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Reviewed by: Heather Maneiro, High School Librarian Title: All That Consumes Us
Author: Erica Waters
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 8-12 Genre/Type of Book: Horror
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: LGBTQ+, Supernatural
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Cybils Nominated Title
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
You may get everything you wished for, but it does come with a price.
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Review:
Abstract and Mini-Review
Tara has dreams of being a writer, but being poor and having to work to stay enrolled limits her choices. Tara has to think about the practical writing careers, like teaching. Tara did get accepted into the elite Corbin College, but she didn’t make it into Magni Viri. The Magni Viri students are set. They get the full tuition scholarships, internships and mentorships from the best professors, and their own house. No wonder they all go on to the best jobs and most successful careers.
Then Tara discovers one of the Mani Viri students dead in the library and she is offered the students spot in the society. Tara soon discovers that all of these benefits come with a price. She may gain a career in writing, but she may just lose herself.
For those high school students who come in looking for Gothikana because they saw it on BookTok, this is a much more age appropriate Gothic Fiction (and much better written!) You get the supernatural academic elements without the gratuitous spice. The romance is here with a much lighter note. It is also an LGBTQ romance which then will cause some to protest☹
Recommendation Justification
I am trying to read through some of the BookTok recs that high schoolers are asking for, but aren’t really reviewed for appropriate at their level. Doing so is helping me come up with some alternatives. After slogging through Gothikana (I finished it, other colleagues DNF’ed it!), I am thrilled to offer this book as a much better alternative.
Uses in the Library/Classroom
I would not put this at the level or offer it as an alternative to Rebecca or Jane Eyre, but I can definitely see myself handing a student one of those two titles after they have thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Appropriateness of Artwork
The cover art is superbly designed to draw in the exact audience.
Number of party hats:
Find more information about this book at the publisher's website
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