Barrow, Rebecca. Doe. Penguin Random House / Nancy Paulsen, 06/2026. 368pp. Fiction. Trade $20.99. 979-8-2170-0633-5. GRADES 10–Adult. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
The girls on the cheerleading team come from disadvantaged backgrounds and carry a lot of anxieties, but as long as they have Coach’s tough love and the fearless leadership of their team captain, Maris, they are invincible. Doe, an evil entity trapped in the decaying body of a deer, has been watching Maris and her group—so when a new girl named Genevieve upends the entire team dynamic, the creature understands exactly how to utilize Maris’s rage. Told in verse, Barrow (The Tournament) alternates chapters from the perspectives of Maris, Doe, Genevieve, and the collective voice of the Team; in this way, she slowly builds a growing sense of dread while emphasizing that the girls’ unchecked emotions are as frightening as the paranormal. Characters are described ambiguously overall, but the team reads as a racially diverse group of girls. Maris is a lesbian and cues Black.
Jennifer Taylor—Palo Alto City Library