WHERE YOU'LL FIND US

During a storm, two high school seniors find themselves in a magical place of safety for queer teens on the run.

Lost in the woods, Cal Quick (a white, nonbinary teen) and their girlfriend, Ramona Silva (a Brazilian American lesbian), run through the rain and lightning. It’s a fitting end to a prom night that turned into a disaster after Ramona publicly announced that she’d gathered donations to help Cal pay for Alcott, the women’s college the pair planned to attend together until Cal’s parents disowned them. As they race through the downpour, Cal wishes desperately for more time to sort out their feelings about their gender—and to tell Ramona the truth. Out of nowhere, a light appears from a farmhouse in a clearing. At first, Ramona and Cal plan to stay only until the rain stops, but they soon discover they’re no longer in Indiana or in the year 2026. The house, in the land of Amaranth, is a haven for queer teens from different decades. Through careful plotting and precise, vivid prose that has an emotional impact, St. Jude shares the stories of a diverse, dynamic cast of characters who find comfort and family in one another amid grief. The romantic arcs embrace complexity and validate young love, while offering vital reminders of the reality that not every romance lasts forever. The resolution is a tender and satisfying release.

A deep and affirming exploration of the inevitability of change.