The Ghosts of Rose Hill

Ilana López, a 16-year-old violinist of Cuban and Czech descent, is sent to Prague to spend the summer with her artist aunt, Žofie. Her parents hope the experience will redirect her focus from music to academics. In Prague, Ilana discovers a neglected Jewish cemetery behind her aunt's cottage and begins restoring it. During this process, she encounters the ghost of Benjamin, a young Jewish painter who died over a century ago.

As Ilana and Benjamin's bond deepens, she is drawn into Prague's enchanted history, where ghosts walk the streets and their kisses have warmth. However, their connection attracts the attention of Rudolph Wassermann, a shadowless man who offers Ilana magical assistance to be with Benjamin and pursue her passion for the violin. Ilana soon uncovers the dark truths about Wassermann and Benjamin's binding to the city, leading her to confront the challenges of love, identity, and sacrifice.

The novel, written in lyrical verse, intertwines themes of cultural heritage, magical realism, and the complexities of adolescence. Set against the backdrop of Prague's rich history, it explores the tension between personal dreams and familial expectations, as well as the haunting legacies of the past.