'A Light in the Dunes' fiction for readers 11 years and up.
Cover art by Ken Campbell
* OLA 1998 Red Maple Award - shortlist
* 1998 Books for the Teen Age - New York Library
* Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award nominee
* Best books for Young Adults list. The American Library Association 1999
* shortlisted for the Tiny TORGY Award
* considered for the 1997 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award for Children
What happened to the body that Rikst and her friend found on the beach one stormy afternoon? Was that really the ghost of Rixt, the witch of the bird sanctuary, that she spotted from the beach? What exactly are the Ice-Woman and her two mysterious companions doing on the island?
Why was Rikst named after a woman who lured ships onto the beach during storms? And what disturbing secret is her mother trying to hide from her? Her attempts to answer these questions lead fourteen-year-old Rikst de Bruin on a journey of discovery and danger.
'A light in the Dunes' was inspired by the legend of the 'Witch of the Bird Sanctuary' which is set on the island of Ameland, just of the coast of Friesland. I was always intrigued by the legend and the island of Ameland is one of my favourite places to visit. Our youngest daughter was named after the witch, except we changed the spelling from Rixt to Rikst. In the summer of 1992, our family visited the island and Rikst finally got her picture taken with the statue of the witch.
This is a picture of the Frisian flag. The 7 red lily pads are a symbol of the many lakes and waterways in Friesland.
In the photo gallery below you see from left to right, a map of the island of Ameland, daughter Rikst and the statue of the witch, the statue of Rixt and a copy of the book translated in Italian by Mondadori in 2000.
In the photo gallery below you see from left to right, a map of the island of Ameland, daughter Rikst and the statue of the witch, the statue of Rixt and a copy of the book translated in Italian by Mondadori in 2000.
"Hi, It's me again, Wrinkles. I'm glad martha didn't name me after a witch! Although, I have to admit, Rikst has an interesting name and a great story to go with it."
