The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag

 The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag (480 pages)

Summary: Everyone has secrets. Mags’s has teeth.

Magdalena Herrera is about to graduate high school, but she already feels like an adult with serious responsibilities: caring for her ailing grandmother; working a part-time job; clandestine makeouts with a girl who has a boyfriend. And then there’s her secret, which pulls her into the basement each night, drains her of energy, and leaves her bleeding. A secret that could hurt and even kill if it ever got out -- like it did once before.

So Mags keeps her head down, isolated in her small desert community. That is, until her childhood friend Nessa comes back to town, bringing vivid memories of the past, an intoxicating glimpse of the future, and a secret of her own. Mags won’t get attached, of course. She’s always been strong enough to survive without anyone’s help.

But when the darkness starts to close in on them both, Mags will have to drag her secret into the daylight, and choose between risking everything... or having nothing left to lose.

Opinion: This is a teen graphic novel that has realistic and horror elements. The illustrations are beautiful and add depth to the story. Mags and Nessa have good character development and seeing them forgive themselves for the past is really sweet. The action at the end was well orchestrated and satisfying. Getting to see Mags's uncle at the end was also a great way to wrap up the story.