Suffer a Witch

FOUR STARRED REVIEWS • A stunning memoir in verse about sexual abuse, survival, and sisterhood from the New York Times bestselling author of Blood Water Paint.

Joy McCullough’s earliest memories are of time spent in church, moments when she climbed the steps to recite from the pulpit, just like her preacher father. But when she was a teenager in San Diego in the 1990s, her connection to her family and church were forever altered when a youth pastor groomed and sexually assaulted Joy.

In her debut memoir, McCullough pairs achingly raw poems recalling her abuse and its aftermath with hopeful, challenging verses about her life today as she seeks healing and justice in a country that rewards men for sexual abuse and still insists “girls these days will say anything.”

Among the poems, McCullough also weaves prose letters to historical girls and women—from Joan of Arc to Abigail Williams—whose lives and stories were ignored when they were caught in the maelstrom of witchcraft accusations.

Suffer a Witch shines a bright, unsparing light on one woman’s experience—and on those of generations of women who came before her.

Everything Is Poison

A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • This young adult historical novel tells the story of the women who risk everything to provide care for those with nowhere else to turn and the deadly secrets hiding in plain sight.

“Bracing . . . Enrapturing . . . This eloquent, rapid-fire novel is rich in cadence and history.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“An unforgettable novel of courage, chemistry, and female solidarity in a casually violent, misogynistic world.”—The Horn Book, starred review

Early seventeenth-century Rome . . .

For as long as she can remember, Carmela Tofana has desperately wanted one thing: to be a part of La Tofana’s, her mother’s apothecary in Campo Marzio, Rome. When she finally turns sixteen, she’s allowed into the inner sanctum: the workroom where her mother and two assistants craft renowned remedies for their customers. But for every sweet-smelling flower extract in the work-room, there’s another potion requiring darker ingredients. And then there’s Aqua Tofana, the apothecary’s remedy of last resort. In all Carmela’s years of wishing to follow in her mother’s footsteps, she never realized one tiny vial could be the death of them all.

Enter the Body

A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Shakespeare’s most tragic heroines find new voices in this compelling novel-in-verse for young adults.

“Radically creative . . . This provocative book could inspire all kinds of fresh approaches to the plays, not to mention lots of engaging writing projects for students.”—The Washington Post

“A strong, powerful look at the bonds women share and the power telling stories has to unburden us all.”—School Library Connection, starred review

Enter the Body gives voice to a cast of the young women who die in Shakespeare’s most iconic plays. Focusing on the stories of Juliet, Ophelia, and Cordelia, bestselling author of Blood Water Paint Joy McCullough brilliantly weaves retellings of Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, and King Lear into a larger story of young women reclaiming their stories in the aftermath of trauma. Join these iconic characters on their journey as they navigate love, betrayal, and ultimately, redemption.

Kestrel Takes Flight

TWO STARRED REVIEWS • A girl learns to stand up for herself and embrace the true meaning of home against the backdrop of the Montana wilderness in this heartfelt novel in verse by acclaimed author Joy McCullough that is a “quietly powerful exploration of courage, chosen family, and learning to trust yourself” (Booklist).

A kestrel
is the smallest
bird of prey
in North America.

Kestrel doesn’t feel much like the fierce bird for which she is named. Not after being rushed away from her grandfather’s strict church community to the wilds of Montana. Her mother has gotten a job at a conservation institute, where she’ll work with a special breed of dog to help make interactions between humans and bears safer.

At first, Kes is terrified of the dogs and angry at her mother for ripping her from the only world she’s known. But with some distance from her grandfather, she starts to understand how badly his bark hurt. In this new terrain, can Kestrel discover a safe place to spread her wings and soar?