Beautiful Demons by Sarra Cannon

Harper isn't just your average girl. She was adopted as a baby and the only request the birth mother gave was that the adoptive family give her a necklace to wear. At age 8 Harper learns that she is adopted and is given this necklace. It is the only thing she has of her mother and it means the world to her, so she never takes it off. Harper also finds at this time that the adoptive parents were given a picture of her mother but they choose not to show her, so when Harper finds this picture she mentally takes a picture and then tries to recreate this picture through drawing. But one night the adoptive parents get in a fight and somehow a fire breaks out. The police and firemen cannot figure out how this happened because it looks like several fires popped up at one time. The adoptive father is dead and the adoptive mother blames Harper. Harper cannot understand how things like this seem to happen, but they do and quite frequently when she gets upset or feels that people she cares about are in danger. This is it this is the end or so says the social worker she cannot help Harper any more she has been moved in and out of 6 foster homes, and this time she finds out that if it does not work out at Shadowford Plantation she is headed for juvenile detention. Upon arriving Harper has this strange feeling something dark and evil but brushes it off as Shadowford is an old plantation home. When she reaches the door she is greeted by Ella Mae, the care taker of the home. That is run under the goodness of Mrs. Shadowford, and the rules are that you obey or you are sent away. There are no second chances, this is the last option. Rule one of the house, stay out of Mrs. Shadowford's room, which is half of the main level. Two take care of your room and bathroom. Three keep up your grade only A's and B's are acceptable anything below requires a signature from Ella Mae or Mrs. Shadowford. And last and most important no going on the third floor. To Harper these are simple rules, so OK no big deal. Harper meets the girls that stay at the home and quickly becomes friends with Agnes. Agnes takes her shopping and helps get her ready for the first day of attending her new school. They head to a local town store to find supplies. Agnes points her to the back of the store to find a new backpack. As she is looking a boy about her age introduces himself as Drake. She also finds out that he is the star of the football team. But when Agnes comes over to tell Harper to hurry up, he quickly leaves leaving Harper feeling as if he is the typical jock and not someone who would hang out with her because of where she lives. Harper dreads the first day of school since the first person she met from Peachville Demons is what she expected. Upon arriving at school the first day and entering the building Harper passes the school mascot statue and has this horrible feeling. She passes out and when she comes to Mrs. King the cheer leading coach is checking on her along with Agnes. She can't explain what exactly happened or why it happened but something about the statue makes her uneasy. And that is just the beginning of what happens in Peachville. Harper's first day of school at lunch she trips on something and dumps ketchup all over Tori who is one of the most popular cheerleader at school. And with that comes a threat from Tori that Harper will live to regret that her mistake ever happened. Friday night at the game Harper watches with from the stands with Anges. And has a great time. But when they get in the van to head back home Harper realizes that her necklace is missing and gets permission to go look for it. Quickly she searches but finds nothing, and heads back to the van. Still upset that night Harper sneaks out of her room and heads to the football stadium to look in the bleachers again. But to no avail the necklace is not found. Just as Harper is getting ready to leave she hears someone, a very familiar voice. With that Harper hides in the bottom of the bleachers and what she sees next shocks her. Tori is with a someone who is in a Demon's Letterman jacket. Tori can't see who it is but she knows she needs to get of there before someone sees her since she isn't supposed to be out. And if she is caught she will be sent away. While trying to sneak away Harper bumps something making enough noise that Tori and her mystery man come looking. Luckily Harper narrowly escapes being seen. She rushes home. Monday morning Harper arrives at school to see many of the students visibly upset. Tori is missing and no one knows where she is. And the police have been out searching. By afternoon Tori has been found, cooked from the inside out. And that is just where things start to get weird in Peachville.


I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick fun read. With enough story to keep me guessing and wanting to know more about Peachville and the High School. You are wondering what the towns secret is why the cheerleaders are so special. And who, just who killed Tori...

This is a Young Adult novel great for anyone 12 and up!