Set in the independent Jewish empire of Khazaria in the tenth century, Ziva and her twin brother, Pesah, search desperately for a cure to Pesah’s leprosy. Although Pesah resides in a separate building to avoid transmission of his disease, Ziva can’t stay away from her twin. Who else will change his bandages? The two concoct experimental salves to try to cure Pesah’s sores, but when Ziva overhears her uncle’s plan to send Pesah to a colony where he will eventually die, she takes drastic measures. Escaping with the family wagon, the twins head for Byzantium, where they hope to find doctors. They feel a particular urgency after Pesah has a vision in which he meets malach ha-mavet, the Angel of Death, on Rosh Hashanah—the holiday is fast approaching. Along the way, Ziva frees a sheyd, or demon, from captivity; in turn, he leads the twins to a city called Luz, where malach ha-mavet is not permitted. But Luz is not what the twins expect; a life there will be devoid of pleasure and meaning. Unwilling to simply leave and let Pesah die, Ziva attempts to bargain with the Angel of Death. A novel firmly grounded in Khazarian Jewish culture avoids the problematic trap of magical healing for Pesah; instead, Ziva’s and Pesach’s painful, heartbreaking acceptance of Pesah’s approaching death is thoughtfully and sensitively portrayed.  (Ages 9-12)

In this historical fantasy novel, praised as a “rich, omen-filled journey that powerfully shows love and its limits*” and “propulsive, wise, and heartbreaking,”** Ziva will do anything to save her twin brother Pesah from his illness—even facing the Angel of Death himself. From Sydney Taylor Honor winner and National Jewish Book Award finalist Sofiya Pasternack.

Pesah has lived with leprosy for years, and the twins have spent most of that time working on a cure. Then Pesah has a vision: The Angel of Death will come for him on Rosh Hashanah, just one month away.

So Ziva takes her brother and runs away to find doctors who can cure him. But when they meet and accidentally free a half-demon boy, he suggests paying his debt by leading them to the fabled city of Luz, where no one ever dies—the one place Pesah will be safe.

They just need to run faster than The Angel of Death can fly...

(*Publishers Weekly, starred review; **Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

• An Unbreakable Sibling Bond: Ziva would face down demons and angels for her twin brother, Pesah. She will not let him die, no matter the cost.
• A Desperate Quest: With only a month until the Angel of Death is prophesied to arrive, Ziva and Pesah must journey to the one place he can’t be taken: the mythical city of Luz.
• Demons and Angels: Their path is complicated when they free Almas, a half-demon, or sheyd, who offers to guide them—all while the dreaded malach ha-mavet, the Angel of Death, draws closer.
• Immersive Historical World: Set in the ancient Khazar Empire, this middle grade adventure blends deep history with powerful mythology for a journey you won’t forget.