SPECULATIVE FICTION
K.D. KIRCHMEIER
Coming soon: The Shadow Road
"I was hooked from the first page of K.D. Kirchmeier's THE SHADOW ROAD. Tough-as-nails Cassie and bookish-but-brave Thomas are strong counterpoints and compliments to one another—both of them authentic, imperfect, and easy to root for. If you're looking for an excellent book written with real teenagers in mind, this is it. THE SHADOW ROAD belongs in schools, libraries, and on your bookshelf alongside your favorite fantasy adventure stories."
– Lora Senf, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of THE CLACKITY
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“Truly original and breathtaking, this book is a marvelous ride! The action, tension and drama burn at a high level.”
– Arthur Slade, Governor General's Award-winning author of DUST
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The Absence of Sparrows
Not much happens in the small town of Griever’s Mill, where eleven-year-old Ben Cameron spends his time bird-watching and hanging out with his family.
But everything goes wrong when a sinister darkness fills the sky and people begin to change: human one minute, glass statues the next. There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no one knows how to stop it. Ben is certain the glass plague’s victims can’t be gone forever, and that a missing flock of sparrows holds the key to bringing one important statue back, but will the birds return before it’s too late? And will Ben have the courage to stand against his own brother in order to keep the glass from shattering?
Debut author Kurt Kirchmeier explores mystery, sorrow, and the power of hope in this unique and poignant coming-of-age story.
"A powerful piece of storytelling... Will resonate with anyone who understands that heroism is not a matter of saving the world but of maintaining yourself, and acting to protect those in your community -- despite the forces arrayed against you.
-- Quill and Quire, starred review
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"The most frightening young YA fantasy since Kenneth Oppel's The Nest. Sure to be popular with readers seeking a truly scary story."
-- School Library Journal
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"A fresh spin on the post-apocalyptic genre.... A thought-provoking read."
-- Canadian Children's Book News
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"Stephen King-level horror haunting a tight, thoughtful domestic drama."
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-- The Bulletin
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"Narrator Will Collyer brings realistic emotion to this creepy audiobook about a
terrifying plague."
-- AudioFile
"Will stick with the reader long after they are finished."
-- School Library Connection
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"Gripping and affecting."
-- Shelf Awareness
"Creepy and engaging."
-- Publishers Weekly
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"An eerie slow burn."
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-- Booklist