Bannon '79: Special Edition (Special)

Ian West presents a supernatural narrative set in the summer of 1979 within Bannon, Vermont. The story follows thirteen-year-old Sam Cadence, who possesses the ability to hear the thoughts of others. He intends to spend his school break reading comics in a hidden tree fort with his friend Adam, avoiding bullies and absent fathers. This routine shifts when two strangers arrive in town, searching through the swampy Lowlands at night. A girl named Alessa emerges from this darkness into their lives, followed by a beautiful woman with multiple aliases who begins questioning Sam about his past and the secrets of Bannon. Sam’s secret gift remains unexplained until he ventures deep into the Lowlands, where light behaves strangely and something begins to glow. The narrative explores the cost of his ability and the identity of the one who paid for it. West structures the plot around this investigation, blending coming-of-age elements with gothic horror tropes. The book suits readers interested in 1970s American small-town mysteries and supernatural fiction involving telepathic protagonists. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or non-fiction historical accounts of Vermont.