Portals to hell have become commonplace since thousands of them appeared two years ago in Cho's satirical workplace-apocalypse horror debut. Now that the portals—and the demons they unleashed—are mostly under control thanks to Vanguard, a weapon and surveillance manufacturer, humans have adjusted to a new normal. Meanwhile, Jasper, 17, remembers nothing about his life before the amnesia-inducing head injury he sustained five months ago. The humdrum of his everyday is only broken up by the portal in aisle nine of Here for You Mart, the big-box discount store where he works. He's also been shoring up the courage to talk to taciturn 17-year-old Kyle, who is a part of the Vanguard that oversees the portals. When Jasper starts having nightmarish visions of an upcoming apocalypse, the normally disengaged teen finds himself leading the charge to stop doomsday. Cho skillfully builds a bizarre world grounded by contemporary ideals; the absurdity of Jasper working retail in dystopian circumstances serves as a piercing commentary on capitalistic values, resulting in a quickly paced, laugh-out-loud read. Kyle is Taiwanese American; Jasper has "floppy dark hair and darker eyes." Ages 13–up. Agent: Dan Lazar, Writers House. (Sept.)

Gr 9 Up—It's another boring day for Jasper at Here For You discount mart. It might seem that's the only chaos in the life of this teen, but it's not. Not only does he deal with severe amnesia, but at any moment there might be a mess in Aisle Nine. This rundown store is just one of many sites all around the world with a portal to Hell that opens and spews out demons. Helping to combat these demons is Jasper's crush Kyle, who might have been a part of his life before amnesia, and the other members of the mysterious Vanguard Corporation. How did the world get like this? Cho's debut captures the mundane humor of a dead-end job, the chaos and panic of a world where random demonic attacks are commonplace, and all the drama of young adult love, set against the backdrop of an oncoming holiday shopping season. Comedy and horror go hand in hand, and Cho provides readers with a cast of characters whose range can handle both genres, while remaining relevant to the everyday lives of this novel's readers. VERDICT This book will delight readers with its dark comedy, but also provides enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing. A perfect release for the upcoming spooky season.—Adam Fisher