Split the Sky - by Marie Arnold (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In a town with growing racial tension, a young Black girl must use her powers of foresight to save an unarmed teen from being killed"--

Book Synopsis

In this haunting story about family, legacy, and sacrifice, a young Black girl living in a Texas sundown town must find the courage to stand up for what's right even when it means facing impossible choices--perfect for fans of Dear Martin and The Hate U Give.

Fifteen-year-old Lala Russell is doing a bad job at being a Black girl. She has social justice fatigue, and she doesn't want to join the Black Alliance Club at her school (even though she agrees with them). A gifted cellist, she's focused on leaving her small town and accomplishing her goals and dreams. But Lala has also inherited another gift, her grandmother Sadie's gift of foresight. She has visions of the future--and they always come true.

In Davey, the Texas sundown town she lives in, there is growing tension, as a Black organization attempts to diversify the nearly all-white part of town. Amidst violent protests, Lala has a vision. In it, a Black teenage boy is shot in the chest by a white homeowner. Now Lala has a mission: find the boy and save him.

But Grandma Sadie has a vision too. After the boy's murder, a wave of protests breaks out. And the outrage over the casual and frequent slaying of unarmed Black children will result in unprecedented change. Change that won't happen if the vision is altered. Lala is faced with an existential question--can she allow herself to sacrifice one life to, in turn, save many? And if so, whose life will she choose?

Review Quotes

* "Steeped in Black history, tough moral dilemmas, and poignant depictions of contemporary social conflict, this is a thought-provoking journey with plenty of heart and surprises. Fully realized characters and fantasy elements offer a riveting look into one Black teen's struggle to use her voice and harness her magic."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Lala's character arc is filled with compassion, and the first-person narrative deftly wields aspects of speculative fiction to show how history informs the present... A profound reminder that social revolutions are never bloodless or linear victories."--Kirkus

About the Author

Marie Arnold was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti and came to America at the age of seven. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York alongside her extended family. She attended Columbia College in Chicago, where her main focus was creative writing. As Lola StVil, she is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling indie author. Over two million readers have downloaded her young adult fantasy series Guardians. She currently has 3 projects under development at Disney Junior and Disney Plus, one of which is an animated show based on her middle grade novel The Year I Flew Away.