Out of the Ashes

Shelby Belgarden #1

by Valerie Sherrard

Shelby Belgarden isn't exactly thrilled when people start thinking Greg is her boyfriend. After all, she's more interested in the athletic Nick Jarvis. But one day Greg suddenly becomes more interesting to Shelby -- though for all the wrong reasons: Shelby begins to suspect that Greg is responsible for the series of arsons that have occurred in her small New Brunswick town in recent weeks. After finding out that Greg and his father had moved to this town after their old home burnt down - with Greg's mother inside - Shelby finds Greg's gasoline-soaked mitten near the scene of the latest arson.

Shelby launches her own investigation into the crimes. As she does, she becomes aware that whoever is responsible may have been a victim of sexual abuse.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

I was born in 1957 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and grew up in various parts of Canada. My dad was in the Air Force so the family moved often, and was sent to live in Lahr, West Germany, when I was eleven. It was there that a teacher encouraged me toward writing. I didn't rush into it, though. It wasn't until 2002 that my first book was released, but since then I've had several dozen books for young people published.

One reason I chose to write for children and teens was my experience in working with them. Over the years I fostered about 70 teens in my home, and I also worked as the Director of a group home for teens in my community for more than a decade.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelby Belgarden.

How would I describe this book's main lead and detective? She's arrogant and self-centered. She thinks she's different, and perhaps subconsciously better, than every other girl in school when really she's just a pretentious ass. She Insists that she is not boy crazy like her best friend while constantly swooning over an equally pretentious and arrogant guy (whom she later discovers is not a nice guy and therefore would make a terrible boyfriend, though I would argue they are perfect for one another). She insists that her friend Betsy has many great qualities while simultaneously going out of her way to constantly talk about how annoyed she is over her friend's antics. She also uses and abuses some poor chump who, for whatever reason, really likes her.

And I strangely love her!

She's quite funny, and she does face the consequences for her actions. As the story moves forward, you see her opinion on people mature (though she needs to work on being a better friend), which makes her a very likeable and relatable character.

As for the story itself, I question whether or not it's a mystery, or a youth study. The culprit for the arson attacks is so obvious, it hurts. I was practically screaming halfway through the book who the perpetrator was before I realized that this novel wouldn't classify as a regular mystery. Instead, it introduces youth to the reality of sexual abuse and a certain type of "lashing out" as a result of it.

Since this book is written for youth, I would strongly advise if you are a parent to let your child read this book only when both of you are ready to have this talk with them, due to the subject matter. That being said, it's a good book to open this discussion since there is a happy ending and no graphic, horrific details to the abuse.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have read many of them. They are YA,but highly enjoyable. I'm into the next one in the series

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and reviewed this book as a teenager and this book still stand out to me as one of the best that I read in that time period.

I look forward to re-reading this book again as an adult and passing it down to my children.

The storyline was fantastic and was a real page turner.

[Murella Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The summary of the book is that Greg suddenly becomes more interesting to Shelby though for all the wrong reasons:Shelby begins to suspect that Greg is responsible for the series of arsons that have occurred in town in recent weeks. After what i learn so far is that Greg and his father moved to this town after their old home burnt down with Greg mom inside shelby finds Greg's gasoline- soaked mitten near the scene of the latest arsons
The main characters of the story is Greg Shelby,Kelsey, Holly, Jane and Betts.
The Story is about some people especially one of them mom were inside and Shelby is the one who found Greg mom in gasoline soaked mitten near the scene.
Yes i like the book it's interesting.
The book it's an interesting book to me i enjoying it.
This book is really a fiction book.The young generation and the young adults as well as the older ones to read this book.
I would recommend this book to the young generation growing up and the young adults as well the older ones it's an enjoyable book to read.

[lucreatia Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really in love with the Shelby Belgarden mysteries thus far, they are well written, funny, witty and filled with realistic and genuine human emotions. This book didn't disappoint. It touches on accusations and judgements made simply because of what appears to the eye and how we often make assumptions. I really cannot express how much I love the characters in this book and how I have been sincerely touched by the plot. Its a MUST read.

[Varshini · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this wasn't my first Shelby Belgarden novel that I read, the plot of this novel was already spoiled for me. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read.