The Cold Is in Her Bones

by Peternelle van Arsdale

Overview

“A dark and enchanting tale.” —Bustle
“Fiercely written and beautifully feminist.” —Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician

One girl must uncover secrets of the past to save her friend from a terrible curse in this “dark, angry fairy tale” (BCCB, starred review) filled with love, revenge, and redemption that is inspired by the myth of Medusa.

Milla knows two things to be true: Demons are real, and fear will keep her safe.

Milla’s whole world is her family’s farm. She is never allowed to travel to the village and her only friend is her beloved older brother, Niklas. When a bright-eyed girl named Iris comes to stay, Milla hopes her loneliness might finally be coming to an end. But Iris has a secret she’s forbidden to share: The village is cursed by a demon who possesses girls at random, and the townspeople live in terror of who it will come for next.

Now, it seems, the demon has come for Iris. When Iris is captured and imprisoned with other possessed girls, Milla leaves home to rescue her and break the curse forever. Her only company on the journey is a terrible new secret of her own: Milla is changing, too, and may soon be a demon herself.

Suspenseful and vividly imagined, The Cold Is in Her Bones is a novel about the dark, reverberating power of pain, the yearning to be seen and understood, and the fragile optimism of love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481488457
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	01/21/2020
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	394,503
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	HL700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Peternelle van Arsdale is a book editor, essay and short story writer, and the author of The Beast Is an Animal and The Cold Is in Her Bones. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she is at work on her third novel. Visit her at PeternellevanArsdale.com.

Read an Excerpt

The Cold Is in Her Bones


TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM demons:

1. If you see a snake, kill it. Then burn it.

2. Pour salt where the air comes in—sills, thresholds, hearths.

3. Stay inside after dark. Lock tight doors and windows.

4. Pray.

Editorial Reviews

"A dark, magic-infused story lit by bravery and hope."

Booklist

"A dark and enchanting tale about friendship, pain, revenge, and the power of love, The Cold Is in Her Bones is the perfect read for Greek mythology fans and YA readers alike."

Bustle

Fiercely written and beautifully feminist, The Cold is in Her Bones reminds us of the power of loyalty and love in the face of ignorance and fear. I loved this tale of dangerous girls with wild hair and tangled hearts.

Lisa Maxwell

"Written with compassion for the deplorable situation of girls in a strange world, The Cold is In Her Bones is very relevant and not so strange for young readers, who must contend with demons all the time in today's reality."

Jack Zipes

12/10/2018

This feminist retelling of the Medusa legend by (The Beast Is an Animal) brims with raw emotion and offers adult crossover appeal. Isolated on her parents’ rural farm and forbidden from contact with the outside world, 16-year-old Milla leads a sheltered life. She is desperate to please her parents, who view her with fear and disappointment, and her only consolation is her older brother, Niklas, who is being inexorably pulled away from her by new responsibilities. When Iris, a young woman from the village, comes to stay with her grandparents nearby, Milla finds a true friend for the first time in her life. It’s through Iris that Milla learns the dark truth about a demon claiming girls and women in the village. Even worse, Milla begins to experience changes that raise terrifying questions about her own identity. Lush with detail and symbolism and filled with strong characters who defy basic labels, the tale brings into sharp relief the experiences of the disenfranchised, the angry, and the powerless. unrolls an artfully constructed series of events that will engage, frighten, and delight. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

* "A dark, angry fairy tale."

STARRED REVIEW BCCB

"Unsettling and thought-provoking, this powerful novel confronts the stifling expectations placed on young women, the toxicity of patriarchal systems and internalized misogyny, and the damage caused by transgenerational trauma; in its exploration of the revolutionary power of women’s anger and the strength of sisterhood, it offers hope and beauty as well."

Horn Book

A fresh, eerily compelling tale of betrayal, revenge, and the ties that bind. When van Arsdale paints a world, you can feel the fog against your skin.

Elly Blake

"A dark, magic-infused story lit by bravery and hope."

Booklist

12/01/2018
Gr 7{amp}ndash;10{amp}mdash;The myth of Medusa is revisited in this haunting retelling. Milla resents her life of servitude on her family's isolated farm and balks at the idea of conforming to her parents' selfish wishes. Most women of Milla's acquaintance live compliant lives, serving the needs of their husbands. Meanwhile, the superstitious villagers tremble in fear of a demon's curse, which manifests itself as reptilian skin and snakes in the hair and results in the loss of its victims' souls. The arrival of a newcomer, Iris, offers lonely Milla something she's never had: a true friend. But Iris bears a dark secret{amp}mdash;she's already been afflicted by the curse. When Milla's parents discover Iris's condition, they send her away to The Place, an awful fortress where demon-possessed young women are banished. Milla is determined to save her friend and sets out to free her. However, the curse has begun to spread to Milla, creating disturbing thoughts and physical changes in her. Part fairy tale and part allegory, the story pits serpents, witches, and demons against seemingly powerless female characters who must learn to speak up for themselves. The author has created a cautionary tale that warns against ignorance and shines a spotlight on feminism. Van Arsdale's writing will appeal to young adults with its strong themes of loyalty and friendship. VERDICT A good selection for those who enjoy fairy tales and to spark discussion about gender roles and feminism.{amp}mdash;Sandi Jones, Wynne High School, Wynne, AR

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