Dust

Slade, Arthur. Dust. Canada: Harper, 2001



Annotation: In the quiet, sleepy town of Horseshoe, Saskatchewan, evil is coming. For Robert’s 7 year old brother Matthew it’s too late. Is Robert next?


Justification for Nomination: The story begins in the depression era dustbowl farming community in Horseshoe, Saskatchewan. Eleven year old Robert’s younger brother Matthew disappears while walking to town. A strange man shows up and things start to get weird. I was hooked from the beginning. The uncertain, but driven hero is on a quest to find out what happened to his brother and other kids that are missing. The author uses Robert’s thoughts to build the mood of the story. The plot is littered with foreshadowing combined with unique twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and spellbound. Slade uses graphic imagery to describe the town, its people and the antagonist that harasses Robert until the end. The skillfully crafted sentences are easy to follow and it is an example of a good stepping off point for young readers to adult fiction. The dialogue is pretty strong and the characters stay true to themselves and the plot of the book. This story has all of the elements of a terrific young adult book that touches on many developmental dynamics that teens are going through. For example, family relationships, Robert and his parents become closer after Matthew disappears. Fear, hope and courage are all points that are experienced or shown by the young adult protagonist. The theme of good versus evil is strewn throughout the story. While there was not a lot of gore in the book, it provided intensity and thrills that teens find exhilarating. I found the ending to be satisfying with the hero winning the fight, but still left room for the imagination. This author is to teens as Stephen King is to the adult reader.


Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Mystery