The Little Things That Kill: A Teen Friendship Afterlife Apology Tour

A teen ghost endeavors to solve the mystery behind her death in this supernatural tale of grief and redemption by Fox (Real Friends vs. the Other Kind). When 16-year-old Nicole wakes up as a spirit, she’s corralled by mysterious, purple-vested entities and shepherded to Substation Fifteen, a limbo-like way station for teens who die by suicide. There she meets Substation Fifteen mentor Grace, who explains that Nicole must pass an evaluation meant to measure her personal character before she can move on to her next life. Though Nicole insists that she died by accident, she doesn’t remember anything about the circumstances surrounding the event, a phenomenon that Grace claims is abnormal for the recently deceased. Now Nicole must find a way to communicate with her living friends—estranged witch-obsessed bestie Iz and romantic rival Cassie—who know more about her last day than they’re letting on. Simultaneously, Nicole seeks to repent for past mistakes in preparation for her evaluation. Thin characterizations somewhat deflate poignant ruminations on mental health and personal responsibility, but Fox’s intriguing interpretation of the afterlife earns readers’ investment in this introspective read. The protagonists cue as white. Ages 14–up. (Self-published)