Redwoods: A Young Adult Novel

Music is magic. Transportive. It weaves into life, becoming an integral part of my narrative. After coming up empty in my search for a story that made music as powerful as I believe, I shifted to writing my own. Redwoods, a young adult novel, attempts to realize that goal. The trees had long been the guardians of the forest, bestowing the gift of music magic on those they chose, but the redwoods have gone silent. Their growing silence has caused most to become fearful, speculating on the possible meanings behind the eerie quiet. Rue is the last to receive a gift of magical music, one that she doesn’t understand how to wield. She struggles with the weight of expectations, feeling othered and alone. Her identity is called into question when she sees a Redwood that has turned brown at the edge of the forest. She must trust herself and others as she embarks on a journey to alert the kingdom and investigate the origins of the potential disease. This is a story about breaking down walls and being vulnerable, finding confidence and courage, and breaking societal norms. What does it look like to pursue what one believes right and just in a world filled with judgement and bystanders?