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Clown in a Cornfield Paperback – 20 Jan. 2022
Adam Cesare (Author) See search results for this author |
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Bram Stoker Award Winner for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel
In Adam Cesare’s terrifying young adult debut, Quinn Maybrook finds herself caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress—that just may cost her life.
Quinn Maybrook and her father have moved to tiny, boring Kettle Springs, to find a fresh start. But what they don’t know is that ever since the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shut down, Kettle Springs has cracked in half.
On one side are the adults, who are desperate to make Kettle Springs great again, and on the other are the kids, who want to have fun, make prank videos, and get out of Kettle Springs as quick as they can.
Kettle Springs is caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress. It’s a fight that looks like it will destroy the town. Until Frendo, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat, goes homicidal and decides that the only way for Kettle Springs to grow back is to cull the rotten crop of kids who live there now.
YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominee
- Print length368 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperTeen
- Publication date20 Jan. 2022
- Grade level9 - 12
- Reading age14 - 17 years
- Dimensions12.7 x 1.91 x 20.32 cm
- ISBN-100062854607
- ISBN-13978-0062854605
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Review
“This party starts early, and it does not stop until all the bodies have hit the floor.” — Stephen Graham Jones, author of Mongrels and The Only Good Indians
"Adam Cesare's CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD starts as a fun and scary retro-slasher but then cleverly twists and bloodies its way into being a very new kind of beast. Rejoice horror fans new and old, and be terrified of Adam's everyday clowns." — Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World
"Tense, modern and gory, Cesare's Clown in a Cornfield is simultaneously classic and fresh. This is thrilling, old school horror for a new generation." — Madeleine Roux, author of the Asylum series
"There’s a lot to love about Adam Cesare’s new novel, Clown in a Cornfield. First, the title. Holy crap. Then the front cover. Double holy crap. Also consider it’s already received blurbs from people like Clive Barker, Stephen Graham Jones, and Paul Tremblay? Triple holy crap. People are going to be talking about this novel all year. Get ready for it." — Lit Reactor
"The immersive atmosphere, nail-biting action sequences, and satisfying social commentary results in a thoughtful, campy, and just-plain-fun read for horror fans, especially those who crave a retro feel but still want a story set firmly in the present." — Library Journal (starred review)
"A pulse-pounding thrill ride for retro-horror fans who are not faint of heart (or stomach)." — Kirkus Reviews
"This pitch-perfect horror experience can be enjoyed as pure entertainment for its fun retro slasher style, but teen readers will also fully appreciate the sly underlying social commentary." — Booklist (starred review)
"With this novel, Cesare is going to create a new generation of life-long horror fans." — Signal Horizon Magazine
"Cesare’s cinematic eye means the set-pieces are loud, brash, and dramatic (it’s no surprise that there’s a film adaptation in the works). Given what we are all experiencing now, there’s something wonderfully pleasing, nostalgic, and even therapeutic spending several hours cheering on Quinn – smart and brave -- as she takes on [...] killer clowns." — Locus Magazine
"Clown in a Cornfield delivers everything the title promises--and more. More carnage, more mayhem and a sly social commentary that cuts to the bone. A must-read for horror fans." — Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Final Girls
Clown in a Cornfield is a true-to-form classic horror story, complete with blood and gore, chainsaws and crossbows, and abundant deaths. This is a truly fun piece of escapism for teens who are okay with slasher-flick violence. — YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominee
This debut horror novel has all the trappings of a good, popcorn-scented slasher flick. Reluctant readers will find this a quick and fun read. They will definitely appreciate the stress-relieving escapism. Suggest it to readers looking for Stephen King read-alikes and fans of the Friday the 13th franchise. — YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Nominee
About the Author
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Product details
- Publisher : HarperTeen; Reprint edition (20 Jan. 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062854607
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062854605
- Reading age : 14 - 17 years
- Dimensions : 12.7 x 1.91 x 20.32 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 27,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Adam Cesare is a New Yorker who lives in Philadelphia.
His books include Mercy House, Video Night, The Summer Job, and Tribesmen. His work has been praised by Fangoria, Rue Morgue, Publishers Weekly, Bloody Disgusting, and more. His titles have appeared on "Year's Best" lists from outlets like Complex and FearNet. He writes a monthly column for Cemetery Dance Online.
