Before the Devil Knows You’re Here
Before the Devil Knows You’re Here by Autumn Krause, published by Holiday House on October 3, 2023, is a captivating blend of dark gothic fantasy and surreal storytelling. Set in 1836 Wisconsin, the narrative follows Catalina, a determined young woman living in a cabin with her father and brother. As harsh winters threaten their survival, tragedy strikes when Catalina’s father falls ill. In the wake of his death, a mysterious figure known as the Man of Sap appears, taking her brother and leaving behind a crimson-winged bird. Driven by love and desperation, Catalina embarks on a perilous journey to rescue him.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of American folklore interwoven with elements of fantasy and historical fiction. As Catalina navigates the treacherous woods, she encounters a young lumberjack who shares her quest and faces strange beasts and tormented spirits along the way. The story delves into themes of family, sacrifice, and the intertwining of destinies, all while exploring the haunting legacy of cursed seeds. With 240 pages of vivid prose, this edition invites readers into a world where myth and reality collide, making it a compelling addition to the young adult fiction genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
Part dark gothic fantasy, part journey into the bizarre, this delicious blending of tall tales and Latin American surrealism will haunt you as you devour it!
“Highly imaginative and powerfully affecting.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
1836, Wisconsin. Catalina lives with her pa and brother in a ramshackle cabin on the edge of the wilderness. Harsh winters have brought the family to the brink of starvation, and Catalina has replaced her poet’s soul with an unyielding determination to keep Pa and her brother alive.
When a sudden illness claims Pa, a strange man appears—a man covered in bark, leaves growing from his head, and sap dripping from his eyes. He scoops up her brother and disappears, leaving behind a bird with crimson wings. Catalina can’t let this man—if that’s what he is—have her brother. So, she grabs Pa’s knife and follows the bird.
Along the way, she finds help from a young lumberjack, who has his own reasons for hunting the Man of Sap. As their journey takes them deeper into the woods, they encounter strange beasts and tormented spirits. The more they uncover about the Man of Sap, the more they learn how deeply Catalina’s fate is entwined with his, planted long ago in cursed seeds.
An enchanting mixture of American tall tales and Faustian elements, Before the Devil Knows You’re Here centers a fierce Mexican American poet on a quest to save her brother. Autumn Krause’s vivid, haunting prose and rich symbolism make this a must-read for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Erin Craig.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year
A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year!
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