The Way Back

by Gavriel Savit

First published 2020

The Angel of Death walks through Tupik, a small Eastern European shtetl, on a night that changes everything. Two young people find themselves thrust into the Far Country, a supernatural realm where demons rule as dukes and barons over the souls of the dead. This otherworld pulses with ancient spirits that dance on rooftops and lurk in trees, always seeking to claim the living. The teens must navigate this treacherous landscape of demonic nobility and restless souls. They strike bargains with creatures older than memory and ultimately challenge Death itself. Their quest becomes a race against supernatural forces, testing whether courage and cleverness can overcome the ultimate enemy. Savit weaves Jewish folklore into their dark adventure, creating a world where the boundary between life and death grows thin and two young people must find the strength to fight their way home.

Genres: adventure, fantasy, folklore, jewish

Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful

Tropes: found-family, race-against-time

Setting: Eastern Europe, Tupik

368 pages · Library Binding · Knopf Books for Young Readers

Content warnings: death

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