He also has a YouTube review show called Project: Black T-Shirt where he discusses horror films and pairs them with reading suggestions.
www.adamcesare.com
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 August 2021
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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I bloody hate clowns which perhaps explains why my family looked at me strangely when I ordered this book. What I do love though is a blood-soaked horror read which Clown in a Cornfield most definitely is. I was so excited to make a start on this one that I dropped everything to read it.
Quinn Maybrook is the new girl in town. Having recently lost her mother in tragic circumstances, teenager Quinn is determined to help her father settle quickly into Kettle Springs and build up his GP practice. Despite it being very different to her beloved Philadelphia, Kettle Springs looks an ‘interesting’ place to spend a year before heading off to college. Quinn quickly makes new friends but it’s hard to ignore the divide in the town. The adults don’t like the kids. The kids think the adults are trying to spoil their fun. The kids continue to rebel, pushing the limits, pulling reckless stunts and embarrassing the townsfolk every way they can. Until one fateful night when Kettle Springs’ creepy mascot – Frendo – decides to take things into his own hands…
I really liked Quinn. She felt wise beyond her years and despite the terrifying situation she found herself in, she adjusted and did what she had to do. No matter what that was, and I loved that about her. The supporting cast of characters were equally as well-written but I do admit to having a bit of a soft spot for Rust, who in my opinion stole the show on a number of gun-toting occasions.
In the first third to a half of the book the author sets the scene. The reader is given an insight into life in Kettle Springs and the root cause of much of the tension. It’s a slow build which is necessary to the story but I couldn’t help but be a little impatient, waiting for things to kick off. With hindsight, the amount of non-stop action in the second half of the book meant that the book was nicely balanced overall. If events had been full on from the get-go, I think I would have been exhausted 😂! Reading shouldn’t be exhausting, right?! The second half of Clown in a Cornfield is wonderfully intense and nerve-wracking, and I loved it. The fear was palpable and I was on the edge of my seat.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Clown in a Cornfield delivered one hell of a ride and I was with the characters every terrifying step of the way. I loved that the author didn’t really hold back (although, to contradict myself, I wish he had pushed things a smidge further in one respect). There are a number of brilliant shocks and surprises along the way which really added to the reading experience. For me, this is a book for adults and older teens. It’s a little gorier than your average YA novel and because I’m old fashioned, far too many naughty words for younger teens (who probably know more swear words than I do!). But it reminded me in a way of a series of horror novels I read in my early 20s and that made it all the more fantastic. Recommended.
Cesare manages to invest his hero with some personality, but the rest of the characters are nothing more than broad stereotypes. Diversity boxes are ticked as a couple of gay characters are included, although not in any meaningful or interesting way, but more as a final act "twist", which, to me, is more insulting than not including them at all. Same goes for the bad guys and their motivations.
It's a slog to get through and the set-up for a sequel is laughable. Some people may like this kind of stuff. I didn't. Purchase at your own risk.
I took a chance on this based on the recommendation of Mark Morris and I’m so glad I did. Published as a YA horror, this is as gory and graphic as you like, taking as its template the 80s horror films and novels I grew up on and it appealed to me completely. Quinn, who’s suffering with the loss of her mother that prompted the move to the new town, is well drawn and completely believable, as are the cast of teens around her (even if they sometimes lapse in stereotypes, which suit the book perfectly). The adults all seem to be working on a separate agenda, for good reason, but are all three dimensional and the small town location is drawn well. Certainly, the book picks up on modern concerns - snowflakes, no respect, adults fighting to maintain a status quo that was never equal - and covers them well but never at the detriment to the story. When it becomes clear what’s happening and everything gets very nasty, the book settles in to up the body count and doesn’t let up to the end. This worked for me perfectly, with some glorious gore and smart lines and a heroine and final girl you really root for. Well worth a read, I’d highly recommend this.
This was recommended to me. It think it would make a great Netflix film. That typical YA slasher that's so popular. I did almost abandon the book as I got to 49% and nothing had really kicked off. But then things did kick off and the pace picked up and off we went. The second half of the book was much better. I think the first half focussed too much on characters and back story, without actually going deep enough. A very solid read and I would recommend and I'll most likely check out the sequel.