A riveting, heartwarming YA page-turner.
James launches her YA series with a gripping tale of survival and unlikely alliances in the California desert. Fifteen-year-old Charlie escapes her violent father by jumping from a second-storey window, but putting distance between them proves easier than escaping his reach. In Slab City, she finds refuge with Rita, a retired social worker who repairs broken pottery with gold. Then Charlie rescues an orphaned crow she names Ink, just as her past threatens to catch up with her.
James gives Charlie a wonderfully prickly voice, full of sarcasm, suspicion, and flashes of humour that make her vulnerability all the more affecting. Rita’s quiet patience, Leo’s troubled generosity, and Ink’s mischievous antics lend the story texture and warmth. The desert settlement, with its eccentric residents and makeshift homes, becomes a memorable setting where outsiders look after their own. James deftly weaves the Japanese art of Kintsugi into Charlie’s journey. The brisk pacing keeps the tension high, while Charlie’s hard-won trust gives the story its emotional weight.
A moving, sharply observed tale of resilience and belonging, a treat for readers who love flawed characters and fiercely protective friendships.
***
Coming soon
Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9979493-1-0
Ebook ISBN: 979-8-9979493-2-7
Cover design by authorsupport.com
Book website charlieandink.com
