A Review of Maureen McQuerry's The Peculiars by Jeff Bailey
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Lena Mattacascar is different. Her feet are too big. Her hands are too long. She is, well, Peculiar. She is also on a quest, searching for the truth and her past. Lena is a stranger traveling a strange land. She finds more that she bargained for.I just finished reading Maureen McQuerry’s fantasy novel, The Peculiars and I’m disappointed that it’s over. I came to know and empathize with the characters. They are so well developed. I found myself being concerned that they find their individual truths. I like this type of book. It naturally leads into a series. I want to know where the peculiar one goes next. I want to know what happens to her and her traveling troop. One thing that I discovered while reading The Peculiars, was that I wasn’t able to second-guess the story. The story always seemed to travel an unexpected path. I find the literary unexpected path immensely entertaining. While fantasy is not my favorite genre of books, I have always enjoyed any story that is well done and The Peculiars was exceptionally well done.
I had an opportunity meet Maureen McQuerry at a book signing, recently. All I can say is, ‘What a character.’ I discovered that Maureen and her husband are active in local theater, as well the publishing world. They seemed to be a cross between Shakespearian drama and Steam Punk whimsy. I can easily see where Mrs. McQuerry gets her inspiration for some of her minor story lines, delightful. I understand why she is a favorite in the Young Adult book genre.
Maureen Doyle McQuerry is now on my list of favorite authors and I can’t wait for the next book. I know why The Peculiars received thee YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Award and the Bank Street Best Book Recommendation.Of Course, I rate Maureen DoyleMcQuerry and The Peculiars an easy five stars. Other books by Maureen Doyle McQuerry: Time out of Time: Book Two: The Telling Stone, a Washington State Book Award finalist and Time out of Time: Book One: Beyond the Door, a Booklist Top Ten SF-Fantasy.
My name is Jeff Bailey. I write nuclear thrillers for a reason, I’ve worked in nuclear related industries, from nuclear weapons to nuclear research, for fifty years. Deer Hawk Publications released my first book, The Defect in June of 2016. In The Defect, I tell the story of a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant and why the government covered it up. The Defect is based on true events. Deer Hawk Publications is scheduled to release I’m a Marine in May of 2017. I’m a Marine is about a female aviation firefighter in the U.S. Marines who witnesses the murder of two M.P.s. She decides that it is her duty to stop them. Keep in mind that I write nuclear thrillers. The Chilcoat Project, to be released in spring of 2018, is about the theft of nuclear weapons secrets from a national laboratory. The Chilcoat Project is also based on true events. My current project, Wine Country, is based on the true story of the Radioactive Boy Scout, but with a more sinister twist.
