Official site of the author Susan Shaw.

Susan Shaw

• Main
• Books
• Appearances
• Contact
• About the Author
• Nowhere But Here!

Friends

Children's Author Kim Norman

Notable Quotes

**NEW RELEASE**
One of the Survivors
"What do you do when the world stops making sense? When your mother dies in a house fire trying to save a cat. When 24 of your classmates die in a fire, but you and your best friend survive. When people blame you for surviving and come to your house to throw garbage in your yard and chant "Murderer! Murderer!" Fourteen-year-old Joseph Edward Campbell keeps a journal, to "fill time, fill the page, fill my mind," anything to keep himself from thinking.
Read More He fills three notebooks, writing about "nowhere stuff"-the color blue, vanilla ice cream, crickets and autumn leaves. But the journal effectively pulls readers into Joey's tortured mind, gradually revealing the whole story of how he and Maureen McGillicuddy survived and how his father and others nurture the healing process through quiet support and well-meaning cliches about life. Shaw's prose is simple and fast-moving, effectively using the indirection of journal entries to give voice to Joey's anguish. The wrenching premise and Joey's first-person point of view make this a story with broad appeal."
Click to close

Safe
After her devastating look at the effects of child abuse in The Boy from the Basement (2006), Shaw deftly tackles another difficult topic: the psychological wounds caused by a violent rape. Without really describing the attack or even using the word "rape" until late in the narrative, she focuses on 13-year-old Tracy's inability to cope with her trauma, nearly eliminating any suspense about the crime or the criminal. Instead, suspense centers on Tracy's emotional turmoil as the girl retreats into a solitary world after the attack.
Read More Nearly unable to leave her house, Tracy becomes obsessed with playing the piano, an activity she previously disliked. She's comfortable only with her father and her best friend Caroline, and she isn't too sure about Caroline. Visits to a therapist appear to make her worse. Readers may become as frustrated as Tracy with her slow progress, but the girl's courageous struggle will keep them reading. Compelling and affecting, especially for Shaw's audience. (Kirkus Reviews) Read More » Click to close

Black-Eyed Suzie
"This novel is a moving depiction of the darkness of mental illness. Readers will find themselves cheering Suzie on as she progresses to regain her confidence and trust. The book gives a realistic look at depression, mental illness, and child abuse." Read More »

The Boy from the Basement is an extraordinary tale of recovery, of a child's unrelenting loyalty in the face of hideous betrayal and abuse, and of the healing, transformative power of love. Read it and weep. We did." Read More »

Shops and Stores

• Boyds Mills Press
• Penguin Group
• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble

News

Spread the word!

One of the Survivors, a Margaret McElderry Book, was released on September 8th! It is available both as a hardcover and a ebook. Look for it in your bookstore or order it online from simonandschuster.com, from amazon.com, or many other sites.

Safe released, honored

The young adult novel from Susan Shaw, Safe, was chosen as one of the Top Ten Quick Picks for Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association. Check it out for yourself at any local bookstore, or online!
Safe is now an Amazon.com Kindlebook.

Boy now available in audiobook

Check out Audible.com for the new audiobook version of the 2004 novel from Susan Shaw

Introduction

This is the official web site of the author Susan Shaw, known best for her young adult fiction. She is an award-winning novelist, poet and playwright. Whether you have come here to view her most recent works, schedule a visit, or learn a little more about the author, you have come to the right place. This is the ultimate online resource for Susan Shaw.

Search