The Witching Wind

Analytical 12-year-old foster kid Grayson Patch, who reads as white, has just been placed in the care of a new family in Silas County, Tenn., without her older sister. Her only solaces are sarcasm and the Christmas lights she strings around her walker, which she uses to assist with the decreased mobility caused by a bone disorder. Then she meets Roxie Darling, also 12, who was born with music in her heart and a famous folk singer grandmother. Roxie has been contending with bullying, as well as anxiety—the Dreads, as she calls it—which she considers part and parcel of her Appalachian heritage. As Grayson, Roxie, and several new friends grow closer, they soon learn that each of them has lost something to the Witching Wind, a legendary force that’s known to carry off objects, people, and memories alike. Lloyd (Hummingbird) weaves a tale of music, culture, and friendship in this bewitching love letter to hope, adventure, and life’s wild places. Collaboration toward a common goal and themes of weathering emotional and physical challenges lay the groundwork while found family dynamics, modeling of adaptive coping mechanisms, and open-minded characters delighting in possibility make for a story that encourages acceptance and inclusivity. Grayson and Roxie cue as white. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)