Semi Finalist
Assessment:
Plot: Selak's novel is a feel-good story that will keep readers of all ages wanting to know what happens next.
Prose/Style: The text of the novel flows together nicely; however, there are minimal grammatical mistakes that a light proofread would have caught.
Originality: What sets Selak's novel from the rest is the superb storytelling skill. Selak creates an original novel by keeping readers enticed to know how the story unfolds and by continually provoking emotions from the reader.
Character Development: Selak does a very good job of creating likeable characters. Readers will find themselves falling in love with the characters of CeeGee and Mr. Tindale, in particular.
Date Submitted: May 19, 2019
CeeGee's Gift by Joy H. Selak is an intergenerational novel that involves the reader, regardless of age, in the mysterious life of a 12 year old girl. Celia Gene, called CeeGee, is an introspective, shy young girl who struggles with an unexplained ability to know the future. She foresees elderly Mr. Tindale's impending death, and reluctantly tells him. He recognizes the inevitable and helps her understand her "Knowings" as a gift. He encourages her to share her insight from her heart as a gift to help people change the direction of their lives. As Mr. Tindale says, "if people could see where they were headed, maybe they would decide to change direction and change their entire future".
The author uses the atmosphere of a small town community and its inhabitants as a medium for CeeGee to explore and share her gift. The reader will also be encouraged to explore his own gifts and to seek out ways to use those gifts to benefit others. Readers of all ages will be challenged and inspired by this amazing novel.
