Common Sense Media Review
By Victoria Quistgaard
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping, gory, hopeful tale of trans teen's violent life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In YOU'RE NO BETTER, Morgan Slaughter seems destined to become a serial killer, just like his dad. But Morgan doesn't actually want to be a killer—even though violent urges exist in his mind, even though there's already blood on his hands. Morgan wants nothing more than to be acknowledged as transgender, live as normal a life as an autistic person in a non-autistic world can, and not be infamous and viewed as a psychopath. More blood will fall before the end, but Morgan's story is far from written.
Is It Any Good?
A dark, visceral, and gripping read, perfect for horror fans.You're No Better is bloody, but fantastic. There's no shying away from the darkest thoughts a human mind can imagine here, and Andrew Joseph White takes us there with stylistic and detailed writing that really digs into Morgan's character. The thoughtful and honest portrayal of Morgan's autism, and what appears to be ADHD in another character, will be relatable for neurodivergent readers, while readers who appreciate diverse gender representation in horror have much to celebrate here. This is horror at its nuanced, thrilling best.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mental health and how it affects everyone in You're No Better. Morgan suffers from serious trauma on top of autism and other mental health struggles. How does Morgan deal with all of it? What could Morgan do differently?
Morgan often dismisses Alyssa and what she does for him, which leads to conflict between them. How well do Morgan and Alyssa communicate? What could each of them have said or done differently to be heard? Is Alyssa's reaction fair, or out of proportion? Why?
Everyone expects Morgan to become a serial killer like his dad due to his violent past and actions. What does Morgan think and do that make him wonder if he might be like his dad? What does Morgan do to decide for himself who he wants to be?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads , Moms ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Peachtree Publishers
- Publication date : October 27, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 30, 2026
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