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The Storyteller: The Riverman Trilogy, Volume 3 | December 16, 2015

by Aaron Starmer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR/Macmillan Children's Publishing, March 2016)

The Storyteller is every bit as weird and wonderful as its predecessors in The Riverman trilogy. In this final volume, Aaron Starmer hands over the narration to Alistair’s older sister, Keri. I’ll admit, I was initially wary of the move, but my frustration faded once the action picked up again. Under investigation for his friends Charlie and Fiona’s disappearances, Alistair seems to be slipping into madness. Meanwhile, Keri is compelled by some mysterious force to write fiction. Her stories, interspersed with diary entries, are dark and enigmatic. They also carry elements of Aquavania, the fantastical land where (according to her brother) kids’ imaginations reign free. As Alistair recalls his encounters in Aquavania, Keri must decide for herself what is true.

The Storyteller raises provocative questions about inspiration and the creative process, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. You won’t find clever resolutions or a comforting ending here. Instead, you’ll find bizarre tales and macabre metafiction. Up to the challenge?