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TreeTalker
Award-winning writer Susan J. Kroupa combines Celtic magic with Native American mythos in a riveting story of good and evil and the conquering power of love.
A boy betrayed by his father, a lonely girl, and a shapechanger desperate to return home must band together to save an ancient land from a merciless enemy. Dropped into a world of magic, kidnappings, and agonizing choices, they must overcome the enemy’s paralyzing darkness to save the day.
“Fast-paced and engaging, this tale weaves magic, mystery, and action together to deliver an entertaining story. . . a gripping contemporary fantasy with relatable characters.” —The Booklife Prize
“The author is able to convincingly pull together many disparate an alternate universe, Hopi tradition, Celtic myth and ecological peril, and then drop them all into a sleepy Utah town.
The final magical ingredient is a pack of brave and loyal dogs, who join with the kids and their pooka-in-poodle form companion to save the day.” —ThorLuther, Amazon
“This is a rich tapestry of magic interwoven in the ordinary world, with a curious ending. HIGHLY recommended.” —M. Alm, Amazon
“A warm, scary, satisfying read.” — Sara Hoskinson Frommer, Amazon
A boy betrayed by his father, a lonely girl, and a shapechanger desperate to return home must band together to save an ancient land from a merciless enemy. Dropped into a world of magic, kidnappings, and agonizing choices, they must overcome the enemy’s paralyzing darkness to save the day.
“Fast-paced and engaging, this tale weaves magic, mystery, and action together to deliver an entertaining story. . . a gripping contemporary fantasy with relatable characters.” —The Booklife Prize
“The author is able to convincingly pull together many disparate an alternate universe, Hopi tradition, Celtic myth and ecological peril, and then drop them all into a sleepy Utah town.
The final magical ingredient is a pack of brave and loyal dogs, who join with the kids and their pooka-in-poodle form companion to save the day.” —ThorLuther, Amazon
“This is a rich tapestry of magic interwoven in the ordinary world, with a curious ending. HIGHLY recommended.” —M. Alm, Amazon
“A warm, scary, satisfying read.” — Sara Hoskinson Frommer, Amazon
304 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2023
6 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Susan J. Kroupa
34 books52 followersBefore she let her writing go to the dogs, Susan J. Kroupa won awards for her fiction from such places as the Utah Arts Council Contest, Writers of the Future and the Deep South Writing Competition. Her stories have appeared in Realms of Fantasy and in a variety of anthologies, including Bruce Coville's Shapeshifters. Now, she is perhaps best known for her Doodlebugged Mysteries, a gentle cozy series featuring the irrepressible but obedience-impaired sniffer-dog, Doodle.
Susan lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia with her husband and a trouble-prone labradoodle whose superpower is bringing home dead possums. You can learn more about her on her webpage www.susankroupa.com or by subscribing to her newsletter (where you can sometimes get free stories and other cool stuff) at http://eepurl.com/3PUR1.
Susan lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia with her husband and a trouble-prone labradoodle whose superpower is bringing home dead possums. You can learn more about her on her webpage www.susankroupa.com or by subscribing to her newsletter (where you can sometimes get free stories and other cool stuff) at http://eepurl.com/3PUR1.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 19, 2023
Tree Talker ─ What an amazing book!
Tree Talker is a masterpiece, a book that not only young adults will enjoy, but also much older readers.
Tree Talker is a mystery, a crime drama, a fantasy, and a bit of Irish folklore shown from the viewpoint of the teenagers who get dragged into the action. The crisis begins with a shapeshifter who usually, but not always, displays the shape of a dog.
While the main characters are the teenagers and the shapshifter, this multifaceted, multilayered story will captivate all readers.
The teenagers, as usual, are the first to recognize evil when they encounter it. The surrounding adults are a little slow on the uptake, if not absolutely clueless, but they display good will and courage when the teenagers show them what they need to do.
While escaping captivity and bringing criminals to justice in the material and magic worlds, the teenagers also deal with their real-world issues, tensions in a patchwork family, migrants' economic fears, bullies at school.
The supernatural challenges overcome, the teenagers return to their lives in the material world. At the end, the teenagers are able to forgive their imperfect parents and recognize that the adults who love them are doing the best they can under imperfect circumstances. The adults are able to recognize what they need to do.
Tree Talker is an exciting book, a thriller with a satisfying and happy ending. Do yourself a favor and buy it for yourself and everyone you know.
Tree Talker is a masterpiece, a book that not only young adults will enjoy, but also much older readers.
Tree Talker is a mystery, a crime drama, a fantasy, and a bit of Irish folklore shown from the viewpoint of the teenagers who get dragged into the action. The crisis begins with a shapeshifter who usually, but not always, displays the shape of a dog.
While the main characters are the teenagers and the shapshifter, this multifaceted, multilayered story will captivate all readers.
The teenagers, as usual, are the first to recognize evil when they encounter it. The surrounding adults are a little slow on the uptake, if not absolutely clueless, but they display good will and courage when the teenagers show them what they need to do.
While escaping captivity and bringing criminals to justice in the material and magic worlds, the teenagers also deal with their real-world issues, tensions in a patchwork family, migrants' economic fears, bullies at school.
The supernatural challenges overcome, the teenagers return to their lives in the material world. At the end, the teenagers are able to forgive their imperfect parents and recognize that the adults who love them are doing the best they can under imperfect circumstances. The adults are able to recognize what they need to do.
Tree Talker is an exciting book, a thriller with a satisfying and happy ending. Do yourself a favor and buy it for yourself and everyone you know.
April 3, 2026
I was intrigued by the Hopi/Celtic fusion in this young adult fantasy novel. I was reading it as a possible gift for grandchildren, and found myself drawn in and engaged by the characters. Delightful story.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews