In the book All the Crooked Saints, by Maggie Stiefvater, the Soria family lives with many secrets from the past, and many to come. The Sorias live in the town of Bicho Raro, located in the Colorado desert. The large family lives with pilgrims occupying the rest of their empty rooms. The Sorias fall in between the line of magic and faith. They have a designated person called the Saint, who can perform miracles to whoever passerby has searched for the famous miracle desert town and wants to be healed. The miracles happen by the Saint bringing out whatever darkness is in the person. These miracles are done in two parts. The Saint performs the first part, and the pilgrim themselves have to finish the second part. The first part is where the pilgrim’s darkness is brought out, usually in weird physical forms that make them abnormal. The second part is the pilgrim realizing what their darkness is, and solving it so they return to normal. Some of these crazy first miracles end up with pilgrims growing to be twenty feet tall, or gaining the head of a coyote. However, the Soria family cannot interfere with the pilgrims on their journey to the second miracle, or the Sorias themselves will end up with their own even greater darkness. Lately, the pilgrims haven’t been completing their second miracles though. Our three protagonists, Beatriz, Daniel, and Joaquin, run a pirate radio station on the side with none of their family in on the secret. Soon, they realize they can somehow help the pilgrims finish their second miracles with the help of their radio, as long as they are cautious about the long-known taboo and extreme darkness.

All the Crooked Saints presents a new take on family values, and coming together after years of drifting apart. This story is different from everything else you can imagine. Reading this fills you with hope and a newfound sense of miracles. Stiefvater writes with a description so real, the feelings of the characters come alive. This book is great for anyone who believes in miracles, or who believes family and friendship is a huge part in one’s life. Or with a taste for magical adventure. Magic is presented in a new way in All the Crooked Saints.