A dark and twisty thriller about a teen boy who must hunt down those marked by the devil — including the girl he has fallen for.

“Kao deftly blends chilling, slow-burn psychological horror with supernatural elements and moving relationships in this intense debut.”

—Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

  • "This thoughtful debut offers both supernatural thrills and careful character development."

    Kirkus Reviews

  • "Matt’s voice is raw and chaotic, revealing his self-doubt, frustration, wide-eyed innocence (he’s never been in school before much less had friends), and confusion with an authentic messiness."

    Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

  • "Thoughtfully drawn and interesting."

    Booklist

  • “Builds to a confrontational climax that twists to an unexpected conclusion.”

    School Library Journal

  • "A dark, twisting coming-of-age sure to leave readers glancing over their shoulder for the Devil."

    Andrew Joseph White, NYT-Bestselling Author

Linda Kao writes stories about young people finding hope in a world that can be a bit strange. She lives in California with her family, where she enjoys reading, running in the sunshine, and discovering new bakeries.

A Crooked Mark is her first novel.