A Psalm for Lost Girls

By: Katie Bayerl

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld, Kyla Garcia, Julia Whelan

I’ll Give You the Sun meets True Detective in this brilliant YA debut about saints, sisters, and learning to let go.

Tess da Costa is a saint—a hand-to-god, miracle-producing saint. At least that’s what the people in her hometown of New Avon, Massachusetts, seem to believe. And when Tess suddenly and tragically passes away, her small city begins feverishly petitioning the Pope to make Tess’s sainthood official. Tess’s mother is ecstatic over the fervor, while her sister Callie, the one who knew Tess best, is disgusted—overcome with the feeling that her sister is being stolen from her all over again.

The fervor for Tess’s sainthood only grows when Ana Langone, a local girl who’s been missing for six months, is found alive at the foot of one of Tess’s shrines. It’s the final straw for Callie. With the help of Tess’s secret boyfriend Danny, Callie’s determined to prove that Tess was something far more important than a saint; she was her sister, her best friend and a girl in love with a boy. But Callie’s investigation uncovers much more than she bargained for—a hidden diary, old family secrets, and even the disturbing truth behind Ana’s kidnapping. Told in alternating perspectives, A Psalm for Lost Girls is at once funny, creepy and soulful—an impressive debut from a rising literary star.


Narrator List:
Callie, read by Saskia Maarleveld
Tess's Journal Entries, read by Kyla Garcia
General narration by Julia Whelan

Critic reviews

Praise for A Psalm for Lost Girls:
A Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated YA Debut of 2017
A Bustle Most Anticipated Young Adult Debut of 2017
A Spring 2017 Amazon Pick – Spring’s Best Young Adult Fiction

★ “[A] gripping story of loss and grace. . . . Richly and evocatively written, Bayerl’s story is ideal for fans of Jandy Nelson and Melina Marchetta.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “Fans of realistic fiction, mystery, or crime thrillers will find themselves at home in this spectacular debut. . . . A compelling must-have for YA collections.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“Now and then comes a book that is able to put it all together: real and compelling characters, page-turning suspense, brilliant writing. This is one of those books.”—Francisco X. Stork, award-winning author of Marcelo in the Real World and The Last Summer of the Death Warriors

“[P]acked with vivid cultural scenery, this ambitious debut offers readers a journey worth taking.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Many issues are presented in Bayerl’s novel—mental illness, modern sainthood, sisterly love, family dynamics, romance—giving it wide appeal among readers.”—VOYA

“Ideal for fans of both mysteries and character-driven novels.”—Booklist

“Lyrical and nuanced . . . Bayerl’s debut will appeal to a wide range of readers. . . . A haunting tale of family, first love, and miracles.”—RT Book Reviews

“A mystery, a thriller, and a prayer, gripping and anguished, told in the poignant weaving of voices from beyond and voices left behind.”—Julie Berry, Printz Honor author of The Passion of Dolssa

Great debut novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! This is a fantastic story about sisters and their family tragedies and personal struggles, while also showing the small town life and different ways people grieve. It's also great writing, capturing teenage voices perfectly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Psalm for Lost Girls?

I loved the ending with how things turned out and how the characters start to feel hopeful for the future.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

It's a tie between Callie and Tess. I related to Callie in a few ways as far as personality, while I liked how nice Tess was and how she tried so hard to do her best with her situation as being viewed as a saint.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It was hard to see the decline of Tess's condition and the dread you feel about what will happen. It was also hard to see Callie struggling with how she truly felt and allowing herself to try and move on. Their grief was raw and eye opening.

Any additional comments?

Kyla Garcia, who voiced Tess was phenomenal! She was masterful at the full range of emotion and breathing life into Tess as a character. While I didn't like the strong profanity in the book, it was just a small personal preference. But this is a debut novel that shouldn't be missed with great narrators and very realistic story.