Hell Followed with Us
{{Short description|2022 novel by Andrew Joseph White}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox book
|image=Hell Followed with Us cover.jpg
|author=Andrew Joseph White
|country=United States
|language=English
|genre=Dystopia, Horror, Fantasy
|publisher=Peachtree Teen
|pub_date=June 7, 2022
|pages=416
|isbn=9781682633243
|website={{URL|https://andrewjosephwhite.com/hell-followed-with-us}}
}}
Hell Followed With Us is a 2022 dystopian fantasy horror young adult novel by transgender author Andrew Joseph White.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/andrew-joseph-white/hell-followed-with-us/ |title=HELL FOLLOWED WITH US |work=Kirkus Reviews |language=en |access-date=2024-10-21}} It was published to commercial and critical success. An animated film based on the book is currently in production, led by co-producer Lilly Wachowski.
Plot
{{expand section|date=October 2024|complete plot summary}}
Benji, a trans teenager, escaped from the doomsday cult that destroyed the earth's population, but has been affected with a bioweapon virus meant to finish the apocalypse. He is rescued by a local LGBT center, and the leader reveals to Benji that the virus he's infected with will mutate him into a humanity-destroying monster. Despite this, the center's autistic{{cite web |last=Yao |first=JoAnn |title=Q&A With Andrew Joseph White, Hell Followed With Us |url=https://diversebooks.org/qa-with-andrew-joseph-white-hell-followed-with-us/ |website=We Need Diverse Books |access-date=2024-09-16 |date=9 June 2022}} leader Nick allows Benji to join their group of rebels, under the condition that he controls his mutation.
Themes and inspiration
The book considered themes of religious fundamentalism, as well as colonialism, capitalism, and environmentalism.{{Cite web |title=Hell Followed with Us Is a Furious Post-Apocalyptic Tale of Queer Survival |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/books/andrew-joseph-white/hell-followed-with-us-review-andrew-joseph-white |first=Lacy |last=Baugher Milas |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}} Kirkus Reviews praised the book for "engaging critically" with the intersection between White supremacy and colonialism.
White cited video games Far Cry 5 and Dead Space as inspiration for the book,{{Cite web |last=Kirichanskaya |first=Michele |date=2023-09-27 |title=Interview with Andrew Joseph White |url=https://www.geeksout.org/2023/09/27/interview-with-andrew-joseph-white/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Geeks OUT |language=en-US}} as well as Alexander Gordon Smith's Escape from Furnace series.{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=C. K. |title=Spring 2022 Flying Starts: Andrew Joseph White |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/89705-spring-2022-flying-starts-andrew-joseph-white.html |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}
When reviewing Hell Followed with Us, The School Library Journal noted that, "Vivid descriptions of viscera and gory suffering appear on nearly every page", noting that it would appeal specifically to horror movie and body horror fans.{{Cite web |last=Cote |first=Catherine |title=Hell Followed with Us |url=https://www.slj.com/review/hell-followed-with-us |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=School Library Journal}}
The cover art for the novel was created by artist Evangeline Gallagher, who has illustrated covers for Daniel Kraus, Lish McBride, and George A. Romero.{{Cite web |title=Book Covers |url=https://www.evangelinegallagher.com/book-covers |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Evangeline Gallagher |language=en-US}}
Critical reception
Hell Followed With Us was ranked #10 on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller list in August 2022,{{Cite news |date=2022-08-28 |title=Young Adult Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - Books |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/08/28/young-adult-hardcover/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} and was included in The Year-To-Date 2023 Indie Bestsellers List by the American Booksellers Association.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=The Year-To-Date 2023 Indie Bestsellers List |url=https://www.bookweb.org/news/year-date-2023-indie-bestsellers-list-1630048 |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=the American Booksellers Association}} Paste Magazine listed it as one of the Best YA Books of 2022.{{Cite web |title=The Best YA Books of 2022 |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/books/ya-books/best-ya-books-of-2022-young-adult |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}}
It was a finalist for the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2023 Morris Award.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=2023 Morris Award |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2023-morris-award-0 |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) |language=en}} Before its publication, it was featured by Lambda Literacy as one of June 2022's most highly anticipated LGBTQIA+ young adult novels.{{Cite web |author= |date=2022-06-02 |title=June's Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Literature |url=https://lambdaliterary.org/2022/06/junes-most-anticipated-lgbtqia-literature/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Lambda Literary Review |language=en-US}}
Author V. E. Tirado commissioned a custom chest binder based on the novel, gaining significant attention.{{Cite web |last=Marks-Joseph |first=Andrea |date=2023-04-19 |title=In Trying Times, Shapeshifters Makes Gender Euphoria Possible |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/fashion/in-trying-times-shapeshifters-makes-gender-euphoria-possible/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=INTO |language=en-US}}
Upcoming film adaptation
Trustbridge Entertainment acquired the film rights to Hell Followed with Us in 2024. The project is stated to be an anime inspired film, and is being produced in part by Lilly Wachowski of the Matrix franchise.{{Cite web |last=Amidi |first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi |date=2024-09-13 |title=Lilly Wachowski And Powerhouse Animation Developing 'Hell Followed With Us' Into Animated Feature |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/lilly-wachowski-and-powerhouse-animation-developing-hell-followed-with-us-into-animated-feature-242952.html |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:American horror novels
Category:American LGBTQ novels
Category:American young adult novels
Category:Books about trans men
Category:LGBTQ-related young adult novels
Category:LGBTQ speculative fiction novels
Category:Novels about transgender topics
Category:LGBTQ-related horror literature