Review by Booklist Review
Most of the time, Quinn Marcelo is a high school nobody. But as Peaches the Parrot, her school's beloved mascot, she is secretly the most popular person on campus, entertaining everyone as they're left guessing at the identity of the person in the suit. Quinn has big plans to be a professional mascot, but when someone sabotages her Peaches suit at the homecoming game, unmasking her and stealing Little Peaches, the real-life parrot she's trained, Quinn's life is ruined. Desperate for justice, Quinn goes on the hunt for the culprit, aided by her longtime secret crush, Tessa, the most popular girl in school. But there's also a killer on the loose in town, going after everyone involved in the unmasking-Peaches scandal. Quinn needs to act fast to stay one step ahead of the murderer. Chaos personified, this sapphic comedy slasher struggles with character development and building a believable romance between the leads, but careens toward the finish line with a lot of humor and originality.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Everyone at Quinn Marcelo's California high school sees her as a "nobody." But she's actually--secretly--Peaches the Parrot, her high school's beloved mascot. That is, until someone sabotages her costume, forcing Quinn to reveal her identity during a performance, destroying the brand-new Peaches suit in the process. Quinn, who lacks self-confidence outside of her Peaches persona, is determined to discover the culprit; she's unexpectedly joined in her investigation by her former friend and crush, popular class president Tessa Banks. Things go haywire when someone in a Peaches costume goes on a killing spree, casting Quinn as the prime suspect. Worse, these murders might be connected to a double homicide the year before. Brown (Damned If You Do) imbues Quinn and Tessa's alternating perspectives with distinct and satisfyingly parallel journeys that follow Quinn's efforts to forge her own identity without Peaches and Tessa's struggles to reject her seemingly perfect mother's high expectations. This over-the-top horror romp may require a healthy suspension of disbelief, but its comedic blend of blood and banter make it a fun and gratifying ode to classic slasher films like Scream. Quinn and Tessa are Filipino American. Ages 14--up. Agent: Amy Bishop-Wycisk, Trellis Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A high school mascot runs amok. Quinn Marcelo is the third-greatest Peaches the Parrot mascot ever to serve at private girls' school Olivia Newton-John High. But her appearance during the homecoming halftime show--wearing a much-anticipated new costume and accompanied by a live parrot companion--is sabotaged, exposing her closely held secret identity. Soon after, a dead body falls from the ceiling, kicking off a string of bloody killings. Violence isn't new to the touristy beach town of Ocean's Reach, California: A year earlier, the community was rattled by the double murder of a science teacher and the woman he was having an affair with. As Quinn investigates, she teams up with Tessa, who was also her first crush and whose clout as a cheerleader and senior class president contrast with Quinn's status as "an anonymous, useless nobody." The girls, who both have one white parent, originally met while attending Filipino parties with their families. Thoughtful social commentary about race and the justice system is baked into this entertainingly absurd, page-turning slasher, which expertly balances several complex mysteries with humor and camp. The well-drawn characters get involved in situations that lead to wacky but believable twists. Transcripts from the true-crime podcast of Justice Hope (Quinn's best friend, with whom she had a fling she now regrets) and short, sardonic notes from the killer are interspersed among Tessa's and Quinn's alternating chapters, providing additional depth and intrigue. Delightfully heart-pounding, suspenseful, and campy horror.(Thriller. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
