A stunningly rendered mystical novel that blends cultures, magic and possibilities.

Nothing exciting happens on the Hill of Dust, in the remote mountains of Mexico in the 1950s. There’s no electricity, no plumbing, no cars, just day after day of pasturing goats. And now, without his sister and mother, eleven-year-old Teo’s life feels even more barren. And then one day, the mysterious young Esma, who calls herself the Gypsy Queen of Lightning, rolls into town like a fresh burst of color. Against all odds, her caravan’s Mistress of Destiny predicts that Teo and Esma will be long-time friends. Suddenly, life brims with possibility. With the help of a rescued duck, a three-legged skunk, a blind goat and other unexpected allies, Teo and Esma must overcome obstacles-even death-to fulfil their impossible destiny. Inspired by true stories derived from rural Mexico, The Lightning Queen offers a glimpse of the encounter between two fascinating but marginalized cultures-the Rom and the Mixtec Indians-while telling the heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship.