Lockjaw - by Matteo L Cerilli (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A YA horror book about a group of teens who must face an evil presence which lurks in a small town"--

Book Synopsis

Death is neither the beginning nor the end for the children of Bridlington in this debut trans YA horror book for fans of Rory Power and Danielle Vega.

Chuck Warren died tragically at the old abandoned mill, but Paz Espino knows it was no accident -- there's a monster under the town, and she's determined to kill it before anyone else gets hurt. She'll need the help of her crew -- inseparable friends, bound by a childhood pact stronger than diamonds, distance or death -- to hunt it down. But she's up against a greater force of evil than she ever could have imagined.

With shifting timeframes and multiple perspectives, Lockjaw is a small-town ghost story, where monsters living and dead haunt the streets, the homes and the minds of the inhabitants. For readers of Wilder Girls and The Haunted, this trans YA horror book by an incredible debut author will grab you and never let you go.

Review Quotes

One of BookPage's Best Young Adult Books of 2024
One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens for 2024
An Ontario Library Association Best Bet
A 2025 Toronto Public Library "The List" Selection
A Reactor Magazine Notable Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2024
Shortlisted for the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2025

PRAISE FOR Lockjaw

"Astoundingly smart, amazingly queer, and so gut-churningly stressful that the pages of your copy will end up dented. Lockjaw is small-town horror at its absolute finest, and it's going to shake you up." --Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bears its Teeth

"This YA novel will satisfy teen and nostalgic adult readers of horror and mystery." --Vikki VanSickle, author of The Lightning Circle

"Cerilli delivers a stunning debut in this gripping paranormal horror novel about queer teens growing up in a community that doesn't accept them and the insidious danger of apathy." --STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

"A horrifyingly honest tale with a hopeful ending, this engrossing novel is sure to get hearts racing and leave readers reflecting upon their own place in their communities." --STARRED REVIEW, BookPage

"Experimental, metaphorical, and poetic, this quiet novel is for thoughtful readers not averse to horror themes." --Booklist

"Cerilli's debut is both unsettling and engaging." --School Library Journal

"Rooted in loss and regret, Cerilli creates a hazy reality for his readers that will leave them looking over their shoulders as they experience the power that comes from embracing all the layers of their identity and standing up for what's right in spite of the terror . . . Chills will run up and down your spine as the reader pieces together the mystery of this small-town ghost story." --Canadian Children's Book Centre

"Debut author Cerilli masterfully plots a slow-burn thriller from multiple perspectives, which demands the reader pays close attention. Jumping back and forth in time, Cerilli lays plenty of breadcrumbs, culminating in a powerful twist." --49th Shelf

"Cerilli does a masterful job of creating a memorable setting. . . . It is hard to believe that Lockjaw is Matteo L. Cerilli's debut novel. Readers will look forward to many more to come! Highly recommended." --CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Lockjaw sinks its teeth into readers with a compelling horror mystery and refuses to let go." --Quill & Quire

About the Author

MATTEO L. CERILLI is a transmasc author and activist who helped found the Students for Queer Liberation (Toronto) and works with the No Pride in Policing Coalition. He writes widely across genres and age categories. Lockjaw is his debut book.