Smaller Evil, The

Arman’s life is a shambles – his stepfather is a drug dealer, his mother is distant, and he must manage ADHD and severe anxiety, so when he attends a spiritual retreat and meets the charismatic leader Beau, he feels he has finally found a male role model. But, when he joins the community he discovers forced meditations, violent initiations, and secretive goals which compound his insecurities, and when he leaves he is embroiled in murder, lies, and manipulation. This engaging novel for grades 10-12 deals with timely issues of personal awareness, relationships, self-actualization, empathy, personal and social identity, mental health, stigma, moral issues, and ethics.