Book cover of The Unfinished

The Unfinished

ISBN

9780063287389

Publisher & Publication Year

HarperCollins/Heartdrum, 2024

Publisher's Book Page

Author

Cheryl Isaacs (Mohawk)

Author's Website 

Illustrator

Synopsis

Summary

When small-town athlete Avery’s morning run leads her to a strange pond in the middle of the forest, she awakens a horror the townspeople of Crook’s Falls have long forgotten: The black water. The water has been waiting, watching, hungry for the souls it needs to survive. As the black water haunts Avery—taking a new form each time—people in town begin to go missing. While Avery had never really connected to her Indigenous culture or understood the stories her Kanien’kéha:ka (Mohawk) relatives told her, the Elders may be the only ones who have the answers she needs. When Key, Avery’s best friend and longtime crush, is the next to disappear, she is faced with a choice: listen to the Kanien’kéha:ka and save the town but lose her friend forever… Or listen to her heart and risk everything to get Key back.

Notable Achievements

Kirkus Reviews Best Books; Indigo Best Books of the Year

Reviews

Publishers Weekly: "Sharp prose and humorous banter permeate this stellar debut by Isaacs, who crafts an atmospheric mystery filled with intrigue and harrowing imagery that shimmers brilliantly amid the eerie setting."

Kirkus: "A harrowing work that combines suspense with a coming-of-age journey of cultural exploration."

School Library Journal: "This chilling quest to save a best friend (and perhaps the town) reveals the bravery that Avery needs to come face to face with her greatest fears. Readers will finish this feeling spooked and reflective of their own secure attachments."

Educator Guide

This guide to Indigenous literature, created by Muskogee educator Jenna Wolf in association with Heartdrum, includes discussion questions for The Unfinished as well as a general introduction to the importance of Indigenous books.

Link to Guide

Check Out More Books