Deadlands Girl is a short young adult, fantasy fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic Canada. The protagonist, Tabitha, is kidnapped and brought to Faerie and the novel follows her quest to come back home. Written as a response to the notion that there are few non-historical Young Adult (YA) novels that are set in Canada, my creative thesis demonstrates that a novel can explore themes of identity, belonging and power while using the Canadian landscape as a backdrop and an inspiration. Mythological creatures assist Tabitha on her hero-quest but, ultimately, it is a coming-of-age story about a young woman growing up and discovering her own power. The novel is introduced with a critical analysis of young adult fiction in Canada, a discussion of identity and what it means to be a Canadian writer creating dark, but hopeful, stories for youth.
