by T. J. Klune
First published 2018
Nate Cartwright arrives at his family's mountain cabin in Oregon with his life in ruins. His parents are dead, his brother has cut him off, and he's lost his journalism career in Washington DC. The spring of 1995 finds him with nowhere else to turn. He expects to find the cabin empty, but discovers a man named Alex inside with a peculiar little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. The girl possesses abilities that mark her as something beyond ordinary. As Nate learns more about Artemis, he realizes that dangerous forces are closing in on them. These people want to capture and control the girl for her special powers. Nate faces a crucial decision between retreating into his grief or protecting this strange child who has appeared in his life. The choice will determine whether he remains trapped by his losses or fights for an unexpected future with Alex and Artemis.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Oregon, Washington DC
Period: 1995
386 pages · Paperback · BOATK Books
Content warnings: anxiety, mental-illness