Books like Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez

Seventeen‑year‑old Daisy Giordano is thrust into high‑school life as a substitute cheerleader while managing a first‑time romance. Though she and her family are surrounded by psychics, Daisy herself is considered "normal." As the town of Nightshade, California, faces a series of strange assaults on teenage girls, Daisy assists her mother in investigating the perpetrator behind these bizarre attacks. The novel blends interpersonal drama, high‑school dynamics, and paranormal intrigue as Daisy confronts the challenges of love, loyalty, and a supernatural mystery. Setting the stage in a small Californian town, the story explores Daisy’s dual roles as a teenage girl and a reluctant point of contact for her psychic family, weaving themes of friendship, trust, and the unpredictability of psychic phenomena within a typical high‑school environment. The narrative invites readers to follow Daisy’s journey as she navigates adolescent relationships, school pressures, and the supernatural, ultimately aiming to protect her peers and uncover the truth behind the mysterious attacks.

First publish date: 2008