The Way Back

By: Gavriel Savit

Narrated by: Allan Corduner

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK

Perfect for readers of Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman, a sweeping historical fantasy that follows two teens on a journey through the Far Country, a Jewish land of spirits and demons.

For the Jews of Eastern Europe, demons are everywhere: dancing on the rooftops in the darkness of midnight, congregating in the trees, harrowing the dead, even reaching out to try and steal away the living.

But the demons have a land of their own: a Far Country peopled with the souls of the transient dead, governed by demonic dukes, barons, and earls. When the Angel of Death comes strolling through the little shtetl of Tupik one night, two young people will be sent spinning off on a journey through the Far Country. There they will make pacts with ancient demons, declare war on Death himself, and maybe-- just maybe--find a way to make it back alive.

Drawing inspiration from the Jewish folk tradition, The Way Back is a dark adventure sure to captivate readers of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust.

Critic reviews

“Lyrical and fantastic…. Steeped in the rich traditions of ghost stories and Jewish folklore, this remarkable feat of storytelling is sure to delight.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A bewitching allegorical adventure comprised of small, beautifully composed moments.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Savit builds the action with a storyteller’s assured cadences, creating a story rich in elements of Jewish folk tradition and flashes of both humor and the grotesque.” —The Bulletin, starred review

"This work of prodigious imagination is especially notable in its author’s uncanny ability to create a visceral suspense that captures readers’ attention and won’t let go as the pages fly by." —Booklist, starred review

“Savit crafts an absorbing fantasy and gives teens plenty to contemplate about life, love, storytelling, and family.” —The Horn Book

“Darkly charming.” —Vox

Surprising

I wasn’t sure what I had downloaded really. This was a great story! Loved every bit of it and definitely recommend if you would like something different from your normal reading or listen!!

Worthy representation

First of all, this has to be the first story I’ve experienced with chasidic and old-world-Ashkenazi main characters where the point of the story wasn’t to stigmatize religious or chasidic communities.

This is a story that is saturated in our culture without the purpose of educating goyim. It’s about us and for us and I felt right at home listening to it.

The lessons are beautiful, the characters are fun and worth their success. The world is whimsical yet dark and meaningful. Savit’s world building is truly to service the story and not the other way around.

KEEPS YOU HOOKED

I read this book for a class I was in. This isn’t the type of book I would pick up myself, so I was so happy i had to read it. It’s such a good books with a great story line that keeps you wanting to read!

A pleasant surprise

What a pleasant surprise. I ordered this title as a second on a sale, pretty much blindly. I’m so glad I did. It felt like I was listening to a Gaiman supernatural fantasy from a European Jewish
Perspective.

A good look at death

The story is well told and entertaining. I’m a sucker for good storytelling that makes me feel like I’m learning something about things I struggle with and have a hard time thinking outside the box on, like loss. The story is an adventure I hope you like as much as I did