Harrison Squared

Harrison Harrison moves to the town of Dunnsmouth with his marine biologist mother, who is researching a rare species of squid off the New England coast. After an incident leaves Harrison alone, he must navigate both a new high school filled with strange students and teachers, and the mysteries of this foggy coastal town. The story combines Lovecraftian horror with young adult elements as Harrison investigates disappearances and encounters inexplicable events. His search leads him through Dunnsmouth's history, its unusual education system, and its connection to the dark waters beyond the shore. Forces both human and otherworldly stand between Harrison and the truth about what happened to his mother. To uncover Dunnsmouth's secrets, he must rely on unlikely allies and confront the town's deep-rooted relationship with the sea. This modern spin on cosmic horror explores themes of belonging, family bonds, and the price of knowledge in a world where the familiar and the impossible intersect. The novel balances supernatural dread with the everyday challenges of teenage life and loss.

Readers describe Harrison Squared as a young adult Lovecraftian adventure that balances humor with horror. The book maintains a 3.7/5 rating on Goodreads (2,000+ ratings) and 4.2/5 on Amazon (50+ ratings). Readers praised: - Fast pacing and engaging mystery elements - Humorous dialogue and witty narration - Creative monster designs and atmospheric New England setting - Accessibility for readers unfamiliar with Lovecraft Common criticisms: - Plot becomes unfocused in the final third - Some character relationships feel underdeveloped - Too light in tone for hardcore Lovecraft fans - Resolution leaves multiple threads unresolved As one Goodreads reviewer noted: "The voice is perfect - snarky without being mean, funny without trying too hard." Another reader countered: "The ending felt rushed and left me with more questions than answers." Many readers compared it favorably to Rick Riordan's work, though some found it doesn't quite reach those heights.

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🦑 The book pays homage to H.P. Lovecraft's works, particularly "The Shadow over Innsmouth," while reimagining the cosmic horror genre for young adult readers. 🏫 Harrison Squared is a prequel to Gregory's adult novel "We Are All Completely Fine," though it can be read as a standalone story. 🌊 The fictional town of Dunnsmouth, Massachusetts, where the story takes place, is based on the real fishing communities of New England's North Shore. 📖 Author Daryl Gregory wrote this book partly inspired by his own experiences as a teenager who felt like an outsider, though his high school notably lacked tentacled monsters. 🦿 The protagonist Harrison's prosthetic leg plays a significant role in the story, with Gregory consulting amputees to ensure accurate representation of living with a prosthetic limb.