Glitz, Glamour, and Gangsters Collide In New Jazz Age Teen Novel

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Sept. 5, 2017 - PRLog -- The bestselling author of the Stolen Empire series, Sherry Ficklin, is gearing up to release her newest teen historical novel, this time focusing on prohibition era New York. THE CANARY CLUB is the heart wrenching tale of star-crossed lovers struggling to find their way in a time of vicious gangsters and iridescent ingenues--but it never shies away from the gritty realities of the period.

"The mature content that this tale covers (rape, teen delinquency, abusive parents, sexual desire, etc.) really gives credit to interests and maturity levels of its YA audience. Without question, I think that this is one of those rare titles that effortlessly defies categorization," proclaims Minimac Reviews.

"It's not your typical teen romance," Ficklin asserts. "The twenties was a period of revolution, politically, socially, and morally, especially for women. I wanted to examine that kind of boundary pushing--and the very real consequences of those actions, especially within the framework of this strict yet dysfunctional family dynamic."

Though a romance at heart, Canary Club also aims to explore the delicate subject matter in a way modern teens can understand and relate to. "I really wanted to take what I consider an under explored period of American history and crack it open, make it something cool and interesting for young adult readers," Ficklin says about the book. "This book is a little bit Gambino, a little bit Gatsby, and a whole lot of drama."

Kirkus Reviews touts, "Ficklin's offering paints a vivid picture of the Jazz Age, dropping details of glamorous flappers and raucous speak-easies, and it boasts cameos from Zelda Fitzgerald and Lucky Luciano. The role of women is explored, with a keen eye to their lack of choices."

Though the book is not without some controversy, early reviews are mostly positive, many applauding Ficklin for her take on some difficult subjects.

"Masie is still figuring out who she is and who she wants to be, even when society (and her family) wants her to be something very different." Ficklin adds, "It's a powerful thing to explore, this concept of freedom and its cost, especially in the current political climate. I think it's very important to look back before looking forward. You can't shy away from those things just because it's written for teens."

The Canary Club, which includes a discussion guide perfect for book clubs, schools, and reading groups, hits shelves October 19th. You can see more about the novel at it's official website, thecanary.club

The publisher, Crimson Tree Publishing, is currently setting up a multi-city book tour for this novel. For more information or to request an in-store event, contact Rebecca Gober at info@cleanteenpublishing.com