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When an outcast of a backwoods town begins to recall blocked memories, the troubles of his past
threaten to overtake his present. DEACON’S FOLLY by James Thibeault is the story of a broken
young man who has lost his family and his history. Once he pulls back the layers of his past with
the help of the town’s curious new deacon, the teenager must face the horrors of his former self.
Everything about fourteen-year-old Devon’s life is a mystery, from the whereabouts of his
parents to Devon’s own memories. The entire town treats him more like an animal than a person,
but Mr. Audette, a surly alcoholic, took Devon in after his parents disappeared. However, Mr.
Audette forces Devon to live in a tree house and keeps the boy away from his twelve-year-old
daughter, Caroline, who is one of the only people who cares for Devon. The boy spends most of
his time alone, talking to the moon. At night he suffers from dreams of people screaming. He
doesn’t understand what the dreams mean, but he tries to ignore them as best he can.
One day Devon attempts to repair his tree house and accidently nails his hand to a board. This
amuses Mr. Audette to the point that he feels the need to celebrate the boy’s mistake. He throws
a barbecue so the entire town can marvel at the unfortunate young man. For years, the
townspeople savagely ridiculed Devon, but he never understood why.
Deacon’s Folly – 2
When a new deacon arrives to assist the town’s only church, he becomes curious about Devon and is
troubled by the way the townspeople treat the boy. Feeling sympathy for Devon, the deacon is
determined to discover the boy’s forgotten past and the reason why no one in town ever discusses it.
Devon has mentally blocked the torments of his former life, as well as the mockery from the town
for years. The deacon is convinced it’s time to know the truth.
Thibeault created DEACON’S FOLLY because of his desire to write a young adult book with a
focus on serious issues, such as mental abuse and neglect. He also had a particular interest in
forgiveness. “Many people don’t forgive, they just forget,” Thibeault says. “Forgiveness is when
one is blatantly harmed or offended, but they still forgive—despite the pain still felt.”
About the Author
James Thibeault teaches high school English at Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, Massachusetts,
where he works with students who have learning differences, such as ADHD and dyslexia. He
has published several short stories in literary magazines. DEACON’S FOLLY is James’s first
novel.
Book Title
336 pages
Softcover, $19.95; ISBN: 9781941644737
E-book, $5.95; ASIN: B018L2U9KO
Publication date: February 2016
Published by Sartoris Literary Group
Available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and booksamillion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deaconsfolly
Twitter: @Deaconsfolly1
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