The Witch in the Lake

Description

Leo's village gripped by superstition and fear. They say there is a witch in the lake who snatches the village children who come too close. Leo is determined to rid the village of this hysteria and use his emerging powers as a wizard to discover the truth about the world and about himself. Set in 16th century Italy where magic is still a powerful force and science is not yet equipped to match it, this book presents a struggle between two systems of belief as well as between two generations.

Anna Fienberg gets her ideas from her own dreams, people she meets, snatches of overheard conversation. She always carries a notebook with her in case she hears something interesting. Anna likes to live in books as well as real life. She was once Editor of School Magazine, where she read over a thousand books a year. She wrote plays and stories for the magazine and then began writing her own books. She has written picture books, short stories, junior novels and fiction for teenagers and young adults. Anna's first novel, Pirate Trouble for Wiggy and Boa, was shortlisted for the 1989 Australian Children's Book of the Year Awards, The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels was the winner of the 1992 Australian Children's Book of the Year Award for younger readers, and Tashi was shortlisted for the same award in 1996. Ariel, Zed and the Secret of Life was the winner of the Alan Marshall Award in the 1993 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, and Power to Burn was shortlisted for the 1996 NSW Premier's Literary Awards. Borrowed Light was an Honour Book in the 2000 Australian Children's Book of the Year Awards for older readers, and received the 1999 ACT Top YA Read Award.

'You won't find a better book this year.' Sunday Telegraph