Swamplandia!

In her striking debut novel, Karen Russell takes readers to the swamps of the Florida Everglades, where thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree navigates the challenges of family and loss amid the decline of her alligator-wrestling heritage. Following the death of her mother and her brother's departure to a competing theme park, Ava must confront her fears while managing ninety-eight alligators and the complexities of her grief. Set against a richly depicted landscape, Swamplandia! weaves a unique tale of resilience and the indomitable spirit of a young heroine.