Claire's and Lenny's alternating third-person chapters explore myriad issues, including queerness, social media, and self-confidence, with care and occasional humor... A creepy, character-driven read.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

June's novel combines familiar tropes with wholly unique monsters and instantly beloved characters that makes The Monsters We Made easily the best book I've read all year. I'll be thinking of Old Lucky every time I look up into the night sky.-- "Logan-Ashley Kisner, author of Old Wounds"

As eerie and haunting as it is heartfelt, The Monsters We Made is a masterpiece. Equal parts queer, Midwestern Scooby-Doo and coming-of-age tale of autonomy, it's a reminder that the world still has mysteries to solve if we're only curious enough to look. Peyton June's sharp, vivid prose will have you flipping pages to uncover the secrets of small-town Scarberry. I savored every last page.-- "Taylor Grothe, author of Hollow"

From hoax to holy shit, I couldn't put The Monsters We Made down. Peyton June deftly contrasts the unyielding hope of a paranormal investigator against the well-earned distrust of a jaded skeptic. Amid the eerie small-town paranormal mystery are glimpses into the complicated lives of two queer young women desperate to live their authentic selves. It's one part horror, one part heartfelt, and all freaky eldritch conspiracy.-- "K. Valentin, author of An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder"

Seamlessly weaves together many themes, including friendship, grief, hope, homophobia, and love... Packed with twists and turns. Readers will be ravenous to find answers and will be rooting for Lenny and Claire to figure out what is happening in Scarberry and to see where their budding relationship goes... A great recommendation for readers who enjoy cryptid-hunting, mysteries, and seeing how far people are willing to go for something they believe in.-- "School Library Journal"

Publisher: Norton Young Readers

Pub date: 2026-06-23

Length: 368 pages