The following version of this novel was used in the creation of this study guide: Schrieve, Hal. Out of Salem. Seven Stories Press. 2019. Hardcover.

After the death of their entire family in a car crash, a genderqueer Z is revived as a zombie. Just before they are taken to New York by their abusive Uncle Hugh, Z manages to convince the police to let them stay with the elderly Mrs. Dunnigan instead. However, Z faces scorn at school over their new zombie nature as one of the teachers, Mr. Holmes, is clearly against them. At Aysel’s home, it is revealed on the news that a man named Archie Pagan, a man who worked with unregistered werewolves, was supposedly killed by a werewolf named Timothy Morris.

Z decides to go to Mr. Weber for help and meets Aysel, an unregistered werewolf. The two become fast friends and Z explains their gender queerness to Aysel who promises to call Z by the name they prefer. Mr. Weber promises to help Z find books on necromancy to learn how to fix the seal that is holding their body together. Z goes to Aysel’s house and meets her mother, Azra. Later, it is revealed that Aysel is gay.

Mr. Weber and Z go to Willamette University and sneak into the restricted section with an invisibility spell. However, Z finds that the necromancy books are gone. Mr. Weber is arrested as Z escapes. Aysel is upset with Z thinking that they sacrificed Mr. Weber for themselves. On the bus, it is revealed that there is a supermoon coming. The next day, Aysel sees Tommy is being bullied and stands up for him even though the principal does not believe that the bully, Charley, is actually a problem. Aysel goes to Mrs. Dunnigan’s house with Z and learns about Mrs. Dunnigan’s shapeshifter wife Cassie and the lore behind a selkie. Mrs. Dunnigan reveals that the police think there is a werewolf terrorist ring.

On another day, Mr. Weber returns to school and refuses to work with Z again. Z goes to their family’s grave and wishes they could bury themselves, but they meet Tommy who stops them and explains that he is trying to bring Archie, his therapist, back from the dead. Z learns that Tommy is the one who stole the necromancy books which confirms that the magic holding Z together can be recast. They and Aysel decide to create a potion using Aysel’s werewolf magic and have Z drink it on the supermoon.

Aysel then meets werewolves Elaine and Chad when she transforms and Elaine invites her to the movies. Meanwhile, Tommy visits Z’s house and puts magic into the sigil on Z’s chest to help with the spell. Z drinks the potion and feels healthier. The next morning, they learn two werewolves were murdered after supposedly attacking a man. Later, the students join a rally where Charley’s father demands stricter regulations on monsters. Aysel then meets Elaine and other werewolves at a safe house and agrees to attend a meeting the next day against Azra’s wishes. Meanwhile, a mob attacks Mrs. Dunnigan’s book store and finds her selkie skin, forcing her back to the ocean.

Aysel and Z attend the werewolf meeting when the police invade, shooting and capturing many werewolves. They and Elaine escape and meet with Tommy who reveals that he is the one who killed Archie. The group decides to break into Archie’s office and burn the documents revealing the unregistered werewolves he treated. They are caught but escape after destroying what they can. Z tries to return home but is forced to leave with Elaine and Tommy to Mr. Weber’s home instead. He decides to try and sneak them out of the city but they are stopped by police when his car breaks down at a light. Z and Tommy are captured as Elaine flees to Aysel’s home. Mr. Weber breaks the sigil on Z’s body, unleashing powerful magic that transforms the world around them. Aysel arrives and the group plus Elaine and Azra are seemingly transported to a forest. The novel ends as they walk up to a home.