Doyle is a born storyteller. . . . Life in the Northwest woods may be fanciful in Martin Marten, but the characters emerge true as rain.” —The Seattle Times

“A rich, wise tale of two creatures from different species whose lives run parallel to each other.” —Shelf Awareness

“Flows along absorbingly, avoiding sentiment while imparting a quiet acceptance of the rhythms of the natural and human worlds. Highly recommended; even city slickers can love.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Brian Doyle seeks that magical connection with the reader and, in Martin Marten, is wonderfully successful in his effort.” —Portland Book Review

“[Doyle’s] a guy with a penchant for piquant detail, and possibly a cosmic agenda. When you finish reading a novel by Doyle, you’re bound to feel more attuned to the universe.” —Kitsap Sun

“Martin Marten is a joyous celebration of the complexities of life told by a master storyteller. You will want to share it with your family and friends.” —Neil Abramson, author of Unsaid

“Martin Marten is a daring and delightful creation. As well as any novelist working today, Brian Doyle blends animal and human kingdoms into a seamless hopeful narrative overflowing with the wonderment of life. So artfully does he weave the feelings and impulses of his imagined people and wildlife that Doyle himself must be half-man, half-critter. Martin Marten should be required reading for all humans.” —Jim Lynch, author of the novels Truth Like the Sun, Border Songs, and The Highest Tide

“Brian Doyle's gorgeous new novel is a hypnotic, luxurious journey through our natural world—a mind-bending celebration of how sweet each day can be. Martin Marten is composed with musical prose and sparkling, quirky characters who remind us that humanity is still capable of great good, and bliss might well lie just beyond our own back doors. A modern day Siddhartha set in the lush Pacific Northwest, Martin Marten awakens readers to the interconnected worlds that define the landscape of one glorious mountain, and the common boundaries of its infinite souls.” —Carol Cassella, author of Gemini

“Behold a tale both wonderful and wise about the mysteries of adolescence, the interconnectedness of the natural world, and the nature of existence itself. Insightful, heartwarming, and beautifully written, Brian Doyle's Martin Marten will have you cheering for characters across the species divide.” —Brian Payton, author of The Wind Is Not a River

12/01/2015
On the slopes of Mt. Hood, OR, a young marten goes from birth to adolescence quickly, while Dave at 14 slowly becomes a young man. Sections of the novel alternate between the marten's and the human's lives. The wild animal is not anthropomorphized, although he is called Martin by the author. He is a fascinating creature of the woods whose survival becomes important as readers learn about him and his family. Dave and his younger sister, Maria, are treasured by their hardworking parents, who live a quiet, simple life in the isolated area. When Dave's father loses his job, Dave seeks employment at the local general store. There, he works for the unusual young owner, a woman who does not accept the idea of marriage. Her story and that of her suitor are cleverly introduced into the plot, and teens will learn to care about them. Gradually, more beautifully portrayed and eccentric characters enter the narrative. At the same time, the marten is becoming fully grown and looking for a mate and Dave is shyly running with a special, athletic girl in his new high school. Maria, Dave's sister, deserves a novel of her own. As a first grader, she wants to apply for fourth grade and sees no reason why students should stay in their designated class. There is adventure, near tragedy, and romance in this luminous novel. The descriptions of the woods will inspire any city dweller to go on a hike. VERDICT Teens will want to read about the lives of Dave and his friends and be introduced to the fast, clever Martin.—Karlan Sick, Library Consultant, New York City