Inspired by YA debut author K. Ibura’s own upbringing in New Orleans, this is a beautifully written and lyrical contemporary novel with magical elements. Perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and Shadowshaper.

After her parents passed away in Hurricane Katrina, Veronique (a.k.a. V) moved to her MawMaw’s house in the Louisiana countryside. MawMaw always said that Veronique needed to hide her control and power over the wind, but one day, she has to use it to save a neighbor’s son from drowning. To protect Veronique, her MawMaw immediately sends her to live with an aunt in New Orleans.

But NOLA is nothing like Veronique could have imagined—she’s finally attending traditional school, she gets to bond with cousins that she’s never met, and she even rides on her first highway. Though she quickly falls in with a group of friends at school—and one boy who she’d like to be more than her friend—there’s also a higher risk of discovery in the city. When one of her cousin's friends figures out the truth, V learns about a secret organization called the Vaunted, a group that comes after people with elemental magic and recruits them for their own environmental rebellion.

Now that Veronique is on their radar, the Vaunted is closing in quickly, and V is forced on the run to hide from their sinister intentions. V’s left with two major questions: Can she trust anyone? And will she ever get a chance to be a normal girl again?