The Better to Eat You With

Ages 10 And Up, Grades 5 And Up

From award-winning author Tehlor Kay Mejia comes a spine-tingling tale of transformation, mystery, and the monsters we face—inside and out.

What big teeth…

For twelve-year-old Evan, summertime has always meant carefree days with her family and unlimited time with her best friend, Billie. This year, with her parents on the brink of divorce, she’s staying at Billie’s summer cabin. But Billie only seems to care about crushes these days, and to make matters worse, Evan’s mom’s health obsession has climbed to new heights. The more Evan tries to appease her mom and control her hunger, the sharper it seems to get, until it threatens to drag her under.

As Evan tries to cling to the good things in her life, a sinister presence in the woods begins to stir. Kids are scared, and adults think everyone should go home. Determined to stay, Evan starts hunting for the creature and begins to wonder—is it just her imagination, or is the monster inside her?

"Absolutely haunting!"—New York Times bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson on It Happened to Anna

Story Locale:Present day; Sonrisa Lakeside Resort is in Oregon

About the Author

TEHLOR KAY MEJIA is the bestselling and award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, including It Happened to Anna and Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, which is in development at Disney as a television series to be produced by Eva Longoria. Tehlor strives to create stories which showcase the importance of community, radical inclusion, and abolitionist values. He lives with his child, wife, and two small dogs in Oregon.

Author Residence: Oregon