Bestselling young-adult author Andrew Joseph White will launch his new thriller You're No Better at Reston Regional Library on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m.

The free event, hosted by Bards Alley Bookshop, pairs White with bookseller and indie author Alice Scott for a conversation about the novel. A book signing follows, with copies of You're No Better and both authors' backlist titles available for purchase from Bards Alley.

White's latest novel follows 17-year-old Morgan Slaughter, who put his serial killer father in prison years ago. According to the Fairfax County library event listing, the story centers on Morgan's struggle to prove he is not destined to become his father, even as a documentary crew, a volatile mother and a classmate with dangerous knowledge close in around him.

The novel is described on the library listing as "a gritty and unapologetic coming-of-age suspense about teens who grew up surrounded by cruelty and are clawing their way to adulthood the only way they know how."

White grew up in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and earned his MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University. He lives in Virginia with his wife and their cat. His previous novels include Hell Followed With Us, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth and Compound Fracture.

Scott, a Bards Alley bookseller, is the author of two chapbooks, The Practical Man's Guide to Cheating Death and You Are Not Your Bones and Lesser Misfortunes. Scott also has a story in Reverent: An Anthology of Divinity, edited by Quinton Li, which will be available for purchase at the event.

Both Scott and White hold creative writing degrees from George Mason University.

The event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and is open to ages 13 and older. Registration is required through the Reston Regional Library calendar. Residents can also preorder a signed copy of You're No Better by calling Bards Alley at (571) 459-2653.

Upcoming community events:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 27: Andrew Joseph White book launch, Reston Regional Library, 7 p.m. Free; registration required.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day 5K, Reston Town Center.