Sigal Samuel’s debut novel, in the vein of Nicole Krauss’s bestselling The History of Love , is an imaginative story that delves into the heart of Jewish mysticism, faith, and family. “This is not an ordinary tree I am making. “This,” he said, “this is the Tree of Knowledge.”  In the half-Hasidic, half-hipster Montreal neighborhood of Mile End, eleven-year-old Lev Meyer is discovering that there may be a place for Judaism in his life. As he learns about science in his day school, Lev begins his own extracurricular study of the Bible’s Tree of Knowledge with neighbor Mr. Katz, who is building his own Tree out of trash. Meanwhile his sister Samara is secretly studying for her Bat Mitzvah with next-door neighbor and Holocaust survivor, Mr. Glassman. All the while his father, David, a professor of Jewish mysticism, is a non-believer. When, years later, David has a heart attack, he begins to believe God is speaking to him. While having an affair with one of his students, he delves into the complexities of Kabbalah. Months later Samara, too, grows obsessed with the Kabbalah’s Tree of Life—hiding her interest from those who love her most–and is overcome with reaching the Tree’s highest heights. The neighbors of Mile End have been there all along, but only one of them can catch her when she falls. “Brimming with magic and mystery, The Mystics of Mile End tells the story of a family haunted by secrets and loss. Sigal Samuel fearlessly delves into the esoteric world of Jewish mysticism and its intersection with urban life in modern-day Montreal. Engaging, tender, intelligent, this is a remarkable debut from a promising new literary voice.” - - Ayelet Tsabari, author of Sami Rohr Prize-winning The Best Place on Earth “The Mystics of Mile End is a smart and affecting debut. It’s a story that readers will carry with them long after they have finished the book. Sigal Samuel is an excellent writer, one who is bound to make a profound mark on the literary landscape.” - - Steven Galloway, author of The Cellist of Sarajevo “If Sigal Samuel was ever cautioned against tackling themes of mysticism, tradition, queer identity, death and recovery all in the same debut novel, she most triumphantly ignored that advice. Wonderfully ambitious, yet deftly crafted, The Mystics of Mile End is a rich and exuberant read. Dig in!” - - Amber Dawn, author of Sub Rosa “Sigal Samuel’s writing is vivid, smart, and charming - I can’t wait to read more from her.” - - Zoe Whittall, author of Bottle Rocket Hearts “Sigal Samuel has written a poignant first novel in which her characters bravely confront faith and doubt, sex and death, despair and hope, and the mystery of why we are here.” - - Cary Fagan, author of A Bird's Eye “An absorbing tale of one family’s search for meaning, The Mystics of Mile End is a beautiful and at times heartbreaking read.” - - Anya Ulinich, author of Lena Finkle's Magic Barrel “The half-Hasidic, half-hipster Mile End section of Montreal, where this beautifully written debut novel is set, allows Samuel to explore a range of interlocking and conflicting themes...The narrative is energized by a format that gives each of the three main characters the chance to tell their own story from a first-person perspective.” - --Jewish Telegraphic Agency “The Mystics of Mile End is an ambitious book overflowing with ideas and life...the voices in this book are urgent and real, inflected with personal history...The Mystics of Mile End rewards the reader with many secrets and strange moments of beauty, while leaving life’s unanswerable questions hanging in the air.” - -- The Humber Literary Review “Mystics reads almost like an allegory, with each character representing a distinct approach to finding meaning.” - -- Shelf Awareness “Absolutely brilliant! An engaging story about sorrow, secrets and mystic knowledge!” - -- Fresh Fiction “Samuel crafts an unforgettable narrative in which her characters fight to save each other from themselves and the unknown. THE MYSTICS OF MILE END will leave readers felling nourished with insight, emotion, and a healthy dose of Yiddish.” - -- Bust “Using a geometry of her own...Samuel draws a nigh-perfect circle in The Mystics of Mile End...that nourishes both the heart and mind. Samuel’s frugality in introducing characters and motifs results in a tightly focused and elegantly served novel that is something of a feast to read.” - -- Los Angeles Review of Books “What’s most striking is [Samuel’s] ability to confidently imbue a story about a family struggling with contemporary issues with insight and humanity gleaned from age-old mystical texts.” - - Jewish Book World “Samuel approaches kabbalah sensually; the magic is visceral and plausible, with occasional atmospheric abstractions such as a library arranged geographically...And in the wider realm of contemporary fiction, a twenty-something character finding herself spiritually rather than sexually is refreshing.” - -- HEEB “With