"Gichigami is a great American debut novel, giving readers a place they may never have seen, a perfectly-evoked small town on the edge of Lake Superior, and characters they will follow anywhere, especially the women of this book—watchful, wistful, hardcore and hilarious, no matter what generation. For the young narrator, the shimmering waters of summer, the sparkling danger of winter snow and ice, and the search for a missing mother lead her into the deepest places of loyalty and betrayal. An amazing debut!"—Susan Straight, bestselling author of Mecca, In the Country of Women, and Highwire Moon

“Gichigami is one of the most interesting novels I have read. In part, this is because of the masterful depiction of a landscape that is both fascinating and underrepresented in American literature. Steffes captures the mystery and beauty of the area with rare artistry. She also writes a compelling story—the plot is suspenseful, but more than that, the characters, with their idiosyncrasies and their faults, bring the plot alive.”—Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and author of A Thousand Acres and Lucky

“In Gichigami, Lindsey Steffes has woven a hauntingly visceral coming-of-age tale about what happens to those left behind after a local "it" girl walks away from everything she's ever known–a young daughter now teetering on the brink of womanhood, a husband whose quiet longing feels dangerously unspoken, a best friend desperate to step into shoes that can never be filled, a town where her name has become whispered legend, passed from one set of lips to another like a secret no one wants to forget but will never truly understand. Steffes deftly pulls readers into this authentically raw emotional landscape where every character's longing is as unfathomable as the depths of Gichigami itself.”—Kimberly Guerrero, award-winning actor known for Welcome to Derry, Reservation Dogs, and The English

“Gichigami by Lindsey Steffes is an absolutely beautiful novel about longing and grief, and also about the healing powers of love and human connection. Every character is complex and skillfully drawn, but it’s the main character, Marty, a thirteen-year-old girl who is too smart by half, who will steal your heart. This is an engaging, moving, and memorable novel, and Steffes is a stunning new talent.”—Kelly Dwyer, author of Ghost Mother

“The community of Gichigami comes to life in this big-hearted page-turner that might be a mystery or might just explore the mysteries of love and grief and community. Compelling, fully rendered, and never dull, Gichigami is a memorable, moving novel.”—Sabina Murray, author of Valiant Gentlemen, a New York Times and Washington Post Notable Book