First published 2025
Bessie Holland is fourteen and desperate for love in early twentieth century Texas. America faces violence beyond anything it has known before. Bessie discovers a kindred spirit in her English teacher, a brilliant suffragette tormented by her own demons. This mentor pushes Bessie to battle the evil forces surrounding her world. An oil company tears apart the vast Texas landscape while a dangerous man with a brutal history threatens everything Bessie holds dear. She stands ready to protect her home and family. When Bessie accidentally kills an unarmed man while defending her father Hackberry, she must escape to New York. Her older brother connects her with boys destined to become gangsters. These children see something special in Bessie's courage and determination as she enters their world of crime that craves both justice and compassion. Burke returns to his Holland family saga with a cast of luminous heroes and vile villains. This epic follows one extraordinary girl's battle against forces that could destroy her.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, mentor-mentee
Setting: Texas, New York
Period: Early 20th Century
368 pages · Hardcover · Orion
Content warnings: violence