Starred review from February 27, 2023
A young Palestinian American woman explores her identity in Cypher’s lush debut. Elspeth Noura Rummani is born in the U.S. in the early aughts during heavy bombing from the Israeli military. Her skin is blue, the same shade as the soap produced by her family’s factory in the West Bank, which is destroyed in the strikes, the last remnant of her family’s legacy in Palestine. In the present day, Elspeth considers emigrating to her lover’s unspecified homeland. Cypher frames Elspeth’s narration as a direct address to Elspeth’s great-aunt Nuha, who helped raise her and who’s recently died. Nuha’s a flamboyant presence, with her intimate knowledge of family history, brusque manner, and wealth of entertaining fables. Also, like Elspeth, Nuha was queer, though she kept this a secret from their family. Elspeth, though, hasn’t found acceptance because of her blue skin. As Elspeth considers whether she belongs in the U.S. or abroad, she meditates on the nature of skin to explore the contradictions between appearances and identity. It makes for a captivating stream of consciousness: “You were not a linear person, preferring to stuff your discomforts and difficulties inside eddies and convolutions.” With beautiful writing and evocative themes, this author makes a notable entrance. Agent: Adam Schear, DeFiore & Company.
June 10, 2024
In Cypher's striking debut, Elsbeth "Betty" Rummani stands at her aunt's grave, trying to decide whether to stay in the United States or to go to the woman she loves. Betty was stillborn in a Portland, OR, hospital--initially pronounced dead, but then against all odds, she revived. Her skin is a surprising shade of cobalt blue--the same shade as the soap her Rummani ancestors made in ancient Palestine. Soon after Betty's birth, her take-charge 80-year-old Aunt Nuha became her full-time nanny. Betty's blue skin complicates her young life, leading to bullying and ostracization at school and even shaming within the confines of her home. With her sharp wit, wry sense of humor, and many secrets, Nuha becomes a lifeline. After Nuha's death, Nuha's journals reveal secrets and connections that change Betty's life. Cypher's story is rife with metaphor, slipping easily between present reality and her Palestinian family's myths and legends. Narrators Victoria Nassif and Haneen Arafat Murphy capture the mystical atmosphere and the eccentricity of the two main characters. VERDICT Gorgeous imagery, spellbinding storytelling, and an undercurrent of magical realism make this a winner for those who enjoyed Zeyn Joukhadar's The Thirty Names of Night.--Joanna M. Burkhardt
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