About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is seeking a safe way to explore feelings of social anxiety, peer pressure, or the fear of not belonging. It is an ideal choice for a reader who enjoys high-stakes mystery and is starting to navigate the complex social hierarchies of high school or college life. The story follows a group of students at a prestigious university who find themselves targeted by a mysterious figure known as the Counselor, who punishes those they deem guilty of social or academic infractions. While the book functions as a fast-paced thriller, it opens important doors for conversations about justice, the ethics of 'calling out' peers, and the danger of groupthink. It is age-appropriate for young teens and older, offering the classic chills of a 90s slasher novel without graphic content. Parents might choose it to help a child process the 'fish out of water' feeling of starting a new school or to discuss the difference between true justice and revenge.
