore myriad issues, including queerness, social media, and self-confidence, with care and occasional humor. While the pacing is somewhat slow, a late twist offers food for thought, and Claire and Lenny’s growing relationship is satisfying. Most characters read white.

A creepy, character-driven read.