Doppelganger | The Accidental Novelist
Raised in a cabin in the middle of nowhere by a mother who despises him, the doppelganger has left home at last. He is making his way toward human society. He’s coming to do what every member of his monster race must: find an unsuspecting human and make his first kill. He will then take that shape and identity for himself.
Doppelgangers are not supposed to have doubts. But this one does. His mother was right. He’s weak. Too human, maybe. But even that can’t stop him from killing. He has to do it. It’s who he is.
It is only after stepping into the life of a small-town teenager that the doppelganger learns that his may not be the only cruel existence. In fact, maybe monsters aren’t always who we think they are.
Critical Praise for Doppelganger
“A compelling horror story about making choices and the difference that certain decisions can make in life.” —School Library Journal
“This brooding story of literally stepping into someone else’s shoes combines romance, horror, and angst to create a distinctive story of redemption. . . . An enjoyable read that should greatly appeal to fans of the supernatural and is recommended for public and school libraries.” —VOYA
“This Gothic tale from the author of the YA novels A Gathering of Shades and Truesight references Macbeth, but there’s also enough gruesome detail to appeal to fantasy fans who aren’t into Shakespeare. It’s a riveting tale.” —KLIATT
“An interesting read that deals with growing pains, peer pressure and making decisions that might be unpopular, but are undoubtedly right.” —Kirkus
“A powerful novel about crushing violence, fragile idealism, and the sometimes insurmountable difficulty of outrunning one’s upbringing. Teens struggling to create their own paths, especially those raised in difficult homes, will identify strongly with the protagonist and his onerous choices.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Stahler, author of A Gathering of Shades and Truesight, does a good job of delineating the dynamics of a particular subset of small-town America, where conformity is the order of the day and sports heroes are given too much freedom to run amok. …Light on gore but gravid with unsettling psychological insight, “Doppelganger” is a first-rate horror thriller for teen readers.” —San Francisco Chronicle
“A skin-crawling gothic that’s also a thoughtful tale about isolation, violence and free will.” —Seven Days
Awards and Other Accolades for Doppelganger
American Library Association Best Book Award for Young Adults 2007
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age 2007 Selection
Best Children’s Books of the Year Selection, Bank Street College of Education, 2007
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee, 2008-2009
Washington State: Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2009 Selection
La Ligue des Familles, La Prix Farniente, 2010 Winner (French Translation)
Original hardcover art by Ashley Wood (Click for full image):
Also available in French (Flammarion) and Chinese (Ecus Publishing) translations.
Il faut beaucoup de force pour s’accrocher à existence d’autrui, surtout lorsqu’il s’agit d’un adolescent cruel et violent.
Mais un doppelgänger ne peut lâcher prise. De la créature ou de l’être humain, lequel est le plus monstrueux?
Doppelganger | The Accidental Novelist
Raised in a cabin in the middle of nowhere by a mother who despises him, the doppelganger has left home at last. He is making his way toward human society. He’s coming to do what every member of his monster race must: find an unsuspecting human and make his first kill. He will then take that shape and identity for himself.
Doppelgangers are not supposed to have doubts. But this one does. His mother was right. He’s weak. Too human, maybe. But even that can’t stop him from killing. He has to do it. It’s who he is.
It is only after stepping into the life of a small-town teenager that the doppelganger learns that his may not be the only cruel existence. In fact, maybe monsters aren’t always who we think they are.
Critical Praise for Doppelganger
“A compelling horror story about making choices and the difference that certain decisions can make in life.” —School Library Journal
“This brooding story of literally stepping into someone else’s shoes combines romance, horror, and angst to create a distinctive story of redemption. . . . An enjoyable read that should greatly appeal to fans of the supernatural and is recommended for public and school libraries.” —VOYA
“This Gothic tale from the author of the YA novels A Gathering of Shades and Truesight references Macbeth, but there’s also enough gruesome detail to appeal to fantasy fans who aren’t into Shakespeare. It’s a riveting tale.” —KLIATT
“An interesting read that deals with growing pains, peer pressure and making decisions that might be unpopular, but are undoubtedly right.” —Kirkus
“A powerful novel about crushing violence, fra
gile idealism, and the sometimes insurmountable difficulty of outrunning one’s upbringing. Teens struggling to create their own paths, especially those raised in difficult homes, will identify strongly with the protagonist and his onerous choices.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Stahler, author of A Gathering of Shades and Truesight, does a good job of delineating the dynamics of a particular subset of small-town America, where conformity is the order of the day and sports heroes are given too much freedom to run amok. …Light on gore but gravid with unsettling psychological insight, “Doppelganger” is a first-rate horror thriller for teen readers.” —San Francisco Chronicle
“A skin-crawling gothic that’s also a thoughtful tale about isolation, violence and free will.” —Seven Days
Awards and Other Accolades for Doppelganger
American Library Association Best Book Award for Young Adults 2007
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age 2007 Selection
Best Children’s Books of the Year Selection, Bank Street College of Education, 2007
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee, 2008-2009
Washington State: Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2009 Selection
La Ligue des Familles, La Prix Farniente, 2010 Winner (French Translation)
Original hardcover art by Ashley Wood (Click for full image):
Also available in French (Flammarion) and Chinese (Ecus Publishing) translations.
Il faut beaucoup de force pour s’accrocher à existence d’autrui, surtout lorsqu’il s’agit d’un adolescent cruel et violent.
Mais un doppelgänger ne peut lâcher prise. De la créature ou de l’être humain, lequel est le plus monstrueux?