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A PSALM FOR LOST GIRLS

Katie Bayerl

Think of this as I’ll Give You the Sun meets True Detective in this brilliant YA debut about saints, sisters, and learning to let go. A Psalm for Lost Girls is in equal parts a heartrending sister story, flickering romance and chilling mystery--demonstrating the author's astonishing range and narrative skill.
Tess da Costa is a saint—a hand-to-god, miracle-producing saint. At least that’s what the people in her hometown of New Avon, Massachusetts, seem to believe. And when Tess suddenly and tragically passes away, her small city begins feverishly petitioning the Pope to make Tess’s sainthood official. Tess’s mother is ecstatic over the fervor, while her sister Callie, the one who knew Tess best, is disgusted—overcome with the feeling that her sister is being stolen from her all over again.

The fervor for Tess’s sainthood only grows when Ana Langone, a local girl who’s been missing for six months, is found alive at the foot of one of Tess’s shrines. It’s the final straw for Callie. With the help of Tess’s secret boyfriend Danny, Callie’s determined to prove that Tess was something far more important than a saint; she was her sister, her best friend and a girl in love with a boy. But Callie’s investigation uncovers much more than she bargained for—a hidden diary, old family secrets, and even the disturbing truth behind Ana’s kidnapping. Told in alternating perspectives, A Psalm for Lost Girls is at once funny, creepy and soulful—an impressive debut from a rising literary star.

When Katie Bayerl isn't penning stories, she coaches teens and nonprofits to tell theirs. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has taught creative writing in schools and a variety of community settings. Katie has an incurable obsession with saints, bittersweet ballads, and murder. A Psalm for Lost Girls is her first novel.
Available products
Book

Published 2017-03-14 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Book

Published 2017-03-14 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Comments

A PSALM FOR LOST GIRLS is featured in Bustle's “Most Anticipated Young Adult Debuts of 2017”, and “The 16 Best Young Adult Books Coming In March 2017” round-up! Read more...

TeenVogue.com (7.7 million unique visitors/ month) has included it in their roundup of “New YA Books to Read in March 2017.” Read more...

Richly and evocatively written, Bayerl’s story is ideal for fans of Jandy Nelson and Melina Marchetta.

Bustle (29.4 million unique visitors/ month) has posted Katie Bayerl’s listicle, titled “9 Lady Saints Who Need Their Own Novels As Soon As Possible.” Read more...

...packed with vivid cultural scenery, this ambitious debut offers readers a journey worth taking. Read more...

[A]gripping story of loss and grace. . . .Richly and evocatively written, Bayerl’s story is ideal for fans of Jandy Nelson and Melina Marchetta.

School Library Journal highlighted A PSALM FOR LOST GIRLS in their roundup of March releases. Read more...

Lyrical and nuanced, yet simultaneously witty and down-to-earth, Bayerl’s debut will appeal to a wide range of readers. Read more...

A Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated YA Debut of 2017

BN Teen Book Blog has included it in four roundups including, “27 of Our Most Anticipated March YA Books,” “15 of Our Most Anticipated YA Debuts of 2017,” “10 of Our Most Anticipated YA Thrillers of 2017,” and the “2017 Pre-Order Guide.” Read more...