The Prince of Mist

My son recently observed that many of his most treasured books are written by British authors.  Interestingly, this holds true for me as well, with the exception of all of Pat Conroy's and Larry McMurtry's books.  He speculated that books written by Americans, Brits, Australians and New Zealanders, would all be appropriate for him, as they are written in English.  Because he has traveled to Barcelona, I suggested he try some books by Carlos Ruiz Zafron as well. Even though he is from Spain, he has written many wonderful books printed in English.

Zafron started his writing career writing books with the young adult in mind. Among the first is The Prince of Mist.  The plot evolves around Max Carver.  Max is a young boy recently moved to a small coastal town by his father, a watch maker and inventor.  While exploring, Max quickly trespasses on a past which will invade his present.  He discovers a fenced garden with a strange statue, a tale of a ship wreck and many tragic endings for the villagers. Through their curiosities, Max and his family unwittingly ignite events that will invite the legendary Prince of Mist to once again tangle with humanity.

This spooky story found its way onto the American Library Association 2011 list of Best Fiction for Young Adults.  To qualify for the list, a book must meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. The list comprises a wide range of genres and styles, including contemporary realistic fiction, fantasy, horror, science fiction and novels in verse. The committee also selected a Top Ten list.  It is a great read for any age.