From Ethan M. Aldridge, bestselling creator of Estranged, comes a gothic middle grade prose novel that follows a nonbinary student who is drawn to their boarding school’s forbidden east wing, where something stalks the shadowy corridors. Perfect for fans of J. A. White and Mary Downing Hahn! When Guinevere "Nev" Tallow receives an acceptance letter to the exclusive Deephaven Academy, they know it’s the fresh start that they’ve been looking for. But things are strange from the moment they arrive—the house itself seems to breathe, students whisper secrets in dark corridors, and the entire east wing of the academy is locked away for reasons no one wants to explain. And Nev knows something ragged stalks the shadowy corridors, something that sobs quietly and scratches at the walls, waiting to be released. With the help of another first-year student, Nev takes it upon themself to unravel the mysteries hidden in Deephaven's halls. But will they risk their fresh start to bring the academy’s secret to light?

Ethan M. Aldridge, bestselling creator of Estranged, returns to the eerie world of Deephaven Academy, where a creepy new artifact discovered in the depths of the basement could have disastrous effects on the school. A perfect read for fans of J. A. White and Mary Downing Hahn! After a chaotic semester, Guinevere “Nev” Tallow is looking forward to a quiet winter break at Deephaven Academy. But when they discover a strange artifact—a scrimshaw—hidden away deep in the under-basement of the school, they can’t resist the urge to investigate further. This scrimshaw seems to be the skull of the school’s founder, Malachi Haven. Each of the skull’s few remaining teeth is engraved with a tiny image that foretells disaster. Nev quickly becomes obsessed with this mystery—not even their best friend, Danny, can distract them. And after something begins striking down students, Nev and Danny wonder if the images etched into the ancient teeth are actually warnings. Can Nev protect the school from the coming doom foreseen by the scrimshaw, or are they on a collision course with fate?