Plagued
Since its initial strike in 1347, plague, called “The Death” by those who rightly fear it, has been continuously decimating populations across the known world. By 1401, the Venetian fleet has lost so many men to the disease’s swift and brutal fatality that the doge has resorted to recruiting foreigners to take up the republic’s oars. Enter Michael, a sixteen-year-old boy from a small fishing village on the Isle of Rhodes. Seeking adventure and escape from a dreary existence, Michael dreams of a larger life, perhaps even a heroic one. Little does he suspect that, within the idyllic myth of Venice the republic perpetuates and he is eager to embrace, a concerted, systematic attack on innocence as gruesome as “The Death” itself will quickly obliterate his juvenile misconceptions and initiate him into a grown-up world where his physical strength, his religious faith, and his very identity are challenged. Learning how to navigate both the seas his galley travels as well as the circuitous social machinations of Venice that mirror the city’s intricate canal system, Michael comes of age. What does his growth cost him? Where do his decisions lead? Can conscience trump cowardice? What, in the end, defines a man?
Awards
Testimonials
Mary Sharnick takes us back to Venice with a new story, just as fascinating and suspenseful as her first novel, Thirst. Plagued is the story of a headstrong, ambitious young man who yearns for adventure, and whose travels expose him to some of the best and the worst in human nature. We follow young Michael as he attains one of his dearest goals (becoming a rower for the great sea power of Venice), and quickly learns that his strength and cunning are badly needed for much more than transportation. Michael confronts abuses of power and person much like those that remain in our headlines today. Plagued is a coming of age novel, an adventure story, and a thriller, and it works on each of these levels. Highly recommended!
AUDIOBOOK
Orla’s Canvas provides an unforgettable, sometimes shocking, snapshot of the deep South during the turbulent times of the Civil Rights Movement. Told through the eyes of Orla Gwen Gleason, an eleven-year-old artist, the author, Mary Sharnick, captures the anxiety and injustice of the times. Orla’s innocence and grace are juxtaposed with a community’s racial cruelty and hate. I have read this book twice (enjoyed it both times) and listened to the new audio book version narrated by Billie Bryant. Ms. Bryant’s narration is superb and expertly captures the southern voice.
Sharnick paints her characters with the same expert strokes as her heroine paints her subjects. Orla’s Canvas is a captivating read for any young adult exploring the unrest of the mid-1900s. Mary Sharnick is a gifted storyteller indeed.
