cover image Split the Sky

Split the Sky

Marie Arnold. Little, Brown, $19.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-316-58287-2

Arnold (I Was Told There Would Be Romance) wields a fantastical premise to examine the effects of systemic racism in this speculative social justice narrative. Fifteen-year-old Lala Russell is a talented cellist who dreams of pursuing a career in music far away from the sundown town of Davey, Tex. She also possesses a generational gift for premonition, passed down through the Black women in her family. Though classmates pressure her to join her school’s Black Alliance, and hate groups stage counterprotests in response to town diversity initiatives, Lala has no desire to engage in social activism because “there’s always some race‑based problem to rage, fight, and protest against.” When she has a vision of a Black Alliance student being killed, Lala resolves to prevent it, but her grandmother warns that if she interferes, she could potentially derail “the next nationwide Civil Rights Movement.” Now Lala must decide if sacrificing one person for the betterment of others is worth the progress it would bring. Steeped in Black history, tough moral dilemmas, and poignant depictions of contemporary social conflict, this is a thought-provoking journey with plenty of heart and surprises. Fully realized characters and fantasy elements offer a riveting look into one Black teen’s struggle to use her voice and harness her magic. Ages 12–up. Agent: Allison Remcheck, Stimola Literary. (Sept.)
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