The Healer's Apprentice

Because I write YA and tween books, people often ask me for recommendations. I'm delighted, therefore, to introduce you to a new author, Melanie Dickerson, and her charming novel, The Healer's Apprentice.  Here's the synopsis from her publisher, Zondervan:

In author Melanie Dickerson's new book, a young healer's apprentice named Rose believes she will never marry … until she meets Lord Hamlin, the future ruler of her village. Hamlin is everything she could ever want—kind, understanding, and a man of faith—but her low station and the fact he's already betrothed to a mysterious woman makes their romance impossible. As Lord Hamlin seeks to find the sorcerer who cursed his future bride, Rose's life spins toward confusion. A creative retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale.

When I write for tweens and teens, I am always curious and hopeful about what the adult readers/parents/grandparents think, but I'm most concerned with meeting the reading desires of my intended audience. I therefore had my 16-year-old daughter read this. Here's what she, a normally critical reader, had to say:

"A new angle on a classic fairy tale, The Healer's Apprentice was a charming romance infused with spirituality and struggle. The setting was delightful and so were the characters, who were easy to fall in love with. A wonderful read for anybody wishing to get away for awhile. The only problem now is that I want to marry a prince."

Do yourself a favor and pick one up for a girl you know. Just don't be surprised if you are tempted to read it first!