THE FARWALKER’S QUEST
by Joni Sensel
As this absorbing fantasy adventure opens, several generations have passed since a disaster struck earth and changed life forever. Rustic communities are somewhat isolated from one another, and surnames, decided at the annual Namingfest, reflect an individual’s trade, such as Reaper, Fisher, Tree-Singer or Healtouch. Three days before her Namingfest, 12-year-old Ariel and her friend Zeke, a tree-singer–in-training, discover a “telling dart,” once used as a form of communication. Their discovery sparks fear and suspicion amongst villagers. Determined to uncover who sent the dart and unlock its embedded message, Ariel and Zeke set off on a perilous journey fraught with sorrow, danger and unscrupulous villains, yet they also experience great joy. The story offers crisp dialogue, an exciting plot and strong secondary characters that support Ariel as she successfully transforms from a spoiled girl to a brave and compassionate young woman. An epilogue tells readers that Ariel accepts the surname of Farwalker and continues to spread long-forgotten knowledge from village to village in this hopeful contribution to post-apocalyptic literature. (Fantasy. 10-14)