Boys of the Beast
Three cousins. Four days. One car. This smart and fearless road-trip novel is perfect for fans of David Levithan, Benjamin Alire Saenz, or Meg Medina.
THE ROUTE. Seventeen hundred miles from Portland, Oregon, to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
THE BEAST.Grandma Lupe's 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.
THE BOYS.Three strangers who also happen to be cousins:
Matt.Evangelical Christian. Earnest. Film nerd. Carrying a dream to make movies--despite the future his father has planned for him.
Ethan.Jewish. Gay. Sci-fi nerd. Carrying a phone that contains his entire relationship with Levi--unless they finally get to meet IRL on this trip.
Oscar.Stoner. Smartass. Too cool to be a nerd. Carrying a letter that haunts him--no matter how hard he tries to escape it.
THE END...just might be a new beginning.
This powerful voyage in three voices marks the brilliant debut of Monica Zepeda.
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
Monica Zepeda is a Southern California native who spent her teen years in the desert wilds of Joshua Tree. She moved to Los Angeles, London, and Arizona before settling down permanently in L.A. Along the way, she's worked as a bookseller, produced reality television shows, and written plays, feature films, and video games. Monica now serves as a teen librarian and lives near the beach with her husband and their unbelievably cute cats. You can find her on the web at monicazepeda.com, on Twitter at @MZWrites, and on Instagram at @MZWrites2.
"Boys of the Beast zips easily along, just like the 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe that carries its three cousins to their satisfying destination." -- Foreword Reviews
"[A] refreshing, smoothly written debut." -- Booklist
"Boys of the Beast will hook you with its vibrant characters right away, and suddenly you'll be on a road trip you never want to leave! A truly great read." -- Bill Konigsberg, award-winning author of The Bridge
"Starting off as mere character sketches, the three Latinx cousins (Matt has a White father) soon develop into fully endearing heroes thanks to Zepeda's deft, potent writing. Alternating short chapters from each teen's perspective packs nuance and depth in this quick read splashed with melodrama and humor...Like a missive from the soul. " -- Kirkus Reviews
"A thrilling, funny, and profound journey to that magical place where differences turn into the sparks of friendship." -- Francisco X. Stork, award-winning author of Illegal
"[A] sure-footed debut...As the cousins go from mutual wariness to becoming a close-knit trio of co-conspirators and confidantes, their discussions, punctuated with fart jokes and f-bombs, are thoughtful explorations of identity; mental health issues, including self-harm; romance; and acceptance." -- Publishers Weekly
Best Children's Books of the Year 2023 - Bank Street College of Education
International Latino Book Award Winner 2023 - Empowering Latino Futures
Los Angeles Public Library Best Books 2023 - Los Angeles Public Library
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Winner 2023 - Passaic County Community College
Rhode Island Latino Books Award Nominee 2024 - Rhode Island Latino Arts
