River Secrets

Description

Razo has always thought of himself as pretty much useless-too short, too weak, too slow-only good for catching with his sling the odd squirrel for his mother's cookpot. But when he is asked to join the king's soldiers on a peacekeeping mission and the peace they are sent to protect is being sabotaged, Razo finds that his squirrel-killing talents come in handy, and his way of noticing the unusual, thinking through to the truth, and befriending the unlikeliest of people will serve him better than anyone could have predicted. Set in the magical lands introduced in the acclaimed novel, The Goose Girl, River Secrets is a mystery and a coming-of-age tale that is impossible to put down. Shannon Hale's lyrical writing, unforgettable, characters and intriguing setting give this book the timeless quality that any classic must have.

Shannon's mother says she was a storyteller from birth, jabbering endlessly in her carriage as the two strolled through the neighborhood; once she could form complete sentences, she made up stories, bribing her younger siblings to perform them in mini plays. When she was ten, she began writing books, mostly fantasy stories where she was the heroine, and she continued writing secretly for years while pursuing acting in stage and improv comedy. After detours studying in Mexico, the U. K., and Paraguay, Shannon earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Utah and a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. In the interim, she submitted short stories and novels to magazines and publishers, saving all her rejection letters which she has since laminated into one continuous 60-foot roll which she proudly unfurls to audiences as a testament to her dedication and determination. Since the publication of her first book, The Goose Girl, in 2003, Shannon has become a beloved author to young readers as well as booksellers and educators. Her third novel, Princess Academy, earned her a Newbery Honor and is a The New York Times, Book Sense, and Publishers Weekly bestseller. Shannon has also written two books for adults, Austenland and The Actor and the Housewife. Shannon lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, Dean, their children, and their pet, a small plastic pig. www.shannonhale.com

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age Honorable Mention for Young Adult Fiction by the Association of Mormon Letters *"[Hale's] language glimmers like firelight, like sunshine on water as she propels readers along a river of wonderful writing to the tumultuous and heart-tugging climax."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review *"The story's underlying themes of cultural prejudice and the corruption of power ... touch on contemporary political debates. Suspenseful, magical, and heartfelt, this is a story that will wholly envelop its readers."--Booklist, starred review *"A unique and tender coming-of-age story."--PW, starred review *"River Secrets stands on its own. But fans of the genre will no doubt rejoice in immersing themselves in this magical world by reading all three [Books of Bayern]."--SLJ, starred review