Las Animas High

by Gibson Monk

"This delightful coming-of-age tale sparkles with vibrant characters and supernatural turns." - Kirkus Reviews

“A fast-moving tale of teenage drama, Indigenous mythology, secrets and heritage.” - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

In the high desert of Colorado, nothing stays buried forever.

At Las Animas High, Danica Drake thought the worst thing she'd face was surviving senior year. That illusion shatters the night she and her friends witness a brutal hijacking-one tied to a powerful oil corporation with secrets it will kill to protect.

But the crime is only the beginning.

As strange sightings ripple through their small town, Danica uncovers a truth older than history: Las Animas sits on a fault line between worlds. Dragons stir beneath the desert. Giants walk forgotten paths. And forces rooted in ancient myth are waking-hungry, watchful, and no longer content to remain hidden.

Caught in a conflict that predates humanity itself, Danica and her friends must navigate shifting loyalties, first love, and the terrifying cost of knowing too much. Because the corporation isn't just drilling for oil-it's digging for something far more dangerous. And once it's unleashed, there may be no stopping it.

A gripping blend of supernatural suspense, Indigenous mythology, and high-stakes coming-of-age, Las Animas High is about the bonds that hold us together-and the secrets that can tear a town apart.

242 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Kirkus Reviews calls Las Animas High a "delightful coming-of-age tale that sparkles with vibrant characters and supernatural turns."

Gibson Monk is a professor of humanities and author of speculative fiction that weaves myth, mystery, and modern life. His short stories have appeared in Sixfold, Zahir, Helios, and other literary magazines. He also writes non-fiction under the name Matthew Franks, with work published in The Graduate Journal of Harvard Divinity School and the anthology Past the Sky’s Rim: The Elder Scrolls and Theology. Monk lives in Virginia with his wife and three children. His debut novel, the sci-fi thriller Entanglement, follows a group of gamer kids who uncover a dangerous conspiracy involving big tech and shifting realities. His highly anticipated second novel, Las Animas High, releases May 5, 2026. Set in the stark Colorado desert, it follows teenager Danica Drake as she and her friends are thrust into a hidden war of dragons, giants, and ancient Indigenous forces after witnessing a deadly corporate hijacking. Blending supernatural suspense, mythology, and corporate intrigue, this coming-of-age story will appeal to fans of Percy Jackson, Stranger Things, and Skinwalker Ranch.

Reviews

[Gibson Monk]

Author's Note:
I’m thrilled to share that Kirkus Reviews had this to say about Las Animas High: “This delightful coming-of-age tale sparkles with vibrant characters and supernatural turns.”
Las Animas High has also recently been featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: "a fast-moving tale of teenage drama, Indigenous mythology, secrets and heritage."

Thank you so much to everyone who reads, reviews, or shares the book.

Happy reading!
— Gibson Monk

[Ashley Anglin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is half The Lightning Thief, half Trail of Lightning, and all fun! I loved that all the starring characters of such an adventuresome story were girls and women. Vivid and true-to-life descriptions of the Colorado desert setting were another highlight for me. Great book for young-adult or even upper middle-grade readers because the narrative language is simple and clear, there's no profanity, and no romance beyond holding hands; conflict scenes are suspenseful without getting scary or gory. All the plot threads come together into a satisfying ending that seems to point to future adventures for Danica, Tala, Maria and the gang. I hope that's the case!

I did think this solid story deserved more-rigorous editing, but in this day and age, I think that about many traditionally published books too; hats off to fledgling indie house Hyssop Press for putting this fun read out into the world.

(I received an ARC of "Las Animas High" in exchange for my honest review.)

[Sharon Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and suspenseful, Las Animas High interweaves the mythical with the ordinary lives of high school seniors. The twists and turns will keep you reading. Characters levitate and shape-shift into a giant, a wolf, and multiple dragons. Who is evil and who is not? Native American lore is intertwined in the story. Can the hero, Danica, and her friends stop a tragedy while being chased by unknown entities in many forms? Hang on and get ready for a wild ride.
I received an ARC from the author; this is my honest review.

[Alexandra Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for sending me eARC of this book. I really enjoyed the story as well as the twists that showed. Danica and her friends were absolutely fun and lovely to follow on their journey. Overall solid 4 stars for me.

[L.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an inventive, atmosphere-heavy urban fantasy that ultimately feels more like a slow-burn prologue for a future series than a satisfying standalone.