Shows young people that magic, sorcery, and super-powers are not required to succeed

As though pulled from today's headlines, the eponymous title Scourge is a highly contagious and deadly diseaseWill appeal to fans of George R.R. Martin who prefer a medieval adventure story with a "PG-13" ratingFosters the concept that inward qualities eclipse outward appearancesHonestly explores the challenges of being different in a world that prizes conformityDemonstrates that coming to terms with one's heritage-while sometimes costly-is ultimately freeingThis coming-of-age story illustrates that the journey to self-acceptance is often painfulEmphasizes the sine qua non of being true to oneself