A HAUNTED PAST; A FATHER’S GHOST; A MOTHER’S SECRET

As fifteen-year-old Joseph Carver peels back the layers of a haunted past, he finds himself lost in the shadow of his mother's unorthodox religion; desperate to uncover the truth about his father's death and the sister he never met - learning that sometimes, it is only through great loss that you can finally let go and begin to understand your own story.

Named one of the top reader-recommended titles of 2017 on cbcbooks.ca

  • This novel is hauntingly imagined and gorgeously told... The Church In The Wildwood is expertly and thoughtfully crafted, an impressive recipe of poetry and plot - it captivated me with beautiful phrasing that begged attention while twists, turns, and soul-searching characters compelled me to quickly read on...

    Tsara Shelton, author of Spinning In Circles And Learning From Myself: A Collection of Stories that Slowly Grow Up

  • Alanna Rusnak is a wordsmith. She is both mistress and master of her craft. Everything she puts her pen to is magical, and The Church in the Wildwood is no exception...

    Geraldine Mac Donald, author of Sumac Summer

  • The Church in the Wildwood is a must-read for everyone looking for a story of humanity at its most broken AND its most redemptive.

    Michelle McLaughlin, Spaces Magazine

  • A hauntingly beautiful tale by Alanna Rusnak. A lesson of alienation and belonging and finding of self. Well-written with exquisite exposition, Rusnak manages to write with a naked rawness that brings out the true depths of family and spirituality in a way that pulls the reader in, eager to join in the journey.

    William F. Aicher, author of Calibration 74

  • ...such a gifted writer. [The Church in the Wildwood is] like this gift I'm slowly unwrapping.

    Diane Marie Samson

  • A beautifully woven tale exploring the complexity of relationships, family, and love. The story flows between two time periods, giving the reader a glimpse into some of the experiences that form beliefs and views of the world. Real characters with imperfections, depth and honest voices. A unique storyline that engages you from beginning to end.

    Pamela Hopwood

  • She wished to move with the grace of a ghost—all whispers and secrets and sighs.

    The Church in the Wildwood, pg 69

  • We're all just wandering around with our fingers crossed, hoping we'll meet somebody that will make our lostness a little less lonely.

    The Church in the Wildwood, pg 133

  • She wept until she was too dried up for tears—like an orange that had been sucked of all its sweetness...

    The Church in the Wildwood, pg 86

  • ...could love really be a sin if it was actually the greatest commandment?

    The Church in the Wildwood, pg 286

The Church in the Wildwood The Church in the Wildwood
The Church in the Wildwood
$17.00

Top reader-recommended book of 2017 on CBC Books; finalist for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize

As fifteen-year-old Joseph Carver peels back the layers of a haunted past, he finds himself lost in the shadows of his mother's unorthodox religion; desperate to uncover the truth about his father's death and the sister he never met—learning that sometimes, it is only through great loss that you can finally let go and begin to understand your own story.

For fans of deep and complex characters, dark and twisted histories, and poetic storytelling, The Church in the Wildwood will leave you captivated until the very end. If you enjoy books that explore the depths of human emotions and the complexities of family dynamics, then you won't want to miss this gripping novel.

Literary Fiction | 312 pages | paperback