Coming of Age at the End of Days : A Novel

Alice LaPlante's acclaimed psychological thrillers are distinguished by their stunning synthesis of family drama and engrossing suspense. Her new novel is an affecting foray deeper into the creases of family life--and the light-and-dark battle of faith--as LaPlante delves into the barbed psyche of a teenager whose misguided convictions bear irrevocable consequences. Never one to conform, Anna always had trouble fitting in. Earnest and willful, as a young girl she quickly learned how to hide her quirks from her parents and friends. But when, at sixteen, a sudden melancholia takes hold of her life, she loses her sense of self and purpose. Then the Goldschmidts move in next door. They're active members of a religious cult, and Anna is awestruck by both their son, Lars, and their fervent violent prophecies for the Tribulation at the End of Days. Within months, Anna's life--her family, her home, her very identity--will undergo profound changes. But when her newfound beliefs threaten to push her over the edge, she must find her way back to center with the help of unlikely friends. An intimate story of destruction and renewal, New York Times bestselling author LaPlante delivers a haunting exploration of family legacies, devotion, and tangled relationships A girl is lured into fanaticism in this psychological thriller with “stunning twists”—by the New York Times –bestselling author of Turn of Mind ( San Francisco Chronicle ). Never one to conform, Anna always had trouble fitting in. Earnest and willful, she quickly learned, as a young girl, how to hide her quirks from her parents and friends. But at sixteen, a sudden melancholia takes hold of her life. Then the Goldschmidts move in next door. The new neighbors are active members of a religious cult, and Anna is awestruck by both their son, Lars, and their fervent violent prophecies for the Tribulation at the End of Days. Within months, Anna’s life—her family, her home, her very identity—will undergo profound changes. But when her newfound beliefs threaten to push her over the edge, she must find her way back to the center, in this “crisp meditation on the deadly mixture of mental illness and religious charlatanism” ( San Francisco Chronicle ). “LaPlante crafts prose that cuts to the quick and is the perfect vehicle for this dark tale. . . . A compelling read.” — The Seattle Times Never one to conform, Anna always had trouble fitting in. Earnest and willful, as a young girl she quickly learned how to hide her quirks from her parents and friends. But when, at sixteen, a sudden melancholia takes hold of her life, she loses her sense of self and purpose. Then the Goldschmidts move in next door. They're active members of a religious cult, and Anna is awestruck by both their son, Lars, and their fervent violent prophecies for the Tribulation at the End of Days. Within months, Anna's life her family, her home, her very identity will undergo profound changes. But when her newfound beliefs threaten to push her over the edge, she must find her way back to center with the help of unlikely friends. An intimate story of destruction and renewal, New York Times bestselling author LaPlante delivers a haunting exploration of family legacies, devotion, and tangled relationships Never One To Conform, Anna Always Had Trouble Fitting In. Earnest And Willful, As A Young Girl She Quickly Learned How To Hide Her Quirks From Her Parents And Friends. But When, At Sixteen, A Sudden Melancholia Takes Hold Of Her Life, She Loses Her Sense Of Self And Purpose. Then The Goldschmidts Move In Next Door. They're Active Members Of A Religious Cult, And Anna Is Awestruck By Both Their Son Lars And Their Fervent Violent Prophecies For The Tribulation At The End Of Days. Within Months, Anna's Life--her Family, Her Home, Her Very Identity--will Undergo Profound Changes--amazon.com. Alice Laplante. Hiding her willful nature from her parents and friends, only to succumb to depression in her teens, misfit Anna becomes vulnerable to a cult and its prophecies about the end of the world