'Unique in its smooth and imaginative blend of genres.an original blend of social grit and compelling fantasy-based spirituality.' -BOOKLIST, 'Serena is a strong female character. Employing a mixture of gritty reality and richly drawn magical elements, this unique tale of selfdiscovery will captivate readers of contemporary fiction as well as fantasy fans. The dynamics of racism and resistance are central themes of this modern adventure. Along the way, Serena finds the answers she seeks-and some she didn't even know she was looking for. With the help of a boy named Shem, who is on a quest of his own, Serena travels deep into the mountains, where precious gems are mined, and across barren plains, where white-clad Trident Riders are terrorizing anyone who is not Gorgio. A run-in with social services, aptly nicknamed the Cruelty, launches Serena on a journey that is at once an escape and a quest to reunite her family.

The Gorgios are even worse, trying to take the child away. The sisters get no help from the Yulang, because Willow's child was born out of wedlock and the family has been declared outcast. By birth they are half Yulang, half Gorgio, but are accepted by neither race.

In a society similar to ours in some ways and very different in others, 16-year-old Serena and her older sister, Willow, struggle to get by in a tough, crime-infested urban neighborhood.

The Amethyst Road by Louise Spiegler