We Are the Beasts
Mid-18th century France: sixteen-year-old Joséphine is the only survivor of her family after a fever swept through the village. Now she lives with her best friend, Clara. When out grazing their sheep, the two stumble upon a boy’s mutilated body. Fearing this is the work of “The Beast” that has been preying on young girls, Clara runs for help. But Joséphine soon learns the grisly truth from the boy’s frightened sister, hiding in the woods. To save the girl from her brother’s fate, they fake her death and find her a safe house. The risk of discovery quickly heightens when soldiers arrive with orders to hunt the beast. Arrogant and ungrateful, the soldiers expect to be sheltered and fed by the poor villagers who barely have enough for the upcoming winter. However, if Joséphine and Clara’s secret is discovered, the danger posed by the villagers will be more terrifying than starvation or the Beast.
Our young characters are faced with difficult choices. Eventually, Joséphine realizes they must either “[f]ace the monsters we know or risk the ones we don’t”; this theme runs throughout the story like a dark shadow. Griffis uses the setting well to heighten the sense of unease as our characters trek through hauntingly silent fields and rainy, dark forests. The book has strong elements of found family and plenty of character development as Joséphine struggles to overcome her own fears to save those she loves.
A historical horror novel for young adult readers, We Are the Beasts was inspired by the unsolved mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan. Content warnings include abuse, racism, homophobia, depictions of violence, and strong language. With compelling twists and turns, this is a well-written story of control, overcoming trauma, and standing up for what’s right.
