A Modern, Coming of Age ACTION THRILLER for readers young and old
A Modern, Coming of Age ACTION THRILLER for readers young and old
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They wouldn’t leave her alone. Becoming a hero was her only option.
Fifteen-year-old Fanny Berk has mastered the art of staying invisible. After a harrowing antisemitic attack on her family, she retreats into isolation, avoiding connection at all costs. Thin, slouched, and perpetually cloaked in dark clothes, Fanny looks like something out of a Tim Burton movie—and she’s fine with that. Friends are risky. Friends are painful. Even the relentless loyalty of a stray rescue dog feels like too much.
Karate is her only escape. Immersed in its discipline, she channels her anger into perfecting her skills and living its principles. But her carefully constructed solitude shatters when she uses those skills to stop a violent bullying incident. This unintentional act of heroism sets off a chain reaction that puts her on the radar of a dangerous criminal organization threatening her community.
Reluctant and unprepared, Fanny finds herself drawn into a high-stakes battle she never asked for, with no option but to fight back. As danger escalates, a ragtag group of classmates rallies around her, offering support and friendship she’s determined to resist. But as Fanny’s independence becomes her biggest obstacle, she must decide if letting others in is worth the risk—before it’s too late.
Now available
Now available
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read a full review
Taut, tense, and emotionally charged…
Luxenburg’s compelling coming-of-age novel dives deep into the complexities of trauma, resilience, and the painful loneliness of being different. Fanny Berk, 15, is a karate student, a self-taught intellectual trapped in a stifling high school system, a devoted reader of Jane Austen, and a girl whose past has taught her to stay invisible at all costs. When she intervenes to stop a brutal attack on a classmate, she lands in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal network—and into the deadliest fight of her life.
Trauma lives in the edges of every scene, but Luxenburg handles it with an unflinching, unsentimental touch. Fanny’s story unfolds in jagged moments: silent acts of rebellion, explosive karate matches, almost-imperceptible cracks in her emotional armor. Like the practice of karate itself, the novel is clean, fast, and devastating. Luxenburg’s prose moves with precision, embedding moments of aching humor inside lines that often feel like punches to the gut. The structure is tight, the pacing relentless, but it’s the small, searing observations—on fear, on invisibility, on unexpected loyalty—that linger long after the final page. A stunner.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Buddy and Avi Hiking
Can you tell which one is the author?
Avi Luxenburg brings over three decades of rich experience as an educator, spanning from teaching second graders to mentoring master’s students. His dedication to nurturing young minds earned him the prestigious British Columbia Premier’s Excellence Award in Teaching. This deep understanding of the adolescent experience—its triumphs, challenges, and complexities—infuses his writing with authenticity and emotional depth.
Born in Israel, Avi’s global journey has taken him from Winnipeg, Canada, to Miami, Florida, and back to Canada, culminating in a life enriched by diverse cultures and perspectives. This multicultural background informs the nuanced exploration of identity and resilience in Fanny Berk Strikes Back. Avi’s lifelong passion for storytelling took center stage after retirement, encouraged (or insisted upon) by his spouse. What began as a creative outlet quickly became a calling.
Avi's dedication to character-driven narratives shines through his process. Reading aloud drafts to his spouse often evokes laughter, tears, and even moments of indignation—proof of his ability to create compelling, emotionally resonant stories. Now based on Canada’s West Coast with his patient spouse, Avi channels his love for teaching and storytelling into creating works that inspire, entertain, and provoke thought in young adult readers.
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