Summer of Salt

Magic passed down through generations. An island where strange things happen. One summer that will become legend.

Practical Magic meets Nova Ren Suma’s Imaginary Girls and Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap in this lush, atmospheric novel by acclaimed author Katrina Leno.

Georgina Fernweh waits impatiently for the tingle of magic in her fingers—magic that has touched every woman in her family. But with her eighteenth birthday looming at the end of this summer, Georgina fears her gift will never come.

Over the course of her last summer on the island—a summer of storms, falling in love, and the mystery behind one rare three-hundred-year-old bird—Georgina will learn the truth about magic, in all its many forms.

Praise for Katrina Leno:

“Leno’s writing is flawless. Readers of all ages will find themselves swept away.” —VOYA

“Charming and sophisticated.” —Kirkus

“Crackles with wit, humor, and enormous love.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Introduces a fierce new presence.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

But on an island that smells of salt and secrets, some truths are buried for a reason. What will Georgina unearth?

• Sapphic Romance: The arrival of the mysterious Prue offers a chance at first love, but her secrets might be as deep as the waters surrounding the island.
• Twin Sisters: While Georgina waits for her magic, her twin, Mary, is already flying. But as the summer unfolds, the secrets keeping them apart become more dangerous than the truth that could unite them.
• Murder Mystery: The island’s legendary, three-hundred-year-old bird is found dead, turning a magical summer into a hunt for a killer who might be hiding in plain sight.
• Magical Realism: An unforgettable island setting where the air smells of salt and spells, and every woman in the Fernweh family is born with a unique and unpredictable gift.

★ “Sophisticated and complex. A necessary novel that is, at the same time, so enjoyable to read that teens will have to fight the urge to crawl into the pages.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

“A fanciful, whimsical novel. Leno mixes small-town island life and the loving bond between sisters with light magical elements as well as weightier issues that are examined with nuance and maturity.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

★ “Equal parts fantasy, romance, and mystery, this book shimmers with an irresistible energy.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A tale that combines sumptuous old-fashioned storytelling and modern feminist themes.”   - Chicago Tribune