For Girls Who Walk Through Fire

Age range 14+

Those who would suppress and destroy you stand not a chance when confronted with the power that lies within these pages...

Elliott D'Angelo-Brandt is sick and tired of putting up with it all. Every week, she attends a support group for teen victims of sexual assault, but all they do is talk. Elliott's done with talking. What she wants is justice. And she has a plan for getting it: a spell book that she found in her late mum's belongings that actually works. Elliott recruits a coven of fellow survivors from the group. She, Madeline, Chloe, and Bea don't have much in common, but they are united in their rage at a system that heaps judgments on victims and never seems to punish those who deserve it.

As they each take a turn casting a hex against their unrepentant assailants, the girls find themselves leaning on each other in ways they never expected - and realising that revenge has heavy implications. Each member of the coven will have to make a choice: continue down the path of magical vigilantism or discover what it truly means to claim their power.

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire is a fierce, deeply moving novel about perseverance in the face of injustice and the transformational power of friendship.

"DeRose unflinchingly examines the impact of sexual assault on teens and the various paths there are toward healing. Each having experienced different types of assault, the girls relive their personal histories via shifting perspectives, providing nuance and complexity. Their healing journeys are both hopeful and realistic, as DeRose presents a clear-eyed assessment of the subject, including society's dismissal of victims' stories and the difficult path to judicial justice. Their growing friendships are compelling and well depicted...A searing examination of sexual assault centering teen witches who fight back." - Kirkus Reviews

"DeRose uses witchcraft to underscore both the lasting effects of trauma and the importance of community in healing. A bold and compassionate debut." - Booklist