Lockjaw, Matteo L. Cerilli
Lockjaw, Matteo L. Cerilli
List: $17.99 | Sale: $12.59
Club: $8.99

Lockjaw

Author: Matteo L. Cerilli

Narrator: Breton Lalama, Mich Anger, Arlen Aguayo Stewart

Unabridged: 9 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tundra Books

Published: 06/04/2024


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.

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.


Reviews

Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA. Pros: A captivating look at friendship, sisterhood, marginalised identities on one hand, power abuse and lack of empathy/conspiracy of silence in a suburban setting on the other. Includes a brilliant twist that puts all the previous events......more

“Lockjaw” is a haunting and beautiful queer YA novel that digs into themes of friendship while also exposing power balances and abuse in small towns. This is all done while being a greatly crafted horror and mystery. The small town setting was an incredible choice because we get a lot characters of......more

Goodreads review by Shu Wei

Small. Town. Horror. Anger simmering on the surface over the injustice of transphobic laws and society. A desperate cry for solidarity. If you're a fan of YA books that does not pull back on heavy themes, acknowledging the harrowing challenges that kids are subjected to from being different without a......more

Goodreads review by alex

As a reader who does not frequent horror, I wasn't sure what to expect when reading Lockjaw, but Matteo L Cerilli blew me away with this novel. Following a ragtag group of individuals, Lockjaw tells the story of small-town prejudice, the harm it causes, and the necessity of change. While trying to ki......more


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

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

"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


Awards

  • The Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Award
  • White Pine Award