Ruin Road

By: Lamar Giles

Narrated by: J. D. Jackson

"My twin, Lamar, is a phenomenal innovative storyteller... A true king!"—Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Grown and The Weight of Blood

Sometimes a little fear is a good thing...

Cade Webster lives between worlds. He's a standout football star at the right school, but lives in the wrong neighborhood--if you let his classmates tell it. Everywhere but home, people are afraid of him for one reason or another. Afraid he's too big, too fast, too ambitious, too Black.

Then one fateful night, to avoid a dangerous encounter with the police, he ducks into a pawn shop. An impulse purchase and misspoken desire change everything when Cade tells the shopkeeper he wishes people would stop acting so scared around him, and the wish is granted....

At first, it feels like things have taken a turn for the better. But it's not just Cade that people no longer fear—it's everything. With Cade spreading this newfound "courage" wherever he goes, anything can happen. Fearless acts of violence begin to escalate in both his neighborhood and at school. With the right moves, and brave friends, Cade might have one—and only one—chance to save all he loves. But at what cost? After all, the devil's in the details.

©2024 Lamar Giles (P)2024 Scholastic Audio Books

Critic reviews

"Lamar Giles's latest thriller is filled with chilling haunts and horrors, not just in the magical curse that burdens the main character, but in the authentic real-life struggles and stigmas that plague him. A brilliant concept, deftly executed!"—Neal Shusterman, New York Times bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe series

"Ruin Road brims with malice, each page sure to drag readers into a community's—and boy's—fight against the greedy forces preying on them. Exceptional and not to be missed!"—Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting

"A refreshing tale with twists you'll never see coming. Giles crafts an action-packed story, filled with both real-life and supernatural terrors. Ruin Road pulls your heartstrings tight and keeps you on your toes!"—Erin E. Adams, author of Jackal

The inclusion of the black experience. I like that Lamar Giles didn't shy away from it.

An excellent read. Lamar has been a responsible author I include in my children's homeschool program. Reminds me of Needful Things, without it just being a pallette swap. The characters were developed effectively, and the twist was refreshing. I look forward to a sequel.