A Portland author’s young adult novel, inspired by the true story of a teen accused of being a vampire in 1890s Rhode Island, has been named one of the ten best YA books of 2011 by The Barnes and Noble Review.
Mercy: The Last New England Vampire, by Portland author Sarah L. Thomson and published by Islandport Press, is a contemporary story told through the eyes of 14-year-old Haley Brown. As Haley traces her family’s history for a school project, she stumbles across eerie signs and ghostly messages from the past. Ultimately, Haley must learn to overcome her fears, cope with loss, and find her own strength to save herself and her family.
Barnes and Noble reviewer Amy Benfer says Mercy “is a refreshing reminder that much of what we call supernatural phenomena are very human indeed.” Of the top ten books on the list, Benfer says, “They are books for people of all ages who appreciate what makes a story work on the page: fresh storytelling, a distinctive voice, and compelling use of language.”
Mercy was also awarded a silver medal in the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for young adult fiction (horror/mystery category).
Award-winning author Sarah L. Thomson has published more than 25 books for young readers. Her young adult titles include Dragon's Egg (Junior Literary Guild Premier Selection and Maine Lupine Award winner, 2007),The Dragon's Son, which Booklist called "a spellbinding tale of love, intrigue, and betrayal," The Manny ("worthy of Jane Austen," according to The Washington Post), The Secret of the Rose, and The Young Reader's Edition of Three Cups of Tea (a New York Times bestseller). A former children's book editor for HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, she now lives and writes in Portland, Maine.
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