Today I get to torment most readers with a new book that isn't readily available to them. Those of you in Australia and New Zealand--and there are more than a few of you!--should especially appreciate this one. Red Rocks by Rachael King retells the selkie legend and sets it in New Zealand. The rest of us are jealous because that sounds like great reading! I also like the cover.
Book description:
A novel for younger readers.
While holidaying at his father’s house, Jake explores Wellington’s wild south coast, with its high cliffs, biting winds, and its fierce seals. When he stumbles upon a sealskin, hidden in a crevice at Red Rocks, he’s compelled to take it home and hide it under his bed, setting off a chain of events that threatens to destroy his family.
Can he put things right before it’s too late?
Red Rocks takes the Celtic myth of the selkies, or seal people, and transplants it into the New Zealand landscape, throwing an ordinary boy into an adventure tinged with magic. With its beautiful writing and eerie atmosphere, middle readers will be thrilled and moved by this captivating story.
For background information, including links to useful websites, and reviews of Red Rocks, click on the links below and to the right.
You can read more about the book at King's site and at the publisher's page where there is a preview and teacher's guide. Here's hoping it does well enough to get picked up for international release!
And you can order the book from Fishpond New Zealand and Fishpond Australia. (SurLaLune is not affiliated with Fishpond.)
Edited to add: The ebook is available for Kindle in Australia and New Zealand but not for US or UK readers, alas.
Hello Heidi, thanks for the plug (and to google alerts for alerting me!). I am yet to put a link on my website, but Red Rocks is available for Kindle on Amazon as well: http://www.amazon.com/Red-Rocks-ebook/dp/B008AEGFG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348388277&sr=8-1&keywords=rachael+king+red+rocks
ReplyDeleteThanks again! Your blog looks lovely.
Thanks, Rachael!
DeleteI have added the link to the post--please let me know if/when it becomes available to US and/or UK readers.
Hi Heidi - I thought the Amazon link was for the whole world - are you getting a message saying no to US and UK readers?
DeleteIt's definitely not US. My IP is US right now so I can't verify UK. But it is definitely not available to a US reader right now.
DeleteAnd I am not finding it in the UK Amazon store at all. Usually I can see it there with the not available to me message but I don't find it listed at all. But may be my IP.
DeleteThanks Heidi! I'll talk to my publisher and see what the issue is.
DeleteThat does look lovely - and as an Australian I can actually get my hands on it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I had a look under your Selkies tag and couldn't see any mention of Margo Lanagan's 'Sea Hearts' (known in the US as 'The Brides of Rollrock Island), which came out earlier this year. It's as beautiful and disturbing as any selkie story should be, and instantly became one of my favourite fairytale retellings.
Thanks for the reminder! I've scheduled a post about it for 9/25.
DeleteYay, so nice not to get 'this is not available in your area'...but wait have to finish my degree first...no new books until November 15 :( Look forward to reading both books.
ReplyDelete