Ever stumbled into a town where the locals worship a grinning clown like it's their savior, only for that clown to turn into a chainsaw-wielding nightmare? That's the wild setup of Clown in a Cornfield, Adam Cesare's pulse-pounding YA horror debut that snagged a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel.
Quinn Maybrook and her dad roll into tiny Kettle Springs hoping for a reset after tough times. But this isn't your average Midwest dot on the map. The old Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shutdown split the place wide open: adults ache to 'make Kettle Springs great again' with their outdated traditions, while teens just want viral prank videos and a one-way ticket out. Tension simmers like corn syrup on a hot stove.
Then Frendo—the pork-pie-hatted mascot with a smile that chills bone-deep—goes rogue. He decides the town's rot starts with the kids, launching a homicidal cull that turns fields into slaughter zones. Quinn's stuck in the crossfire, fighting not just a clown but a whole warped battle between progress and stagnation.
Cesare nails the teen vibe: the boredom of small-town life, the thrill of rebellion, the raw fear when fun flips to fight-or-flight. Vivid scenes paint the sticky-sweet stench of cornfields hiding horrors, the flicker of phone screens amid screams, and that gut-twist when trust shatters. It's got heart-pounding action, sharp social jabs at nostalgia gone toxic, and characters you root for—like Quinn, who's tough without being superhuman.
Cozy up on a crisp autumn night with hot cider, or amp up your Halloween party with group reads— this book's creepy clown vibes pair perfectly with candy corn and fog machines. Teens love it for the scares that feel real, parents dig the fresh start themes. Whether you're escaping homework drudgery or prepping for movie night, it delivers thrills that linger like Frendo's grin.
Don't wait—snag this digital gem and see why it's buzzing as the next big YA horror. Your next scream's just a page turn away.
