Devil in Ohio

September 25, 2017
Jules Mathis, the 15-year-old protagonist of playwright/TV writer Polatin’s uneven debut, leads an unremarkable life until her psychiatrist mother, Suzanne, brings a patient home with her from the hospital. Sixteen-year-old Mae Dodd recently escaped from a satanic cult in nearby Tisdale, Ohio. Suzanne claims that Mae will only be staying with them for a few days, but it becomes clear to Jules that Mae isn’t interested in leaving. In addition to monopolizing Suzanne’s time and attention, Mae takes over Jules’s room, borrows her clothes, and starts dating her crush. When the cult begins targeting the Mathis family in an effort to recapture Mae, Jules is forced to wonder just how much her mother is willing to sacrifice in order to protect the girl. The setup is intriguing, but underdeveloped characters (including cult members who come across like cartoon villains), a slow-moving plot, and an abrupt and oblique conclusion keep it from being fully realized. Jules’s first-person narrative alternates with third-person chapters focused on her mother; although Jules’s hurt and frustration are understandable, Suzanne’s dedication to Mae is less so as events spiral out of control. Ages 13–up.

October 1, 2017

Gr 10 Up-Fifteen-year-old Jules is determined to be a famous photographer, and the first step is to get on the school newspaper where her crush is the editor. The teen finally lands an interview for the paper when her mother brings home a mysterious girl named Mae, and Jules's boring life becomes significantly more eventful. At first, Jules feels sorry for Mae because she has clearly been abused; but after a couple of weeks, she enjoys having a female friend and the recent popularity that comes with knowing the new girl. However, as Mae's presence slowly begins to affect Jules's friendship with her best friend Isaac and her parent's marriage, she starts to question the identity of her new housemate. This thriller relies heavily on Mae's motivations-is she a naive abused girl or is she a manipulator? The unreliable antagonist is a staple in this genre, especially when the character is fully developed and keeps readers engaged and constantly guessing. Mae, however, is underdeveloped, and at times her behavior is unrealistic. The supporting cast, including Jules' sisters and Isaac, is also underdeveloped and doesn't drive the plot forward. Although the novel has some relatable themes, such as people's reliance on social constructs, the overall narrative lacks nuance. Teens will find the ending too abrupt and anticlimactic. VERDICT Not recommended.-Dawn Abron, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2017
Grades 9-12 Polatin weaves a thrilling and suspenseful story in her debut, inspired by true events. Jules Mathis' life is thrown into turmoil after her psychiatrist mother invites Maea patient, cult survivor, and troubled young girl with a pentagram carved into her backto stay with their family. Jules becomes resentful when it seems like Mae is purposely crowding Jules out of her own life, and, to make matters worse, Mae's presence in the Mathis household corresponds with significant upheaval in their lives. Jules' parents begin constantly fighting; Jules is almost kidnapped; and her mother is involved in a mysterious car accident. Are these things unfortunate occurrences or are they directly linked to Mae? While Jules' character development could have been more thorough and the ending of the book wraps up too quickly, the thrilling twists and turns, suspenseful mood, and dark subject matter make for an enjoyably scary read. Eager readers will keep turning pages to discover Mae's secrets and her connection to the Mathis family.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)