Pet

In the utopian city of Lucille, children are taught that 'monsters' no longer exist, a lesson Jam, a young transgender girl, has internalized her entire life. Her world, filled with loving parents and a cherished best friend named Redemption, is one of safety and denial. However, this carefully constructed peace shatters when a mysterious, horned, and colorful creature, calling itself Pet, manifests from one of Jam's mother's paintings, triggered by a drop of Jam's blood. Pet reveals a chilling truth: it has come to hunt a monster, and its target lurks within Redemption's very home. Forced to confront a reality the adults around her refuse to acknowledge, Jam embarks on a perilous quest. She must not only protect her best friend from an unseen evil but also navigate a society steeped in denial, questioning everything she's ever been told. Akwaeke Emezi's 'Pet' is a powerful and timely young adult novel that fearlessly delves into themes of truth, justice, and the courage required to expose hidden darkness.