N.T. McQueen announces Never Hide from the Devil, a young adult historical novel on the 1915 Defense of Van, honored with an IPPY Silver Medal.
-- Author N.T. McQueen has announced the release of Never Hide from the Devil, a young adult historical novel published by Cynren Press and distributed by the Independent Publisher Group. The book explores the Defense of Van, a lesser-known chapter of the Armenian Genocide that unfolded in the spring of 1915. Since its publication, the novel has earned starred reviews from major literary outlets and a Silver Medal in the 2026 Independent Publisher Book Awards for Multicultural Young Adult Fiction.
A Story Rooted in Historical Resistance
Never Hide from the Devil follows fourteen-year-old Suren Simonian, an Armenian boy living a familiar life in the city of Van in eastern Anatolia. He attends school, watches fistfights, and does his best to stay clear of the Turkish gendarmes, or armed police officers, who patrol the region. His closest companion is Hamza, his Turkish best friend, and most of his days pass with an ordinary rhythm.
That rhythm shatters in the spring of 1915. Rumors of massacres begin to spread across the region, and Turkish troops soon surround Van with a single objective: the extermination of its Armenian population. As the violence closes in, Suren is forced to confront the meaning of loyalty, courage, and manhood in a world that has turned deadly overnight.
The novel draws its inspiration from the true events of the Armenian defense of Van, when residents of the city organized to resist annihilation. The Armenian Genocide, carried out during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. Despite the scale of the tragedy, many of its specific episodes remain underrecognized in popular literature. McQueen positions the Defense of Van at the center of his story, making the book distinct within its genre.
Filling a Gap in Young Adult Literature
Never Hide from the Devil is the only novel that focuses specifically on the Defense of Van, and it stands as one of only a few young adult novels to address the Armenian Genocide at all. This distinction gives the book both educational and literary significance, offering younger readers a point of entry into a historical event that is rarely covered in classroom curricula or mainstream fiction.
The coming-of-age framework allows the narrative to explore heavy subject matter through the eyes of a young protagonist. Themes of friendship, survival, and impossible moral choices anchor the story, giving readers a personal lens through which to understand a broad and often abstract historical catastrophe. The relationship between Suren and Hamza, in particular, highlights the human cost of violence that severs bonds across ethnic and religious lines.
Critical Reception and Starred Reviews
The novel has been met with significant praise from established literary institutions. Kirkus Reviews awarded the book a starred review, calling it "heart-wrenching, thought-provoking, and painfully timely." Starred reviews from Kirkus are notoriously difficult to obtain and are reserved for books that the publication considers exceptional.
Foreword Reviews also issued a starred review, describing the novel as "a gripping tale of love and survival." Booklist praised the work as "a heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful story of an important, underrecognized historical event."
Coverage within the Armenian press has been equally notable. The Armenian Weekly, in its review of the book, described the novel as "a jagged piece of shrapnel from 1915 Van, pulsing with the frantic, localized energy of a city under siege." The Armenian Mirror Spectator, in its own feature on the novel, called it "a gripping page-turner that vividly brings to life what might otherwise fade from public memory."
Recognition from Scholars and Educators
Beyond literary critics, the novel has drawn endorsements from academic authorities on the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Khatchig Mouradian of Columbia University, author of The Resistance Network, observed that "the horrors perpetrators commit are only half the story of genocide. The other half is the resistance of its victims. N.T. McQueen delivers a powerful novel of courage and defiance in the face of annihilation, inspired by the Armenian defense of Van in 1915."
Ronald Grigor Suny, the William H. Sewell Jr. Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Michigan, added that the book is "vividly written" and that it "reminds us that resistance against tyranny and oppression is possible. Costs may be high, but courage can prevail. A real tour de force."
Educational reviewers have highlighted the book's suitability for younger audiences. Cherokee Crum of YA Books Central described it as "a beautifully crafted novel that balances profound educational value with deeply engaging storytelling." These endorsements underscore the book's potential value in academic and library settings, where it can serve as both a compelling story and a teaching tool.
An Award-Winning Debut in Its Category
In 2026, Never Hide from the Devil received the Silver Medal in the Multicultural Young Adult Fiction category of the Independent Publisher Book Awards, commonly known as the IPPY Awards. The IPPY Awards recognize excellence among independent authors and publishers, and the honor reflects the book's standing among its peers in the young adult category.
The novel carries the ISBN 978-1947976719 and is available through the Independent Publisher Group. Readers interested in learning more about the book, its reception, and the author can find additional information through the Kirkus review and the Foreword review. Additional updates are also shared through the author's Goodreads profile.
A Timely Reflection on History
Multiple reviewers have noted the timeliness of the novel's subject matter. Stories of resistance in the face of oppression continue to resonate with contemporary readers, and the book invites reflection on how communities respond to existential threats. By centering the narrative on the Defense of Van, McQueen preserves a specific act of collective courage that might otherwise fade from broader public memory.
The book joins McQueen's growing body of work, which includes the upcoming short story collection Faces in the Flames, scheduled for release on August 25 , The Cry of Dry Bones, and Between Lions and Lambs. His fiction has explored human nature across a range of settings, and Never Hide from the Devil represents his first foray into young adult historical fiction. Readers who wish to follow the author's ongoing work can connect through his Facebook page, his Instagram account, and his profile on X.
About N.T. McQueen
N.T. McQueen is a writer and college lecturer who holds a master's degree in fiction from California State University, Sacramento. He is the author of the novels Never Hide from the Devil, Faces in the Flames, The Cry of Dry Bones, and Between Lions and Lambs. His writing has appeared in North American Review, Stonecoast Review, Entropy, Sunlight Press, Atticus Review, Dappled Things, Grief Digest Magazine, and Foreword Magazine. He lives in California with his wife and daughters and enjoys fishing, traveling, and coffee. More information is available at his official website. For media inquiries or to connect with the author, email nate@ntmcqueen.com.
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