YOUNG ADULT

Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold Nina Purtee | Newman Springs Publishing 290p, trade paper, $17.95, ISBN 979-8-89061-143-7

Sarah Wilkinson continues her journey in Purtee’s latest, after Crossing Paths, as she turns to her love for art following the death of her mother. At age 10, when Sarah’s mother dies after a terrible accident, and her father deserts her the night of the funeral, Sarah is left with her grandmother. Encouraged by a school caseworker to pursue her passion for art, and sponsored by a mysterious patron with a deep interest in Tanzanian wildlife conservation, Sarah embarks on a worldwide adventure through programs for promising young artists, discovering new opportunities for friendships, romance, and more.

Though Sarah’s tragic backstory consumes much of the novel’s first half, her journey takes off once she departs to study, first in a Parisian art school, and later through an art scholarship competition in Australia—where she falls deeply in love with fellow art student Hans Schuman. As Sarah changes, so, too, does the world around her: her father dies from complications of pneumonia, her relationship with Hans is haunted by old lovers, and a guided trip to Tanzania, meant to spark her creative juices, alters her in more ways than one. Purtee steers clear of the often-messy emotions that come with young adulthood, focusing instead on Sarah’s evolution as an artist—and the realities of female artists in the 1990s, trying to succeed in a classically maledominated profession.

Purtee skillfully embeds strong female artists who inspire young Sarah into a narrative that shines most when describing the artistic process: intricate details, the elation of watching animal dynamics on safari, and the energetic explorations Sarah and friends make under the tutelage of Kenneth Patrick stand out—as does the underlying theme of Sarah as a phoenix, rising from the ashes of her tragic childhood. A side plot about political kidnappings slightly distracts, but Purtee rallies with a sweet conclusion that will give fans hope of future adventures with Sarah.

Cover: B+ | Design & typography: A | Illustrations: – Editing: A | Marketing copy: A