Synopses & Reviews
Love and sacrifice intertwine in this brilliant debut of rare beauty about a girl dealing with her mothers schizophrenia and her own mental illness.
Figs world lies somewhere between reality and fantasy.
But as she watches Mama slowly come undone, it becomes hard to tell what is real and what is not, what is fun and what is frightening. To save Mama, Fig begins a fierce battle to bring her back. She knows that her daily sacrifices, like not touching metal one day or avoiding water the next, are the only way to cure Mama.
The problem is that in the process of a daily sacrifice, Fig begins to lose herself as well, increasingly isolating herself from her classmates and engaging in self-destructive behavior that only further sets her apart.
Spanning the course of Figs childhood from age six to nineteen, this deeply provocative novel is more than a portrait of a mother, a daughter, and the struggle that comes with all-consuming love. It is an acutely honest and often painful portrayal of life with mental illness and the lengths to which a young woman must go to handle the ordeals—real or imaginary—thrown her way.
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Clare Furniss is a “strong new voice in Young Adult Fiction." The Guardian
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and#8220;Beautifully written with a dry sense of humor.and#8221;
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“Crisply told…there's a lot of heartbreak in Clare Furniss's book, but the story is lightened by humorous touches.” The Telegraph
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and#8220;The Year of The Rat is a sensitive, beautifully written book.and#8221;
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"A thought-provoking debut that gives voice to children coping with the hardships of being raised in families afflicted by mental illness. By merging reality and fantasy, Fig delivers an authentic portrayal of sacrifice, strength, and, ultimately, love. This is a story that needed to be told." Patricia McCormick, Two-time National Book Award Finalist for Sold and Never Fall Down
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"Sarah Elizabeth Schantz's words are so beautiful they hurt. This is an astonishing debut novel—and one not only for young adults, but for all adults. At the heart —and very much the soul—of the books powerful narrative is Fig, her voice as authentic at six as it is at eleven. I felt a sense of loss at the end and wanted to keep on reading and reading...Fig is destined to become a classic. Truly the most memorable book I have read in years." Kristen-Paige Madonia, author of Fingerprints of You
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“Somehow both lyrical and searing, Fig portrays all the fear and confusion and loneliness of living with an unstable parent. And yet, this book offers a redemption that is as honest as it is believable. A remarkable debut.” VOYA - April 2015
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“In Fig, Sarah Elizabeth Schantz has written a spectacular debut of rare beauty and courage. This fascinating journey into a young child's mind is both haunting and electrifying. Fig is one of the best books Ive read in years, and Figs unique voice will stay with me forever.” Agatha Award-winning author, Katherine Hall Page
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“A touching, well-written depiction of adolescence and the pervasive, perplexing nature of loss.” School Library Journal
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"An incredibly haunting story about mental illness and family bonds.andlt;Iandgt;"andlt;/Iandgt;
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"This beautifully written story is a painful look at mental illness. An element of fantasy weaves throughout the narrative, with Annies tenuous grip on reality and Figs magical thinking, and references to fairy tales, The Wizard of Oz, and Alice in Wonderland abound.... an incredibly haunting story about mental illness and family bonds." Lauren Sabel, author of Vivian Divine Is Dead
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“Schantz's exquisite prose brims with nature, blood, literary references and intense emotional silence….Achingly gorgeous.” School Library Journal
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"Its a rare debut from an author that bares the soul not only of the characters,but of the reader as well." Kirkus Reviews
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** STARRED REVIEW ** "In a novel rich with metaphors, newcomer Schantz explores the tender, heartwrenching relationship between a schizophrenic mother and her highly gifted daughter. The beautiful and remote rural setting underscores Figs isolation among classmates who view her family as strange and her joy during fleeting moments when her mother appears to be cured. Readers will get a strong sense of the powerful bond of love between parents and child as Figs family strives to navigate the quagmire of mental illness." Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW*
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"Readers who appreciate melancholic, lyrical narratives will likely be moved by Figs heartbreaking tale." March 2, 2015
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"Schantz gives readers insight into mental illness and how it affects the people around those who suffer from it. As Fig grows from six years old to an adult, she deals with her mothers illness in both healthy and unhealthy ways. Readers soon realize that Fig is dealing with her own mental illness. Schantzs portrayal of this complicated relationship and fight, both within the character of Fig and with her mother, is touching and unsettling at the same time. It is beautifully painful to experience." Booklist - April 1, 2015
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“Beautifully written with a dry sense of humor.” Stylist Magazine
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“The Year of The Rat is a sensitive, beautifully written book.” Meg Rosoff, author of HOW I LIVE NOW
Synopsis
La Baronne de Chantal, fondatrice de l'ordre de la Visitation, drame historique en 3 actes et en vers, suivi d'une lettre de St J r me une dame romaine, par A.-M. de Cubi res
Date de l' dition originale: 1794
Le pr sent ouvrage s'inscrit dans une politique de conservation patrimoniale des ouvrages de la litt rature Fran aise mise en place avec la BNF.
HACHETTE LIVRE et la BNF proposent ainsi un catalogue de titres indisponibles, la BNF ayant num ris ces oeuvres et HACHETTE LIVRE les imprimant la demande.
Certains de ces ouvrages refl tent des courants de pens e caract ristiques de leur poque, mais qui seraient aujourd'hui jug s condamnables.
Ils n'en appartiennent pas moins l'histoire des id es en France et sont susceptibles de pr senter un int r t scientifique ou historique.
Le sens de notre d marche ditoriale consiste ainsi permettre l'acc s ces oeuvres sans pour autant que nous en cautionnions en aucune fa on le contenu.
Pour plus d'informations, rendez-vous sur www.hachettebnf.fr
Synopsis
Grappling with grief is hard enough without repeat visits from the deceased. Pearl deals with death, life, and family in this haunting, humorous, and poignant debut.
The world can tip at any moment…a fact that fifteen-year-old Pearl is all too aware of when her mom dies after giving birth to her baby sister, Rose.
Rose, who looks exactly like a baby rat, all pink, wrinkled, and writhing. This little Rat has destroyed everything, even ruined the wonderful relationship that Pearl had with her stepfather, the Rats biological father.
Mom, though…Moms dead but she cant seem to leave. She keeps visiting Pearl. Smoking, cursing, guiding.
Told across the year following her mothers death, Pearls story is full of bittersweet humor and heartbreaking honesty about how you deal with grief that cuts you to the bone, as she tries not only to come to terms with losing her mother, but also the fact that her sister—The Rat—is a constant reminder of why her mom is no longer around.
About the Author
Sarah Elizabeth Schantz grew up in a bookstore named The Rue Morgue—one of the first mystery bookstores in the US. She is an accomplished short-storyist, with many awards under her belt. Schantz holds an MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University. She currently lives with her family in an old farmhouse on the outskirts of Boulder, Colorado, where they are surrounded by open sky, century-old cottonwoods, coyote, and screech owls. Fig is her first novel.