WEST OF THE SEA

Amid literal and emotional droughts, two sisters must find their mother and themselves during a road trip.

Eleven-year-old Texan Haven and her older sister, Margie, are connected in odd ways to magic by their Scottish heritage. Their maternal grandparents came from Orkney, and Margie and Mama share red hair and eyes that change color with their moods. Meanwhile, Haven has started seeing the ghosts of prehistoric animals whenever she touches fossils, which her mom has an uncanny knack for finding. Her mom has been depressed and distant since her parents died a year ago, and after Haven glimpses her looking frighteningly inhuman, Mama leaves in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Haven discovers that whenever she comes into contact with salt water, she transforms into a kitskara, or scaly cryptid that can breathe underwater. To get answers and find Mama, Haven and Margie (who has her learner’s permit) join new neighbor Rye, who volunteers his dad’s coffee truck for the search. Black and Mexican Rye, who’s upset that his parents moved them from Austin to the middle of nowhere, is up for an adventure. On their journey to the Gulf of Mexico, Haven’s developing powers dovetail well with themes of preserving past love while making room for change. Though Haven’s closeness with Rye feels rushed, the sometimes-contentious but overwhelmingly supportive sibling dynamic grounds this story about healing and growth.

Intriguing mythology with a prehistoric twist and an endearing family focus.