Castle Lark and the Tale That Stopped Time

Two teens from the twenty-second century discover and reactivate an ancient spell. Time stops. Earth's fate hangs in the balance. Adventure, romance, magic and mystery...times two!

Zelda Leah Gatuskin, author of THE TIME DANCER, creates another tale of time travel, dual worlds, and parallel stories.
In the not-so-distance-future the Earth is dead. Humans have destroyed it, and Earth has been evacuated for over a century. Now, people live in domes on Luna and Mars where everything is in harmonious unison. Except for the last few survivors who remember Earth, people have never been outside. Climate in the domes is artificial, and the chance to experience real rain is a rare treat. Since the evacuation humanity has let Earth rest.

Insert Alex and Fasha, two teenagers who were born and grew up in the domes of Luna and Mars. When Alex is stranded on Luna because of a misunderstanding between his divorced parents, he is rescued by Walsh, a family friend. Alex, Walsh, his wife Cammie, and Fasha, their daughter, take a trip to Earth.

On their trip they see artificial Paris, and get to be outside for the first time in their lives during their time in Africa. Strangely enough, Africa is the first continent to be destroyed and to recover from the devastation. Alex and Fasha’s curiosity peaks when they learn of Alex’s ancestral connection to the ancient Huntly Castle in Scotland and the chance to see the vine.

The vine, a gigantic and mysterious ivy-like plant that appeared after a catastrophic underground oil spill, covers Huntly Castle, like much of the United Kingdom. It is the target of two global companies, ClimaTech and E.R.I.C., who are competing for the right to resurrect Earth either with, or without it.

Walsh arranges for the two teens to visit Scotland on their own while the adults relax. While exploring the vast "ocean" of green vine with Amy, a member of VAP, they discover a hidden vine-covered castle. Inside they discover The Tale That Stopped Time.

The Tale That Stopped Time contains the story of Aziza, a great storyteller, and Rider, a boy sold to the King of his land by his parents. Together, Alex and Fasha resume the narrative and discover the ancient spell that envelops the past, present, and possibly the future. Who has written this magical story?

Romance prospers and the two realize their magical connection with the vine, the tale, and the past. Will the story freeze time indefinitely, or will Alex and Fasha read on and uncover the mystery that connects them?

"This is a powerful work of a modern imagination—full of history, wizards, castles and moral energy" —Barbara Beasley Murphy, SOUTHWEST BOOKVIEWS

"When I first started reading CASTLE LARK... and met its teen aged protagonists, I thought this might be a good book to send to my grandchildren to read. But the deeper I got into its serpentine plot, the more enthralled I became with Zelda's ability to entrance the most adult reader. She is keen in her observations, excellent in her technical knowledge and a master at page turning suspense." —Paula Shulak, JEWISH VOICE

"CASTLE LARK pulls you willingly into an exploration of futuristic technology, ancient wisdom and family rivalries, all backdrop for the burgeoning relationships between two teen adventurers and their diverse companions. Layers of mystery, political suspense and romance make this an engrossing read for all ages." --Judith Isaacs, author, and former middle and high school teacher and library administrator