Clown in a Cornfield

Bram Stoker Award Winner for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel

In Adam Cesare's terrifying young adult debut, Quinn Maybrook finds herself caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress--that just may cost her life.

Quinn Maybrook and her father have moved to tiny, boring Kettle Springs, to find a fresh start. But what they don't know is that ever since the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shut down, Kettle Springs has cracked in half.

On one side are the adults, who are desperate to make Kettle Springs great again, and on the other are the kids, who want to have fun, make prank videos, and get out of Kettle Springs as quick as they can.

Kettle Springs is caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress. It's a fight that looks like it will destroy the town. Until Frendo, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat, goes homicidal and decides that the only way for Kettle Springs to grow back is to cull the rotten crop of kids who live there now.

YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominee

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368 pages

Average rating: 7.65

60 RATINGS

Community Reviews

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Hartfullofbooks

May 23, 2023

10/10 stars

This is easily one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. It’s a fun read with great characters and some interesting twists. This reads like a good slasher classic while still being different and throwing stereotypes aside and I absolutely loved it!

monidipadutta51

Feb 25, 2023

9/10 stars

Adam Cesare's "Clown in a Cornfield" is a thrilling and chilling horror novel that expertly blends coming-of-age themes with a slasher movie aesthetic. Cesare's writing is sharp and vivid, with well-drawn characters and a suspenseful plot that keeps readers on edge until the very end. The book also features a thoughtful exploration of contemporary issues, such as social media and generational divides, that add depth and relevance to the story. Overall, "Clown in a Cornfield" is a must-read for horror fans and a testament to Cesare's skill as a writer in the genre.

ViragoReads

Feb 02, 2023

8/10 stars

This book was insane, which you would expect from a book entitled, Clown in a Cornfield. Quinn and her father have moved from Philly to Kettle Springs, a small midwest town, for a fresh start. By the time it's all said and done, they're wishing they had moved to Kensington (for those of you not in the know, it's a terrible part of Philly.) This is basically Children of the Corn on drugs! It's the teenagers vs the adults, in a battle of the generations, and Frendo the Clown (the town mascot) leads the charge. Without giving the whole book away, everyone fights for their life one fateful evening at a party next to the cornfield. This one has some shocking revelations, and surprise twists. A very good read!

MeganWintrip

Dec 21, 2022

8/10 stars

It took me a couple of attempts to start this book as I couldn't get into the right head space to read it, and I really wanted to enjoy the book. I finally got into the book, the first 6 chapters were a bit boring sort of, just mainly getting to know the characters and the backstories etc. I think because of the synopsis of the story I wanted it to get right into it straight away without any build up

Dkiefs

Dec 16, 2022

10/10 stars

I was so uninterested when I heard about this book but by the end my jaw was on the floor and I was enthralled the entire time. I loved this unexpected thriller and I’m awaiting the second one. The narrator for the audiobook made a big impact as well. They play all the parts so well and made it very interesting to listen to.