The Dark We Know By Wen-yi Lee

In The Haunting of Slater, debut author Wen-yi Lee delivers a hauntingly lyrical young adult horror that delves into themes of trauma, healing, and the supernatural. Isadora Chang grew up in the oppressive small town of Slater, where her bisexuality and the deaths of two close friends made her feel increasingly suffocated. Seeking escape, Isa left for art school, leaving behind her last remaining friend, Mason.

When Isa’s abusive father dies, she reluctantly returns to Slater to settle the inheritance. There, Mason reveals a chilling truth: their friends were murdered by a malevolent force that haunts the town, and he needs Isa's help to stop it before more lives are claimed. As Isa grapples with her return, she begins to experience unsettling phenomena—strange songs on the wind and eerie artwork appearing in her sketchbook, which she cannot recall creating.

The town of Slater, with its shadowy valleys and lingering sorrows, holds a dark secret that preys on the pain and heartbreak of its inhabitants. Isa must confront her past and the sinister presence that has haunted her since childhood. With her own survival at stake, she is forced to face the horrors of her past and the malevolent force that has kept her bound to Slater.

The Haunting of Slater is a gripping exploration of friendship, identity, and the power of confronting one’s fears, offering a blend of supernatural terror and deep emotional resonance.