A New York Times Notable Book and the March 2001 selection of Oprah's Book Club¨ !

Icy Sparks is the sad, funny and transcendent tale of a young girl growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky during the 1950Õs. Gwyn Hyman RubioÕs beautifully written first novel revolves around Icy Sparks, an unforgettable heroine in the tradition of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird or Will Treed in Cold Sassy Tree. At the age of ten, Icy, a bright, curious child orphaned as a baby but raised by adoring grandparents, begins to have strange experiences. Try as she might, her "secrets"Ñverbal croaks, groans, and physical spasmsÑkeep afflicting her. As an adult, she will find out she has TouretteÕs Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, but for years her behavior is the source of mystery, confusion, and deep humiliation.

Narrated by a grown up Icy, the book chronicles a difficult, but ultimately hilarious and heartwarming journey, from her first spasms to her self-acceptance as a young woman. Curious about life beyond the hills, talented, and energetic, Icy learns to cut through all barriersÑphysical, mental, and spiritualÑin order to find community and acceptance.

Along her journey, Icy faces the jeers of her classmates as well as the malevolence of her often-ignorant teachersÑincluding Mrs. Stilton, one of the most evil fourth grade teachers ever created by a writer. Called willful by her teachers and "Frog Child" by her schoolmates, she is exiled from the schoolroom and sent to a childrenÕs asylum where it is hoped that the roots of her mysterious behavior can be discovered. Here Icy learns about differenceÑher own and those who are even more scarred than she. Yet, it isnÕt until Icy returns home that she really begins to flower, especially through her friendship with the eccentric and obese Miss Emily, who knows first-hand how it feels to be an outcast in this tightly knit Appalachian community. Under Miss EmilyÕs tutelage, Icy learns about lifeÕs struggles and rewards, survives her first comical and heartbreaking misadventure with romance, discovers the healing power of her voice when she sings, and ultimatelyÑtakes her first steps back into the world.

Gwyn Hyman RubioÕs Icy Sparks is a fresh, original, and completely redeeming novel about learning to overcome othersÕ ignorance and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.