• Age: 12 to 15
• Grade: 7 to 10

There are only three things fifteen-year-old Victoria Markham truly enjoys: English class, her signature "Goth Girl" look, and art. It's just that she tends to do the last one late at night, with spray paint, in public places. It isn't long before Vic is caught red-handed and forced into community service with a bunch of stereotypes: there's Rachael, the princess; Russell and Peter, a pair of fist-bumping punks; and Zach, the rich jock, who Vic is secretly crushing on. The motley crew has to collaborate to produce a mural for Halifax, but getting it organized is like herding cats.

On top of all that, Vic's mother's boyfriend, the only father figure Vic has ever known and the one who taught her to paint, left them both. Vic's mother is still reeling, her relationship with her daughter strained. She doesn't understand Vic's insistence on spiking her hair, piercing her nose and lip, and wearing black clothing and heavy makeup. Vic is convinced her mother doesn't care enough to find out what's really behind the get-up.

Tensions run high as Vic tries to figure out who she is: Victoria Markham, or Goth Girl? Sometimes, there's more to people than meets the eye.

Melanie Mosher won an essay contest when she was in grade two and has been a writer ever since. She lives in a tiny green house with her husband, two daughters, one grand-daughter, and a dog. The house is full, but there is always room for stories. Melanie loves to write for children. Her goal is to kindle their love of words, ignite their imaginations, and spark their creativity. She has many published articles to her credit, but Fire Pie Trout is her first picture book.

Melanie Mosher's profile page

"Mosher's debut novel for young adults features several themes that will resonate with teen audiences." —Atlantic Books Today (Halifax, NS)

"A wonderful story that explores individualism and what it means to safely express oneself." —Canadian Children's Book News (Toronto, ON)