ABOUT THE BOOK
A Lake With No Bottom
by H.D. Hunter
Ages 12-18
When Sidney Cromwell moves to rural Forsyth County, Georgia from the big city of Atlanta, all he wants is to fit in at his new high school. But when Sidney nearly drowns in Lake Lanier, an allegedly haunted lake that is the site of numerous inexplicable freak accidents and deaths, he becomes a social pariah as he starts to suffer terrifying visions from the past and hauntings by apparitions calling him to Lanier.
Sidney returns to the lake for answers, and he finds in its murky depths the spirits of former residents from Oscarville, the Black town that lies beneath the man-made lake. They enlist Sidney to remind Forsyth of its devastating history and push its citizens to make amends so that the souls in Oscarville can finally rest.
But Sidney soon learns that people will go to great lengths to avoid facing truths they’d rather not hear. The people of Forsyth County refuse to acknowledge the past, and as Oscarville’s populace starts to lose their patience, their rage and thirst for vengeance rise like a tidal wave.
Poignant, timely, and utterly terrifying, this gripping supernatural thriller is perfect for fans of Internment, She Is a Haunting, and You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight.
About the Author
Hugh “H. D.” Hunter is from Atlanta, Georgia. He’s the author of the Futureland series and Something Like Right, winner of the 2025 BCALA Children and Youth Literary Award for Debut. Hugh is committed to stories about Black kids and their many expansive worlds.
Praise for A Lake With No Bottom
“Hunter skillfully explores themes of memory, accountability, and the dangers of sanitized history… The novel’s blend of horror and history makes it a compelling, if at times heavy, read.” –School Library Journal
“A Lake with No Bottom dives into the real-world horrors of Lake Lanier, cleverly intertwining scares with mixed media and fantastical elements. An exciting read!” –Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting
“Eerie and haunting, A Lake with No Bottom will pull you under with its delightful spell.” –Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation
“A coming of age tale set in a town haunted by buried past. A Lake With No Bottom deftly weaves together hidden histories, a supernatural mystery, and one boy’s search for the truth. An imaginative, gripping, and enjoyable read!” –P. Djèlí Clark, author of Abeni and the Kingdom of Gold and Ring Shout
