Outer Banks meets Bone Gap in New York Times bestselling author Samuel Miller’s propulsive and genre-bending YA mystery, following a group of teenagers who discover a dead body while playing an app-based adventure game that sends players to “random” locations, unlocking a much deeper mystery about their small town.
In Calico Springs, Willie’s life has been defined by two powerful forces: God and the river. The “miracle boy” died for five minutes as a young child, and ever since, Willie is certain he survived for a reason, but that purpose didn’t become clear until he found the Game.
The Game is called Manifest Atlas, and the concept is simple: enter an intention and the Game provides a target—a blinking blue dot on the map. Willie’s second time playing Manifest Atlas, his intention takes him to an ominous target: three empty graves. Willie is sure the Game is telling him he’s going to die.
Willie’s older brother, Bones, doesn’t believe him, but their friends are intrigued. Sarai, a girl from across the river, sets the next intention: something bloody. The group follows the Game’s coordinates and they discover something even more unsettling than the graves: a dead body. Sarai’s stepfather’s body. The Game is suddenly personal.
Willie is dedicated to proving the Game works while Sarai is set on finding out what happened to her stepdad. Bones just wants to enjoy his last summer before real life begins. As the group digs deeper into Manifest Atlas, stranger and wilder things begin to appear, unlocking a much deeper mystery running like an undercurrent through the small town.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
In Calico Springs, Willie’s life has been defined by two powerful forces: God and the river. The “miracle boy” died for five minutes as a young child, and ever since, Willie is certain he survived for a reason, but that purpose didn’t become clear until he found the Game.
The Game is called Manifest Atlas, and the concept is simple: enter an intention and the Game provides a target—a blinking blue dot on the map. Willie’s second time playing Manifest Atlas, his intention takes him to an ominous target: three empty graves. Willie is sure the Game is telling him he’s going to die.
Willie’s older brother, Bones, doesn’t believe him, but their friends are intrigued. Sarai, a girl from across the river, sets the next intention: something bloody. The group follows the Game’s coordinates and they discover something even more unsettling than the graves: a dead body. Sarai’s stepfather’s body. The Game is suddenly personal.
Willie is dedicated to proving the Game works while Sarai is set on finding out what happened to her stepdad. Bones just wants to enjoy his last summer before real life begins. As the group digs deeper into Manifest Atlas, stranger and wilder things begin to appear, unlocking a much deeper mystery running like an undercurrent through the small town.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Praise for this book
"Clever, drama-filled, and mind-blowing. My mind is still reeling from the twists and turns, and I loved every second of it." - Sasha Alsberg
"A raw and daring portrait of Middle America, Dark Parts of the Universe defies categorization. Part tech thriller, part small-town mystery, Miller explores the complexities of family secrets, and what happens when the unshakeable foundation of brotherhood begins to shake, without ever shying away from the beating heart of the story: the reckoning of one town's racist past (and present), through the eyes of a boy reckoning with his own complicity. Propulsive and genre-bending, I couldn't put it down." - David Arnold
"Dark Parts of the Universe serves as a terrifying mystery while examining an important history. Masterfully done!" - Nick Brooks
"Eerie, atmospheric, and smart as a whip, Redemption Prep kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page." - Brittany Cavallaro
"Evocative exploration of the suffocation of small town life, where a dark past controls present chaos." - Mindy McGinnis
"A tense and atmospheric thriller with a truly surprising twist. I can't wait to see what Samuel Miller does next!" - Kara Thomas
"A raw and daring portrait of Middle America, Dark Parts of the Universe defies categorization. Part tech thriller, part small-town mystery, Miller explores the complexities of family secrets, and what happens when the unshakeable foundation of brotherhood begins to shake, without ever shying away from the beating heart of the story: the reckoning of one town's racist past (and present), through the eyes of a boy reckoning with his own complicity. Propulsive and genre-bending, I couldn't put it down." - David Arnold
"Dark Parts of the Universe serves as a terrifying mystery while examining an important history. Masterfully done!" - Nick Brooks
"Eerie, atmospheric, and smart as a whip, Redemption Prep kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page." - Brittany Cavallaro
"Evocative exploration of the suffocation of small town life, where a dark past controls present chaos." - Mindy McGinnis
"A tense and atmospheric thriller with a truly surprising twist. I can't wait to see what Samuel Miller does next!" - Kara Thomas
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