Our Cut of Salt

THE HOUSE IS WAITING FOR YOU. Our Cut of Salt is an unflinching, sinister and moving take on the haunted house novel, from a bold new Palestinian voice. Perfect for fans of The Only Good Indians and The Haunting of Hill House. 'Lyrical and haunting, Our Cut of Salt explores the horrors of occupation via the lens of three generations of women as well as a one-of-a-kind haunted house. A disturbing, mesmerizing read' Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie There is something haunting Nuhad's childhood home in Haifa. Cats avoid its perimeter, strange noises come from within, and residents have been known to disappear entirely in its walls without a trace. Although Nuhad has not returned to her home since the Nakba in 1948, she always held a place for the house in her heart. And, in return, the house did the same for her. After Nuhad passes away, her granddaughter, Marina, is determined to visit her grandmother's home in Haifa after a lifetime of being kept in the dark about her culture and history. Marina's mother, Haifa-named for the city that was lost to their family-reluctantly agrees to her trip, though she knows first hand that some secrets are better left buried. For this house is no longer a home, it is a wound. 'Our Cut of Salt is a haunting story of loss, displacement, and the strength of perseverance across generations. Deena Helm has written a powerful tale of past wrongs, unanswered injustice, and the ghosts of vengeance and healing they might unleash' P. Djèlí Clark, author of Ring Shout 'Lyrical and terrifying, Helm's portrait of generational trauma will leave you aching in its wake. Our Cut of Salt is not just a powerful exploration of injustice and survival, but also a testament to the power of love' Monika Kim, author of The Eyes are the Best Part 'The essential haunted house story of our moment in history' Gretchen Felker-Martin, USA Today bestselling author of Black Flame 'In this moving exploration of mother-daughter relationships, and generational trauma and grief, Helm provides a timely reminder that the real horrors can be found in history' E. L. Chen, author of One of Us Is Already Dead 'Our Cut of Salt is the must-read of the year. Longing and rage are woven beautifully in this multi-generational family story, taking readers to the steps of a house in Haifa that they will not forget' Trang Thanh Tran, author of She Is a Haunting 'The strands of generations are so beautifully woven together and the writing is deft, lyrical and completely gets under your skin' Daisy Pearce, author of Something in the Walls 'Our Cut of Salt rages and aches and demands your complete attention, re-contextualizing the very notion of what a haunted house is' Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters 'Helm's debut cuts into your skin, and buries itself between the layers. It bleeds, it stings and it leaves you forever changed' Soraya Bouazzaoui, author of Aicha 'Painfully timely and poignant, it's a testament to Helm's mastery of the craft that Our Cut of Salt is horrifying even in its quiet moments. . . Deena Helm is a generational talent' Megan Bontrager, author of The Sea Hides its Dead 'A raw and affecting dive into family secrets and the buried past in the best gothic haunted house tradition. Honest, heart-felt and gripping' Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow 'Helm's debut is a visceral exploration of generational trauma and the harsh costs of facing the past, ugly as it may be. . . An unflinching, timely tale' K. M. Enright, Sunday Times bestselling author of Mistress of Lies

Deena Helm (she/her) is a mixed Palestinian-American author, and Our Cut of Salt is her debut novel. Her other works can be found in Fikra Magazine and So To Speak. Alongside her literary endeavours, she has previously worked in social media, and you can find her @deenahlm in most places. She asks that you, the reader, do everything in your power to resist genocide and deepen your commitment to liberation for all.