Library book: Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Published: 8/29/2023
Pages: 270
Genre: paranormal
Review: library book
Wil Greene’s mom has been missing for over a year, and the police are ready to call the case closed—they claim she skipped town and you can’t find a woman who wants to disappear. But she knows her mom wouldn’t just leave…and she knows the family of her former best friend, Elwood Clarke, has something to do with it.
Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday—in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He’s not his father’s successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he’s grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.
Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she’ll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.
And there’s a reason they need Elwood’s blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn’t sure if she can save the boy she can’t help but love.
Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday—in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He’s not his father’s successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he’s grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.
Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she’ll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.
And there’s a reason they need Elwood’s blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn’t sure if she can save the boy she can’t help but love.
Teens will like this book; it is clean, and there is nothing graphic or too mature for them. What do you do when you find out your family will use you as a sacrifice because that is what you were made for? Elwood finds that out, but what happens if he embraces it instead of fighting it? Could this change the course of events for the better? Wil knows Elwood's family has had something to do with her mother disappearing, but to what extent, she isn't too sure. When Wil starts investigating even more, and with her friend's help, they uncover something more sinister than they thought. There is a window to stop Elwood's family, but will they stop them in time? A story of friendship, loss, understanding, and possibly love?
This isn't your normal sorta read; it was enjoyable, but it just wasn't really for me. I did want some more backstory as to why this town, why did they exactly have to feed the forest? I like in-depth backstories that give a little more insight.
Skyla Arndt has always loved the creepy, crawly side of life. When she was younger, she thought that love might translate to hunting Bigfoot, but luckily for him, writing proved easier.
You can connect with her on Instagram or Twitter at @arndtskyla. (Howling at the moon works, too.)
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