Now in Print & eBook: 'The Scarred Letter' by Virginia Author Val Muller

Barking Rain Press, a non-profit fiction publisher, announced the paperback and eBook release of "The Scarred Letter," a YA reboot of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic American novel "The Scarlett Letter." Written by veteran high school English teacher Val Muller of Northern Virginia, "The Scarred Letter" is set in a contemporary high school, which becomes the perfect substitute for Hawthorne's Puritan society. Surrounded by ruthless cliques and wannabe outsiders, protagonist Heather Primm finds out just how hard standing up for yourself and your beliefs can be.

Heather Primm never anticipated that a single blog post could ruin her life. Her scoop about steroid use by key players on the school football team sets off an investigation that strips the Orchard Valley Thunderbolts of their state title-and earns Heather a coveted journalism prize. Hated by those involved in the scandal, despised by jealous members of the newspaper staff, ignored by her newly-popular ex-boyfriend, and even berated by her mother, Heather is attacked and a chilling "T" is carved into her face. Now stigmatized as a traitor, she becomes the object of scorn for nearly all of Orchard Valley High. But when the school offers to send her to a private academy to hush up the matter, Heather is forced to make a decision. Should she refuse to allow fear to control her life by holding to the truth, or accept the chance to escape and build a new life?

To assist teachers in using the book in the classroom, a free Teacher's Guide download is available at the author and publisher websites. The guidebook contains a variety of worksheets, writing prompts, vocabulary builders and other exercises that are ready to be photocopied and used in class. An answer key is provided at the back of the guidebook.

Ask for "The Scarred Letter" at your favorite bookstore, or buy it online at the Barking Rain Press website, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Powells, Books-A-Million, Waterstones, and many other Internet bookstores. It is also available as an eBook through Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, iTunes iBooks, Kobo, InkBok, Content Reserve/Overdrive, the Barking Rain Press website and many other outlets worldwide.

Interested readers can read the first four chapters for free by visiting the Barking Rain Press website at barkingrainpress.org.

The Scarred Letter (YA Fiction)
BISAC: JUV016190 Historical/United States/21st Century, JUV039220 Social Issues/Values & Virtues, FIC019000 Literary
BIC: YNL Literature, books & writers, YFT Historical fiction

LCCN: 2014940654

Trade Paperback (250 pp)
ISBN-13: 978-1-935460-97-8
ISBN-10: 1-935460-97-8
Retail Price: $14.95 USD
Distributors: Ingram, Bertram Books, Gardners Books, Mackin Educational Resources

eBook (ePub, Kindle, PDF)
ISBN-13: 978-1-935460-98-5
ISBN-10: 1-935460-98-6
Price: $5.95 USD
Distributors: Content Reserve/Overdrive, Ingram

About Barking Rain Press
Barking Rain Press is an imprint of the BRP Publishing Group (BRP), which is a non-profit publisher located in the greater Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area-a thriving hub for independent publishers, writers, and literary venues. BRP currently operates three imprints, including Barking Rain Press, Virtual Tales, and Nitis Books. Find out more about the BRP Publishing Group at their website, barkingrainpress.org.

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