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 as the island’s secrets begin to unravel, will the magic she finds be a gift or a curse?

• Generational Magic: The Fernweh women have always been magical. But as Georgina’s eighteenth birthday approaches without a spark, she fears she’ll be the first in her family to be ordinary.
• Sapphic Romance: Amid the island’s strange happenings, Georgina finds herself falling for the intriguing new girl, Prue, in a tender and atmospheric first love story.
• A Legendary Bird: The island’s famous 300-year-old bird, a transformed ancestor, is not just late for her summer visit—she’s found murdered, plunging the town into suspicion.
• Sisterhood and Secrets: As the mystery deepens, Georgina must uncover the truth not just about the island, but about her twin sister, Mary, whose own magic holds dangerous secrets.

★ “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