The salamander stone

Bloodthirsty supernatural beasts once thought mythological are now terrorizing humans all over the world in this paranormal monster-hunting lark. Sixteen-year-old white-cued Ellie Adair feels she has more pressing concerns, however, such as skipping first-period biology without getting caught, and cleaning the milkshake machine at her part-time food service job in rural Errolton, N.H. But after being attacked by a giant flame salamander, Ellie is embroiled in a sinister conspiracy that forces her to confront dire truths about her heritage. Ellie's search for answers, plagued by increasingly perilous situations, is complicated by feelings of grief following her father's disappearance, her own helplessness at her mother's institutionalization, and worry surrounding her grandfather's declining health. Richly detailed b&w illustrations by Nomycin, featured throughout, depict terrifying creatures that emphasize the novel's horror elements. Nickerson summarily touches on topics of mental illness, ecological disruption, and discrimination via a narrative steeped in mid-2000s emo culture and Ellie's fast-talking, snarky first-person voice. By employing a vivid bestiary of creatures both mundane and monstrous, Nickerson crafts a fantastical series opener that leaves ample room for future installments. Ages 14--up. (Apr.)