Fugitive Rifts by A-M Mawhiney is, on one level, the story of four teens from different walks of life who form enduring friendships and find their way to their goals. On another level, it presents a paradigm for a way of embracing the world, one that draws all those it encounters together, and can perhaps transform the world. The last section recreates the crux of the story in mythic terms, reflecting on the breakdown of the planet through human mismanagement as well the possibilities for renewal, drawing the themes deeper into a universal perspective.
Four very different individuals are selected for the school debating team, and all are puzzled either by their own inclusion, that of other team members, or both. Drew presents the outlook we associate with third generation wealth—spoiled, narcissistic, judgemental. Grace, the determined rising basketball star, comes from a practical farming background, and we soon learn there is a history between her and Drew. Ollie, newly arrived, is missing the infrastructure of a small northern community, and Dottie, the slightly nerdy and insecure one, is a mystery.
Ollie suggests a camping trip for the unlikely group to discover common ground and start working as a team. The first step is reaching a compromise, given their differing expectations of a camping experience, and it is Dottie who comes up with the location. This immediately caught my attention! How did this unlikely camper know so much about this spot? Then on the camping trip itself, we—along with the campers—begin to discover that each of these individuals has a special story. The bonding begins and continues in every aspect of their lives.
But this is much more than the story of four people learning to work together and support one another; it is especially the story of how the openness and acceptance they develop toward each other spills out into the world. Dottie, during her time of homelessness, had already developed a natural empathy for those struggling on the streets, a feeling embedded in Ollie through his life in a community that supported its members. It is something Grace aspires to, and becomes comfortable living, and something Drew recognizes when his own world falls apart. As they work together on projects, they discover the natural generosity and goodness of many others who see people in all their possibilities, not in their “social failures.”
Circumstances arise in Dottie’s life, and the team is separated. Yet, she never stops caring for them, and the others never stop hoping for her. The values that they learned in their debating year will carry them through disappointment and loss, into a stronger future. This outlook continues into adulthood. Dottie emerges as the one who develops the predictive model for a massive seismic event; the others respond to the needs of a homeless encampment during the great earthquake and tsunami that follow. This encampment is real, in all its broken lives, its fears, its angers, its unpredictability. Yet, receiving acceptance, patience, respect, and love, its members begin to shine. Each one is a gift to the world, and each one brings beauty.
There are many serendipitous moments in this novel, perhaps too many for “real” life, so many happy coincidences that might not happen in your life or mine. Maybe the staff cabin at the farm is more fashionable than we would expect. The dialogue is, in some instances, a little more polished than that of some teens. But this enriches the story. The accomplishment here is to present, through fiction, all that is possible when we receive the world with an open heart, when we look upon one another and see all that they and we can be.
The evolution of each character is done with sensitivity and compassion; I looked forward to reading more, to see what each had learned, to see how others in their growing circle began to shine. For me, the character of Luke, who appeared so briefly, is the one that touches me most, in all his sorrow, dignity, and serenity—an impactful delivery.
Ultimately, Fugitive Rifts is a story that inspires us to strive to become fully human. To dare—and to hope.
About the Author
A-M Mawhinney began writing during the first lockdown of 2020 to escape to a place filled with hope. To her surprise, she found herself writing her first novel. When not writing, she enjoys reading, travelling, taking in local basketball games, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Northern Ontario with her partner, Dave.
A-M is the author of Spindrifts (2021) and Spelldrifts (2022) Readers can learn more at her website, www.ammawhiney.ca
About the Reviewer
Anne Smith-Nochasak lives in a rural wooded area in western Nova Scotia, and likes to hike, kayak, and spend quality time with her two golden companions, Shay and Marlowe. https://www.acanoerofshorelines.com/
Book Details
Publisher : FriesenPress
Publication date : July 30 2025
Language : English
Print length : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 1038344085
ISBN-13 : 978-1038344083
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