The Assassin's Guide to Babysitting

This fast-paced young adult thriller introduces Tru, a 17-year-old with a powerful, hidden 'bastion' Talent that makes her virtually indestructible. Orphaned after her parents' murder, she's trained as an assassin by a recluse. The story kicks off when a babysitting gig goes awry, thrusting Tru into a high-stakes chase to protect an infant, uncover the truth about her parents' death, and understand her own identity and power. Themes of found family, self-acceptance, and trust are woven into the action, alongside a sweet, budding queer romance. It's a compelling read for teens exploring identity and belonging amidst thrilling adventure.

"Parker breathes new life into the assassin genre, seamlessly combining the action and world-building of John Wick with themes of power, found family, and what it means to step into the light and truly be yourself--all wrapped up in some of my favorite tropes. Fast-paced fun that hits you right in the feels!"--Rebecca Coffindaffer, author of Crownchasers Tru has been hiding all her life. Her parents taught her to conceal her bastion Talent: indestructible skin, muscles, and bones. In a world where Talents are common and varied, no one trusts a bastion--they're too powerful. Hiding failed to keep Tru's parents alive, but moments before their murder, Tru's mom pointed her to Logan Dire, a famed recluse assassin who adopted and trained orphaned Tru. At seventeen, she's still hiding. Not even her closest friends know her true name or Talent, or that she's balancing high school with knife and stealth training (while crushing on her BFF's older sister). When assassins interrupt a mundane babysitting job booked through BountyApp--where lethal hunters find work and babysitters for their kids--Tru flees with a one-year-old strapped to her chest and spiraling questions: Who killed her parents? Whom can she trust? What does it mean to be a bastion? And is it ever OK to kiss a girl who's trying to hunt you down? From an award-winning author comes a masterfully plotted thriller that holds character and relationship on a par with action and nail-biting suspense.