About the Book
Ruin Road by Lamar Giles
Genre: YA Fiction
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Book Review
A deal with a demon goes epically awry in this YA novel.
Cade Webster lives in what his classmates would refer to as the projects. As a rising football star with a scholarship to a private prep school, he’s the hope of the neighborhood. He may be the one to get out. But he’s dogged by bomb threats that keep cancelling games, his father’s fight with cancer and his white classmate’s fear of him for being Black.
When a misunderstanding on a bus makes Cade flee into the night, he ducks into an unfamiliar pawnshop. His eye is caught by an authentic-looking Superbowl ring, but the shop deals in far more than memorabilia. When Cade wishes that people wouldn’t be afraid around him anymore as he’s purchasing the ring, he’s bought far more than he bargained for.
Weird things begin to happen around Cade, and he’s beginning to worry about the creepy pawnshop, especially when the ring begins to find its way back on his finger on its own. Soon, in combination with the pawnshop manager, Eddie, he finds himself in a fight for his life and his family.
The author uses paranormal elements to deal with prejudice, as Cade gets to see the results when he wishes it away. Cade’s a gripping character who’s not afraid to make tough decisions to protect the ones he loves. He’s a loyal friend, a good son and someone who’s willing to confront hard truths.
The pacing in this book is phenomenal, and I had a hard time putting it down. Each reveal was more devastating than the last. This is one of my favorite books of the year.
Thank you to Scholastic for the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
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