Lost Coast, The

A contemporary fantasy that weaves mystery, suspense, and current issues, “The Lost Coast” tells the story of a young Danny, who enters the magical and mysterious world of the Grays, a group of queer, teen witches who need Danny to bring back one of their own. Danny embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning her own magical abilities and exploring her sexuality for the first time. The story’s mature themes are suitable for a senior secondary audience and provide many opportunities for creative and critical thinking around gender, bias, perspective, and storytelling. Appropriate as a whole-class novel study or in a literature circle, the novel’s positive representations of gender roles and sexual orientation lend themselves well to classroom discussions about LGBTQ+ issues, teenage bullying, marginalized communities, and societal norms.