Fugitive Rifts
A coming-of-age novel about life-changing events by critically acclaimed author, A-M Mawhiney
The book is available worldwide in print and digital format by Friesen Press
Does everyone have secrets?
When four teens are invited to meet after school with a teacher, the butterfly effect of this one small event soon changes their dreams about their futures. Thrown together to form, of all things, a debate team, the four—Grace, a popular star basketball player, Drew, a privileged hotshot, Ollie, an artistic new student, and Dottie a shy, brilliant loner—seem to have nothing in common. And not one of them believes they have what it takes to be successful debaters.
Over time, the four teens start helping each other through tough times and begin to realize they are more alike than they thought.
Taking part in a public debate turns out to have unintended consequences that affect the four teens, each in different ways. Then the disappearance of one upends not only the lives of the four teens, but it also creates a ripple effect that shapes, over time, what happens to other people from their communities, their country—and even the world.
Fugitive Rifts is a compelling and empowering story of coming of age, resilience, and friendship, with emotional passages that are authentic, visceral, and bring the characters to life.
Centering the reality of climate change, A-M beautifully captures our interconnectedness with all beings and places, and the feeling of being held in the vastness of nature. [Fugitive Rifts] is a coming-of-age story for every kid who was made to feel they cared too much. It is a story of the power of acceptance and surrender in the face of urgency, pain, and loss, and the people and places that walk us home. _ Madison Reviewer on Goodreads
As with any book by A-M Mawhiney, [Fugitive Rifts] is beautifully crafted, with redolent, moving writing that enthralls. It will pull powerful emotions out from the depths of readers—don’t be surprised if you shed a tear. I certainly did. P.L. Stuart Reviewer on Goodreads
More Books By A-M Mawhiney:
Life has changed at Life of Hope in the decades since Earth tipped back to a flourishing biome. People work together, connected through a telepathic network, to keep their planet healthy. Each person develops additional magical powers in their teen years that help them find their place in the community. However, Fania’s seventeen-year-old, Saki, is adrift—they don’t yet know what their unique abilities are nor how they’ll contribute meaningfully to the world.
Racism, climate change, and violence are in the past. The new world values respect and collaboration with others. But are there secrets lurking in the shadows of the Land of Hope? What truth about the past is being covered up?
When fifteen-year-old Fania returns from Immersion, she is shattered to learn that the next phase of her education is at home with Alicia, her granny. She had hoped for something far grander that would prepare her for an important role with the Earth Project. Their two strong personalities clash as Fania begins to learn more about the past and her family’s role in it.
As Fania grows in confidence and power, she starts to wonder exactly what secrets Alicia is keeping in her underground lab. After Fania discovers the truth, she finds her calling: one that has the power to change everything.
About A-M Mawhiney:
At age eight A-M Mawhiney announced she wanted to be an author. It only took sixty years. Her career, first as a social worker and then as a university professor and senior administrator, ended with her retirement in 2018. She began writing again during the first lockdown in 2020. To her surprise she found herself writing her first novel, Spindrifts. which was a finalist in the 8th annual Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writers’ Prize and shortlisted for the Whistler Independent Book Awards in 2022. Its sequel, Spelldrifts, was released in 2023, and her latest book, Fugitive Rifts, was published in July 2025. When she isn’t writing A-M enjoys reading, taking in local basketball games, time with family and friends, and travelling. She lives in Sudbury, Ontario with her partner Dave.
Scribble's Worth 
Leave a comment