THE ANNUNCIATION OF FRANCESCA DUNN PB B FORMAT – JANIS HALLOWELL

A remarkable debut novel that dares us to imagine mystery in our lives, in our time?book that sends us away refreshed, with the potential to see the sacramental in the everyday – Boston Globe Told from the viewpoints of four unforgettable characters, The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn is the story of an ordinary girl who is believed to be a modern-day Holy Virgin. At the heart of the story is Francesca: a shy and moody teenager hungry for her absent father s love, she is frightened and intoxicated by her sudden elevation to the rank of divine. Chester is a visionary homeless man who first discovers Francesca and makes himself her protector. Anne is Francesca s no-nonsense mother, whose religion is Darwin and biology. Sid is Francesca s troubled friend, who keeps a few secrets of her own. Tender and tragic, their intersecting stories probe the need to believe, and the relationship between divinity and madness. Beautifully crafted, here is a compelling first novel that heralds the arrival of a powerful new talent.