Mason-Black has told a lyrical story about making deals with the devil and the ghosts that inhabit America. It's a story of music and family (both blood and not), and wandering, and finding the good and joy where one can. It is about being true to yourself, and making the music that can change a person's life, and the price of a soul.

This book was music, which is apt because of the running theme of music serving as a common language and an outlet for the soul. A lot of times, I finish a book and feel unsatisfied because I wanted more, to find out more, to keep reading and for the book to never end. This book was different. When it ended, I sighed. I smiled. It was perfect. The journey that Blue started had ended and there wasn't any further need to know what happens next because that ending was completely satisfying and I was content knowing that no matter what, Blue had learned and grown enough during the course of the book that she'll be okay.

Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS and Seanan McGuire's SPARROW HILL ROAD, DEVIL AND THE BLUEBIRD shows a side of America which harkens back to the days of the folk music revolution, where music reigned and had the power to change the world. Shades of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie (literally) pass through the book's pages and just like Blue, I remembered how powerful music - music that is true and heatfelt and from the soul - can be.

This book was absolutely gorgeous and I knew partway through that this was something special I haven't seen in the YA genre in a long time, if ever.

The only thing missing from this was a soundtrack. I would have loved a list of songs to listen to while reading this.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley. ( )

An eclectic mashup of contemporary fiction and fantasy, Mason-Black’s premier effort follows Blue Riley as she scores a deal with the devil: her voice in exchange for the opportunity to find her runaway sister, Cass. Fueled by perplexing hints from the devil, Blue journeys across the Northeast searching for clues from her sister. As deals with the devil so often are, Blue's agreement is fraught with deadlines and catches. Along the way, Blue meets and occasionally travels with a medley of characters who steal the narrative: hippy-dippy Amy whose soul the devil literally eats; an unnamed kind librarian paying her father's debt forward; gay stranger Steve turned great friend who hitches a ride with Blue to Chicago; criminal-minded Rat, who kidnaps Blue and Steve; abused mother Andrea, who leads Blue to an underground safe shelter; frenetic Tish, Blue's mom's old music partner living on a farm in Wyoming; and romantic interest Dill who teaches Blue how to hop freight trains. Through all of this, Blue hangs onto her trusty guitar, learning to "speak" through its strings. The ending is relatively satisfactory, although many questions remain about Blue's fate. VERDICT: Read this book for its colorful and memorable cast of transient characters. Fans of Everybody Knows Your Name and Mosquitoland will enjoy The Devil and the Bluebird. (Reviewed for School Library Journal) ( )