Salt Bones

Givhan (River Woman, River Demon) mesmerizes with this masterful retelling of the story of Persephone and Demeter, set on the California-Mexico border. Malamar “Mal” Veracruz has lived in the dying town of El Valle, near the edge of the Salton Sea, for her entire life. Neither she nor her neglectful, emotionally abusive mother have ever left. After Mal’s sister went missing as a teenager, Mal stepped up to raise her baby brother before having two children of her own. Ever since, she’s been haunted by her mother’s contempt, by a fierce determination to protect her own daughters, and recently, by visions of a horse-headed spirit woman from local legend, which convinces her that her family is in imminent danger. When another girl goes missing from El Valle, Mal and her daughters embark on an arduous journey to find her­—and perhaps confront the long-ago fate of Mal’s sister. Givhan thoroughly evokes the harsh beauty of her setting, weaving folklore, mystery, and horror into a breathtaking tapestry. It’s a stunning examination of generational trauma. Agent: Rebecca Friedman, Rebecca Friedman Literary. (July)