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Zebra Forest
Current price:
$8.99
Publication Date: September 9th, 2014
Publisher:
Candlewick
ISBN:
9780763671662
Pages:
208
Eleven-year-old Annie's plans for a quiet summer are upended when an escaped convict from the nearby penitentiary bursts into the home she shares with her grandmother and younger brother and takes them hostage as law enforcement agents scour the area for him. Part thriller, part psychological drama, this gripping debut novel examines the effects of secrets and lies on fragile family dynamics, as Annie questions everything she's always taken for granted about her unconventional upbringing.
Spring '13 Kids List
Description
“An emotionally honest family story with an ending that’s hopeful without being implausibly upbeat.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
In an extraordinary debut novel, an escaped fugitive upends everything two siblings think they know about their family, their past, and themselves. Driven by suspense and psychological intrigue, Zebra Forest deftly portrays an unfolding standoff of truth against family secrets — and offers an affecting look at two resourceful, imaginative kids as they react and adapt to the hand they’ve been dealt.
Praise for Zebra Forest
Gewirtz veers away from melodrama, deftly capturing nuances of family dynamics in spare prose. ... [A]udiences will appreciate this novel’s multilayered characters and touching message of hope and forgiveness.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Debut author Gewirtz successfully conveys the terror and tedium of being trapped...An emotionally honest family story with an ending that’s hopeful without being implausibly upbeat.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Gewirtz’s emotionally intense debut novel about the complications of families offers a perceptive heroine and poetic, impressive prose.
—Kirkus Reviews
The tight narrative—laden with symbolism, such as a copy of Treasure Island missing half of its pages, a backdrop of the Iran hostage crisis, and the forest itself—is held together with the strength of the characters. This slight, tense debut novel will interest children looking for suspense or family drama.
—Booklist
[T]he absorbing voice and short chapters make this a taut, accessible read (and older readaloud), and kids will be engrossed by Annie’s dilemma.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
With well-crafted characters and an engaging plot that doesn’t plod, Zebra Forest nails the basics. It’s a family mystery that slowly unwinds, with doses of suspense and intensity. ... A skillfully crafted debut novel from an author to watch.
—100 Scope Notes (SLJ Blog)
Clever plot twists, lyrical writing and empathetic characters make this book a must-not-miss.
—Georgia Times-Union
