The Scavenger (Second Edition)

Something dark festers beneath the surface of Hopps Town, and three unsuspecting teens find themselves at the center of it… Jared, Jessica, and Adrian seem like your typical high schoolers, but each harbors a secret that gnaws at their souls. Jared is struggling for acceptance from his disapproving mother as a gay teen while enduring the relentless torment of a bully. Adrian is crushed under the weight of his father's impossible expectations as he conceals a forbidden crush. Jessica, trapped in a nightmare with her abusive alcoholic mother, dreams of escape but finds no solace. Then, one frigid night, the trio stumbles upon an ancient wishing well, its ominous aura drawing them in. With eyes closed and hearts burdened, they each make a wish half-heartedly but secretly hope for something—anything—different. In a snap, their wishes seem to mysteriously materialize. But they have no idea they've just awakened something far more sinister than their minds can grasp, and things are about to go horribly wrong. The Scavenger (Second Edition) is the chilling beginning of the Hopps Town series, where every wish comes at a deadly price. In April 2025, this book received the Gold Literary Titan Book Award.