Ash & Feather is a novel in verse for upper middle grade and young adult readers. Through magical realism, Sharon explores the complex issues of mental health and identity in a way that is both honest and hopeful.
When fourteen-year-old Phoenix learns of her parent, Eagle’s cancer diagnosis, her shoulder blades start to itch. It’s the end of summer vacation, eighth grade starts next week, and Phoenix’s world collapses. Every hall she runs down, every room she hides in, Phoenix feels herself changing, growing wings while Eagle may be dying. She builds a new nest from the comfort of grandparent Duck, counselor Hen, and sweetheart Ing. But cancer is like a coyote howling in the hills waiting for Phoenix to land so it can destroy everything. If she is to rise from the ashes of this uncertain world– one of surgery and medicine, classes and teachers–Phoenix must learn to feel everything, and become the bird she always imagined.
Themes: parent’s cancer, having difficult conversations, family relationships, emotions, growing up queer, magical realism, power of imagination, birds
Videos
Ash & Feather Teaser Trailer
Talks & Interviews
I enjoy speaking about issues of self-expression through arts/literature, mental health, healing through creativity, and breaking stigmas.
An Interview with Sharon
Join Sharon in a Q and A about her book Ash & Feather. Sharon will describe her creative process, how to talk about cancer with young people, the power of magic and animals in her stories, growing up queer and writing young queer characters, and supporting the mental health of tweens and teens.
Praise for the Book
“Sharon Frances has crafted a masterful collection of poetry that weaves the process of loss, grief, and ultimately acceptance through poignant prose that is both haunting and gripping. Phoenix is a character you’ll champion through tears and ultimately triumphs. Wait until you meet this fire girl and see what truly makes her fly.”
--Lee Ann Ward, USA TODAY bestselling author, Former Senior Editor of Champagne Books, and Founder of Writing Away Refuge
"Your book is phenomenal. I read it through two times purely for enjoyment, just reveling in your words. You have a natural gift as a poet and I felt like I could have highlighted entire poems for the details and wording and rhythm I loved.”
--Dallas Woodburn, Young Adult Novelist and Writing Mentor
"Reading Ash & Feather, I felt sad, but I also felt empathetic. I felt happy reading things that I relate to, sad when bad things happened, and after I felt a little bit, well i don't quite have the words. I think that's just the perfect way to feel after reading something you enjoyed. Ash and Feather has so many feelings you can't quite place outside your own head, but that is a good feeling.”
--Evan, he/they, age 12
Talks & Interviews
I enjoy speaking about issues of self-expression through arts/literature, mental health, healing through creativity, and breaking stigmas.
Sample from Ash & Feather
At the moment of falling
when she needed it most,
this bird heard a voice
from deep in the embers:
you have to burn first
before you can rise
from the ashes.
So she did the hard thing–
she let herself
feel everything.
she let herself burn.