Sheila Dube has been immersed in the Young Adult World of literature lately. For the young adult reader she suggests A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan. Seventeen years old, Farrah Higgins, not Fawcett! But named after her. She has the gift (or maybe a curse) of seeing patterns in everything. When she uncovers a suicide bombers plot while watching a teen soap opera, the FBI puts her under protection. Farrah’s fresh voice is filled with glib humor, realistic teen emotions and a perspective on a fascinating ability that keeps her juggling between eccentric and pure danger. Fast paced action, romance and a great book layout make this a complete package. Another title which is her all-time favorite of 2012 ( and not just because the author’s name is Sheila too)
Three Times Lucky, by Sheila Turnage. Prepare to be pulled into the witty, down-home world of Mo (short for Moses, a girl) and her friend Dale in their small southern town of 148. There is a murder, a missing identity and a redefinition of what it means to be family. The writing is spot on, laugh out loud funny characters that have tremendous heart. The mystery will keep readers guessing. All the characters are fully developed and are endearing or hated as the case may be.
Sheila thinks the next 2 titles will be of interest to adult readers too. For those who enjoy everything dragon and are Eragon fans, try Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. Step into the well-developed alternative medieval world where dragons and humans tenuously exist amid crumbling treaties and generations of animosity. Dragon lore, romance and political intrigue are clearly drawn.
For readers who enjoy dark fiction with a mythical vein, The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan is the fantasy for you. This dark novel evokes the smell of the sea, the passion of revenge and horror of consequences with a tale of the selkie sea-wives. As Misskaella grows into her power as a witch and lives through the taunts and trials of the village, she draws wives for the men folk from the seals with devastating consequences on their relationships, the future lineage and own self will. Lanagan’s words come alive on the page with richly written prose that capture the intensity of feelings for each of the 5 narrators who are part of this generational story.