The Unfinished
Cheryl Isaacs
HarperCollins/Heartdrum
September 2024
Age: 13+

Everyone in Crook’s Falls knows to stay on the forest trails, but no one will explain why. For Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) teen Avery, those running trails are home until she’s drawn from their safety to the deep forest and a sinister black-water pond. Soon she is plagued by nightmares and feeling watched, while townspeople begin to disappear—again. Something dangerous resides in the water, and Avery has woken it. When it’s Key, Avery’s loyal best friend and crush that vanishes, the stoic and self-contained teen turns to her estranged tribal elders for stories and answers. It will take all her runner’s determination to outwit the black water and pull Key from its depths.

Cheryl Isaacs’ (Kanyen’kéha) YA novel weaves elements of indigenous lore with dark supernatural creations in this chilling horror debut. Fast pacing and moody forest settings complement the suspenseful plot. With well-developed young characters—thoughtful, selfish, and reckless in turn—and a typically indistinct cast of secondary adult characters, themes of communication and community become more pronounced as Avery opens up emotionally to her friends and family. Avery’s personal growth drives a deepening of her friendships, her ability to ask for help, and an acknowledgement of her feelings for Key. It also drives the action toward a terrifying yet satisfying conclusion. Isaacs does not lean heavily on indigenous culture, but uses the juxtaposition of the family’s intentional disconnect and Avery’s need for help to build both tension and a genuine bridge back to her heritage.