In the tradition of Mark Twain and Cormac McCarthy comes this
distinctly American, pulse-quickening epic from the acclaimed author of
Citrus County and Arkansas.
"I opened John Brandon's new novel and fell hard. An adventure full of
grit and wonder, far-flung and yet uniquely, specifically American. I
hope I never recover."
--Daniel Handler, author of All The Dirty Parts, Bottle Grove, and
Why We Broke Up
Twelve-year-old Gussie Dwyer--audacious, resilient, determined to adhere
to the morals his mother instilled in him--undertakes to trek across the
sumptuous yet perilous peninsula of post-Civil War Florida in search of
his father, a man who has no idea of his son's existence. Gussie's
journey sees him cross paths with hardened Floridians of every stripe,
from the brave and noble to a bevy of cutthroat villains, none worse
than his amoral shark of a half brother. Will he survive his quest, and
at what cost?
Rich in deadpan humor as well as visceral details that illuminate a
diverse cast of characters, the novel uncovers deep truths about family
and self-determination as the reader tracks Gussie's dangerous odyssey
out of childhood. Ivory Shoals is an unforgettable story from a
contemporary master.
