Doe

DOE is a thrilling and horrific YA novel in verse. Maris is the captain of her high school cheer team, worshipped by her team and using cheer to ignore her family and future. When a new girl, Genevieve, arrives in town and steals Coach’s attention from her, Maris burns with jealousy and anger. A rivalry forms between Genevieve and Maris and her team. A rivalry only heightened by the deer-like beast that Maris speaks to when she’s shapeshifting. A beast named Doe.

Rebecca Barrow manages to craft an atmospheric and horrifying book. Her word choice is magnificent, each word and line specifically crafted to form whatever emotion she wants you to experience at the time. Understanding, anger, fear, sadness. Whatever it is, she’ll manage to get it across. She especially brings cheer to life, the glory and the pain.

DOE is split into a few different POVs, allowing readers a closer glimpse at each of the characters’ machinations. Doe’s chapters are haunting and lyrical; revenge and anger and loneliness etched into every word. She has a good number of chapters, and I loved getting to experience everything from her POV. Her story is heartbreaking and it creates a character whose choices make a lot of sense in the book.

Maris’ POV is one of the most prominent. She is cloaked in anger and gloominess; but she’s also fiercely loyal to her team, the only people who seem to like her exactly how she is. Do you know how hard it is to write a character like Maris – who does things during this book that should be off-putting – and still want to see her get the best out of life? I didn’t love her the way I love a character I truly connect with and adore, but I rooted for her the entire way through. I wanted to see her succeed and surpass expectations. I wanted to see her shine.

The team are also given chapters, ones that use “we” pronouns and seems to speak as a hive mind of sorts. It leans into the idea that they act as one, they serve Maris and Coach as one, they are one. It’s compelling and freaky all at once.

There are a couple of other POVs in the book, but they aren’t as prominent. Only given a handful of chapters each, so I won’t spoil whose POVs they are. Both of them still resonate in the story, adding layers of depth that readers are unable to get just from Maris or the team’s POVs.

One of the strengths of this book is the characters and all the shades of gray that they show. Maris is not a “good” character. She’s not your typical sweet girl next door, looking for love and companionship. Her team isn’t made up of girls who are kind and gentle with newcomers. They’re all rough, edges jagged and worn by everything the world has thrown at them. They bring out the absolute worst in each other, but they also know that they have each other even when no one else does. It’s a strange experience, seeing these girls who are cruel to everyone and at times even each other, but who would destroy anyone that tries to take their home from them.

This is definitely a book that requires checking trigger warnings first. There are topics discussed that not every reader will want to read about. Some of these, like the girls’ home lives, are mentioned briefly and brushed over. Others are lingered on, held up to the light and examined.

If you’re looking for a compelling and creepy read, DOE might be just the thing. With chilling writing, short chapters, and a fast-moving plot; it draws readers in and holds them still until the very ending.

Maris Larsen is the captain of the West Eaton High cheer team. Even though she's captain, she's not satisfied with her lot in life. Then the coach brings a new girl to the team. Geneviene Ray is more than a threat. She eliminates a couple of the teammates and takes over Maris's place on the team. Then, while sleepwalking, she encounters a decaying beast in the shape of a huge deer. This deer 'gets' the pain Maris is going through and devises a sinister plan. One that has deadly consequences.

What worked: Creepy, atmospheric horror story told in free verse. The girls on the squad are proud of their near-feral selves and the power they hold on the team. This all comes into question after the coach introduces a new girl to the team. Genevieve is also tough, but she doesn't realize how much of a threat she is to Maris. The author's use of free verse brings a haunting punch to this tale. Maris comes across as a Mean girl with her band of teammates and her girlfriend, Nell, who Maris knows will leave her once she graduates from high school. Maris plots a way to get back at Genevieve. But it's the paranormal monster's whispers in the middle of the night that have horrific consequences.

This novel jumps from Maris, Genevieve, Nell, and Doe, the monster's point of view. Little by little, Doe gains the trust of Maris and uses that for her own purposes.

Darkness creeps up on readers. Maris pushes herself to perfection, and nothing is good enough. The only thing that means more to her is the team. She's willing to do anything to keep it. Her behavior isn't too likable, but she's the glue that holds the team together. Or so she thinks.

Great pacing. Great voice that builds to an ohmigosh conclusion. Let's just say be very careful what you wish for! Love horror stories, and this one delivers on so many levels. Doe is multi-layered, and readers can't help but feel something for it. The scene where Doe is bound to other girls fifty years or so earlier, and the tragedy that befalls them, leads up to the plan Doe has when she meets Maris one night.

YA meets Jordan Peele, this paranormal horror story is sure to appeal to fans of a good creepy tale.