Shelter A Novel

In a West Virginia forest in 1963, a group of children at summer camp enter a foreboding Eden and experience an unexpected rite of passage.Shelteris an astonishing portrayal of an American loss of innocence as witnessed by a mysterious drifter named Parson, two young sisters, Lenny and Alma, and a feral boy called Buddy. Together they come to understand bravery and the importance of compassion. Phillips unearths a dangerous beauty in this primeval terrain and in the hearts of her characters. Lies, secrets, erotic initiations, and the bonds of love between friends, families, and generations are transformed in a leafy wilderness undiminished by societal rules and dilemmas. Cast in Phillips' stunning prose, with an unpredictable cast of characters and a shadowy, suspenseful narrative,Shelteris a an enduring achievement from one of the finest writers of our time.

Jayne Anne Phillips is the author of the bestselling novel <I>Machine Dreams</I>, nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award, and two previous collections of short stories, <I>Fast Lanes</I> and <I>Black Tickets</I>. She lives near Boston.