About
Regan McDonell writes dark literary fiction for adults and mature teens.
Her 2019 White Pine Award Honour Book, Black Chuck, is a gritty, small-town coming-of-age novel that Booklist called "a superb debut," School Library Journal says is "a read that sticks in the gut," and Kirkus Reviews noted for "dynamically complex characterization and storytelling."
Regan is a past recipient of arts grants from Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council, and is represented by Amy Tompkins of Transatlantic Agency.
She is a proud member of The Horror Writers Association and The Writer's Union of Canada.
Regan lives in Toronto, where she writes, makes art and leaves love letters on subways for strangers to find.
2019 White Pine Award Honour Book (top three)
2019 Sunburst Award, Shortlisted (top five)
2019 Ontario Library Association Best Bet YA (top ten)
2019 Canadian Children’s Book Centre, recommended
The Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia’s Canadian Indigenous Books For Schools 2018/19
Awards
Reviews
Quill & Quire - May 17, 2018
"McDonell deftly handles a surprisingly complex narrative, and presents her multi-racial cast of characters with sensitivity and respect... Black Chuck surprises at nearly every turn; it’s a powerful debut." Read the full review here.
Resource Links - February 15, 2018
"This novel is Orca at its most mature. The characters are living on the edge, with such raw intensity that it is painful to remember that they are still teens… As these four teens struggle with their demons, we are pulled through their living nightmares by McDonell's harrowing depiction, and hope for their sakes that they can each find their road."
CM Magazine - February 13, 2018
"A book unlike anything I have read before… McDonell has developed characters who are diverse, multidimensional, and flawed, which makes them relatable… Black Chuck is an engaging and diverse book that would be a welcomed addition to any classroom or school library. Highly Recommended. "
Booklist - January 31, 2018
"Superb debut novel; the pain and angst of both Ré and Evie is palpable, and the struggles they face within their respective relationships are real and nuanced… This is a brutal, heartbreaking, and yet strangely uplifting novel about the consequences of lies, the gravity of love, and the courage it takes to prevail over self-condemnation."
School Library Journal - January 26, 2018
"McDonell provides a strong sense of character for each of her players, [and] an adeptness in handling themes such as inevitability, loyalty, and guilt, making this a read that sticks in the gut… This book delivers on a stirring psychological drama fans of Carol Plum-Ucci's The Body of Christopher Creed and of the CW's Riverdale will tear through."
Kirkus Reviews - February 28, 2018
"Dynamically complex characterization and storytelling…brooding and absorbing."
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Contact
My literary work is represented by Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency.
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