Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart, 304 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $20.
Language: R (168 swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
High schooler Jessa is the rule following, future lawyer, great student that everyone expects her to be—despite the fact that being that girl no longer makes her happy. Her friend group is drifting apart, but a concession from her parents allowing Jessa to have a sleepover while they’re out of town is going to help. But when Friday night comes, the power goes out, strangers start creeping around the house, and Jessa isn’t the only one who made plans.
A thriller with a game of truth or dare, loss of power and cell service in a haunted house, and two basement locations gives readers ample opportunity to wonder what will go wrong next. With the very real possibility of losing the future before ever having a chance to live it, Jessa will discover that being perfect is not always ideal and that exact obedience is not always safe.
Jessa is depicted as White on the cover, Ryan is Black, and Alexis is bi. The mature content rating is for underage drinking; mentions of drugs, pornography, and trafficking; illegal activity; scary elements; kissing; innuendo; and sexual harassment. The violence rating is for blood and gore, mentions of domestic violence, gun use, assault, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen