Dust Spells

Lynn weaves historical fiction, fairy tale lore, and simmering romance to craft an electric and harrowing Dust Bowl–era debut. When teenager Stella Fischer meets handsome drifter Lloyd, he quickly endears himself to her family. Stella has no patience for romance, however; she’s too busy brewing and selling moonshine in secret to raise money. After the family invites Lloyd to stay with them as a hired hand, he repays them by revealing a place in the woods full of resources the family sorely needs. Further discoveries reveal a portal to a lush, phantasmagorical mirror world filled with food, trees, and sunshine, all presided over by a mysterious man who conjures dazzling visions at will. But there’s a price to pay for entrance into this dreamworld. As old debts come to light, Stella must protect the people she loves at all costs. With one foot entrenched in the brutal reality of the Great Depression and the other in a fantastical utopia, the novel never sacrifices the urgency of human need while establishing its supernatural charm. A passionate romance between the white leads, enlivened by snappy banter and rock-solid emotional stakes, adds further depth to this vibrant tale. Ages 13–up. (May)