FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF TAKE MY HAND The Civil War has ended, and Madge, Sadie, and Hemp have each come to Chicago in search of a new life. Born with magical hands, Madge has the power to discern others' suffering, but she cannot heal her own damaged heart. Sadie can commune with the dead, but until she makes peace with her father, she, too, cannot fully engage her gift. Meanwhile, Hemp is searching for his missing family in a city that shimmers with possibility. But redemption cannot be possible until he is reunited with those taken from him . . . In the bitter aftermath of war, as a divided nation tries to come together, Madge, Sadie, and Hemp will be caught up in an unexpected battle for survival in a community desperate to lay the pain of the past to rest. Beautiful in its historical atmosphere and emotional depth, Balm is a stirring novel of love, loss, hope, and reconciliation set during one of the most critical periods in American history. 'Moving . . . gorgeous, compassionate' Washington Post 'Deeply moving, beautifully written, told from the heart' USA Today 'Powerful . . . a tale of individual loves, longings, and losses bound together by the healing balm of hope. Perkins-Valdez truly captures the American spirit' New York Journal of Books 'Deeply engaging . . . A thrilling and deeply satisfying read' Hope Wabuke, The Root