Raising Arcadia
 | |
| Author | Simon Chesterman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Marshall Cavendish |
Publication date | 2016 |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 240 pp. |
| ISBN | 9789814751506 |
| Website | www |
Raising Arcadia is a novel by Simon Chesterman, Dean and Professor at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law.
Published in May 2016, the book is the first in a trilogy.[1] A sequel, Finding Arcadia, was published in November 2016[2] and launched at the Singapore Writers Festival.[3] The third and final book in the trilogy, Being Arcadia, was published in 2018 and shortlisted for the Singapore Book Awards.[4]
Overview
[edit]The central character, Arcadia Greentree, is a sixteen-year-old savant, described as “aware of her surroundings in a way that sometimes gets her into trouble — and out of it again”.[5]
Reception
[edit]Kirkus Reviews describes the book as a young adult mystery paying tribute to Sherlock Holmes. “Though overstuffed with obscure allusions and unnecessary infodumps, this series opener is pleasurably packed with clever, solvable, well-explained puzzles; hits the spot for a mystery lover.”[6]
The School Library Journal places it in the tradition of English boarding school novels. “Fans of quirky protagonists, puzzling mysteries, and spy craft will enjoy this. A solid addition to any middle school, high school, or public library.”[7]
Glee Books rated it “highly recommended, especially for those who enjoyed the pacy intrigue and thrills of The Mysterious Benedict Society mysteries.[8]
Awards
[edit]Raising Arcadia was shortlisted for the Popular Readers' Choice Awards at BookFest Singapore 2016.[9]
Being Arcadia, the final book in the trilogy, was shortlisted for the 2018 Singapore Book Awards.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ hermes (26 June 2016). "Law dean turned novelist Simon Chesterman takes on young adult fiction".
- ^ "Singapore shelf". 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Book Launch of Finding Arcadia, Singapore Writers Festival". Archived from the original on 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
- ^ LocalBooks.sg, Singapore Book Awards 2018 Collection.
- ^ "Raising Arcadia".
- ^ Kirkus Review of Raising Arcadia
- ^ “Suspenseful Settings”, School Library Journal, 16 November 2016.
- ^ “Teen Fiction”, Glee Books, 15 February 2017.
- ^ Popular BookFest Singapore 2016.
- ^ LocalBooks.sg, Singapore Book Awards 2018 Collection.