From the award-winning, critically-acclaimed author of Lakewood and The Women Could Fly, a dazzling novel about two brilliant sisters and what happens to their undeniable bond when a mysterious and possibly perilous new world beckons.

On an ordinary summer morning, the world is changed by the appearance of seven mysterious doors that seemingly lead to another world. People are, of course, mesmerized and intrigued: A new dimension filled with beauty and resources beckons them to step into an adventure. But, perhaps inevitably, people soon learn that what looks like paradise may very well be filled with danger.

Ayanna and Olivia, two Black midwestern teens—and twin sisters—have different ideas of what may lie in the world beyond. But will their personal bond endure such wanton exploration? And when one of them goes missing, will the other find solace on her own? And will she uncover the circumstances of what truly happened to her once constant companion and best friend?

Megan Giddings brings her customarily brilliant and eye-opening powers of storytelling to give us a narrative that dazzles the senses and bewitches the mind. Meet Me at the Crossroads is an unforgettable novel about faith, love, and family from one of today’s most exciting and surprising young writers.

BIO

Megan Giddings is an assistant professor at Michigan State University and affiliate faculty at Antioch University's low-residency MFA. Her first novel, Lakewood, was one of New York Magazine's top ten books of 2020, an NPR Best Book of 2020, a Michigan Notable book for 2021, a finalist for two NAACP Image Awards, and was a finalist for an LA Times Book Prize in the Ray Bradbury Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Speculative category. Megan's writing has received funding and support from the Barbara Deming Foundation and Hedgebrook. She lives in the Midwest.

REVIEWS

"Giddings has created a world that feels both extremely relatable and unknowingly mystical. … The writing is an engaging mix of witty and cutting, moving between laugh-out-loud moments and deep, gut-punching scenes without missing a beat. The characters have great depth, and Ayanna’s college experiences, especially, stand out for a touching mix of standard early 20s angst, deep depression, and the feeling of freedom that comes with being an adult for the first time. A brilliant, magical tale of grief and growth." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Mesmerizing … Giddings grounds the ethereal narrative with strong character work and wry narration as it builds to a stunning conclusion. Readers will be enthralled and left with much to ponder." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A powerful, unique novel … Meet Me at the Crossroads is [about] faith, and how people grapple with the numinous and unexplainable." -- Locus

"Megan Giddings's prose is brimming with wonder." -- Raven Leilani, author of Luster

[H]  Amistad Press  /  June 03, 2025

1.4" H x 9.0" L x 6.3" W (1.0 lbs) 320 pages