The Witch's Fang

Joan Buchanan is a writing instructor and storyteller, and the author of
Taking Care of My Cold! and The Nana Rescue.

The striking cover of a climber clinging to a rock face invites
young-adult readers into 17-year-old Todd Rushton’s quest to scale the
last unclimbed peak within easy reach of Vancouver.

The novel begins with a scientific yet poetic prologue in which the
author establishes metaphors of fire and ice. Keen sentence fragments
convey atmosphere and character, while short, but complete, sentences
move the action along. Although flashbacks are usually tricky in
children’s literature, Kellerhals-Stewart handles scenes from Todd’s
serious car accident successfully (with the exception of an abrupt
transition on page 11). But the information-laden dialogue between Todd
and his father in the opening pages and in the mid-section action scenes
slows down the story’s pace.

The book’s focus is clear, and Kellerhals-Stewart provides enough
background to round out family life. She also delineates characters
impressively with warmth, humor, and snappy dialogue. I became so
involved with the protagonist that my body tensed up with each new
crisis! Highly recommended.