The Way Back - by Gavriel Savit (Paperback)

About the Book

A historical fantasy that follows Eastern European teens Yehuda and Bluma on a journey through the Far Country, the Jewish land of the dead.

Book Synopsis

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST and a SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK, now in paperback! A sweeping historical fantasy that follows two teens on a perilous journey through the Far Country, a Jewish land of spirits and demons. Perfect for readers of Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman.

For the Jews of Eastern Europe, demons are everywhere: dancing on the rooftops in the darkness of midnight, congregating in the trees, harrowing the dead, even reaching out to try and steal away the living.

But the demons have a land of their own: a Far Country peopled with the souls of the transient dead, governed by demonic dukes, barons, and earls. When the Angel of Death comes strolling through the little shtetl of Tupik one night, two young people will be sent spinning off on a journey through the Far Country. There they will make pacts with ancient demons, declare war on Death himself, and maybe-- just maybe--find a way to make it back alive.

Review Quotes

"Lyrical and fantastic.... Steeped in the rich traditions of ghost stories and Jewish folklore, this remarkable feat of storytelling is sure to delight." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A bewitching allegorical adventure comprised of small, beautifully composed moments." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Savit builds the action with a storyteller's assured cadences, creating a story rich in elements of Jewish folk tradition and flashes of both humor and the grotesque." --The Bulletin, starred review

"This work of prodigious imagination is especially notable in its author's uncanny ability to create a visceral suspense that captures readers' attention and won't let go as the pages fly by." --Booklist, starred review

"Savit crafts an absorbing fantasy and gives teens plenty to contemplate about life, love, storytelling, and family." --The Horn Book

"Darkly charming." --Vox

About the Author

Gavriel Savit holds a BFA in musical theater from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he grew up. As an actor and singer, Gavriel has performed on three continents, from New York to Brussels to Tokyo. He is also the author of Anna and the Swallow Man, which the New York Times called "a splendid debut." Learn more about Gavriel on the Web at GavrielSavit.com.