The Squad

At an elite Bay Area high school, new student Jenna joins a clique of popular girls who run the social scene. The group has a secret - they are teenage werewolves who hunt and kill predatory boys who assault their female classmates. The girls maintain a careful balance between their public personas as affluent students and their covert missions targeting abusers. Jenna must learn to navigate pack dynamics while keeping up appearances in her classes and new romance. The novel combines elements of supernatural horror, dark comedy, and contemporary social commentary about rape culture and female friendship. Through its genre-blending narrative, The Squad examines themes of justice, power, and the complex bonds between young women coming of age.

Readers describe this YA horror-fantasy as a dark, feminist take on Mean Girls meets werewolves. Many reviews note the book's unapologetic violence and revenge themes. Readers appreciated: - Strong female friendship dynamics - LGBTQ+ representation - Fast-paced plot - Commentary on rape culture and privilege - Dark humor throughout Common criticisms: - Violence level too extreme for some YA readers - Character development felt rushed - Plot becomes predictable - Some found the message heavy-handed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (4,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 "A necessary conversation about assault wrapped in a supernatural package," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another noted: "The gore was overwhelming and took away from the important themes." The book resonates particularly with readers seeking feminist horror, though some parents caution it's better suited for older teens due to content.

Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond A demon-hunting teen and a reluctant Prince of Hell team up to save the world while navigating supernatural high school politics and unexpected romance.

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine A final girl travels back in time to prevent her sister's murder at a slasher-movie themed high school party, uncovering secrets and betrayals among her friend group.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black A group of teens protect their town from dangerous fae creatures while dealing with murder, romance, and the complexities of sibling relationships.

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling A teenage witch in Salem must track down a murderous dark magic practitioner while keeping her identity secret from her new girlfriend.

Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston A girl searches New Orleans for a vampire who can turn her dying father immortal, leading her into a world of murder, ancient societies, and blood-soaked secrets.

🐺 Author Maggie Tokuda-Hall was inspired to write The Squad after learning about the real-life "Mean Girls" case in California, where popular high school students committed serious crimes while maintaining perfect social facades. 🌙 The book blends multiple genres, including dark comedy, horror, and young adult romance, while exploring themes of female friendship, privilege, and systemic inequality. 🩸 The werewolf mythology in The Squad specifically centers on female werewolves who hunt predatory men, offering a feminist twist on traditional werewolf lore. 🏫 The novel's setting, Piedmont High School, is based on a real affluent school in the San Francisco Bay Area where the author herself attended as a teenager. 📚 Before writing The Squad, Tokuda-Hall was primarily known for picture books and middle-grade fiction, making this her young adult debut and first foray into horror.