What the River Knows

Ibañez (Together We Burn) presents a captivating historical novel full of magical intrigue and archaeological adventure, set in 1884. Argentinian and Bolivian 19-year-old Inez Olivera wants nothing more than to join her parents on one of their mysterious archaeology trips that take them to Egypt six months out of the year, leaving her in Buenos Aires with her aunt and cousin. But when news of her parents’ disappearance and deaths arrives, Inez is left with an inherited fortune and a reticent uncle who refuses to provide information on her parents’ vanishing. Thus, Inez boards a ship to Cairo seeking answers and is met at the port by Whitford Hayes, her uncle’s handsome yet exasperating English assistant, who’s been instructed to send her home. Not one to be deterred easily, Inez disguises herself as a crew hand and stows away on her uncle’s boat that’s heading toward the Nile—and, hopefully, toward the truth. A lively cast and a heaping helping of banter-filled romance radiate from this seamless blend of history, mystery, and mythology. Inez is a resourceful, headstrong heroine whom readers can’t help but cheer on as she single-mindedly pursues her goals and uncovers secrets bigger than she ever imagined. Ages 13–up. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Oct.)