When the Angels Left the Old Country

For fans of Good Omens — a queer immigrant fairytale about individual purpose, the fluid nature of identity, and the power of love to change and endure.

Uriel the angel and Little Ash (short for Ashmedai) are the only two supernatural creatures in their shtetl (which is so tiny, it doesn't have a name other than Shtetl). The angel and the demon have been studying together for centuries, but pogroms and the search for a new life have drawn all the young people from their village to America. When one of those young emigrants goes missing, Uriel and Little Ash set off to find her.

Along the way the angel and demon encounter humans in need of their help, including Rose Cohen, whose best friend (and the love of her life) has abandoned her to marry a man, and Malke Shulman, whose father died mysteriously on his way to America. But there are obstacles ahead of them as difficult as what they’ve left behind. Medical exams (and demons) at Ellis Island. Corrupt officials, cruel mob bosses, murderers, poverty. The streets are far from paved with gold. 

W I N N E R

Stonewall Book Award • Michael L. Printz Honor Award • Sydney Taylor Award 

BEST OF THE YEAR

NPR • New York Public Library • Kirkus


P R A I S E

★ “Powerfully moving. Broad in scope, the strong queer relationships at its core provide an unfaltering anchor.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred)

★ “Immersive…Propulsive. A mashup of historical fiction and magical realism, this will find a satisfied audience in fans of both.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred)

★ “Extraordinary….Absorbing. A sublime novel about the fantastical, freeing nature of love.”
—Foreword Reviews (starred)

★ “Gorgeous, fascinating, and fun. Deftly tackles questions of identity, good and evil, obligation, and the many forms love can take.”
—Kirkus (starred)

★ “Terrific. Richly imagined and plotted, this inspired book has the timeless feeling of Jewish folklore.”
—Booklist (starred)

★ “Expansive queer tale that marries historical fiction with inventive world-building. Witty, cerebral storytelling.”
—Horn Book (starred) 

★ ""A must-buy for any collection, Lamb’s historical fiction novel brings soft queer...read more...