Katsa's killing Grace

Summary

Katsa lives in a world where a person can have an extreme skill called a Grace. People with Grace are often exploited, which is the case for Katsa. Her skill is the Grace of killing. When she was eight she killed her cousin with one punch.  Her uncle, King Randa knows of her power and decides to train her in combat in order to create an exceptionally skilled assassin. Tired of her uncle’s abuse of her Grace Katsa creates a secret group that seeks justice over the exploitation and cruelty of power. In the midst of a secret mission she meets Prince Po. He can read minds and Katsa dislikes him instantly. Eventually Katsa agrees to help him free his cousin Princess Bitterblue from her demented father. Princess Bitterblue’s father has a Grace that proves dangerous to all but Prince Po. On her journey to save Princess Bitterblue Katsa discovers something new about her own Grace as well as her feelings for Prince Po. Katsa also discovers a secret that could potentially end all seven kingdoms. Grappling with all these new discoveries Katsa must resourcefully forge onward.

Review

Graceling brims over with adolescent anger and confusion as Katsa struggles to find her own way. The novel is about fighting for what you believe in and standing your ground even if that means going against an adult. In this way Katsa grows and becomes more aware of her true self. There is also a tumultuous awakening in Katsa after meeting Prince Po one that leaves her bewildered and exhilarated all at once. Graceling is a great story that introduces a girl who breaks away from tyrannical constraint to bring on her own righteous uprising. She is tough, quick-witted, and compassionate—in other words a girl to look up to.

Grades 8-12

Cashore, K. (2008). Graceling. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, INC.    

ISBN: 978-0152063962

 

 Cover art link: fay school

Who is the Folk Keeper really . . .

Summary

Only a boy can be a Folk Keeper. Through cunning and devious behavior Corinna Stonewall changes her name to Corin in order to train and gain the position of Folk Keeper of Rhysbridge Home.  Keeping the Folk at bay requires various charms and in depth knowledge of the Folk and their malicious ways. Corinna prides herself at what she does, but worries about growing up and losing the ruse.  Mysteriously her hair grows two inches every night. She also has the ability to tell time. A dying man visits her and hires her to be the Folk Keeper at his estate called Marblehaugh Park. Excited by this new endeavor Corinna finds more than she bargained for at the now deceased man’s estate. Surrounded by the sea Corinna develops an interesting craving for fish, befriends the deceased man’s son, and learns of the hidden secrets of Marblehaugh Park. In grappling with the mysterious of Marblehaugh Park Corinna begins to open up to her true identity and link to the sea. Understanding what she is she must now make the decision to stay the Folk Keeper or relinquish her role in order to embrace the sea.

Review

This coming-of-age tale looks into one girls struggle for self-identity. Borrowing from the selkie myth this novel highlights Corinna’s self-denial and self-discovery by figuratively and literally shedding her skin. The Folk Keeper is a dark tale that includes murder, secrets, magic, and love. Corinna’s acknowledgement of her true self is a gripping climax that keeps readers going to the revealing end.

Grades: 4-8

Billingsley, F. (1999). The Folk Keeper. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

ISBN: 0-689-82876-4

Cover art link: Capitol Choices

For your next literary voyage forget Wonderland, and come to UnLondon!

Deeba and Zanna have discovered a portal in a London housing project basement that can transport them to a place where the city’s garbage and outcasts reside- UnLondon- London’s “abcity.”  Strange objects and signals, and a very talkative book belonging to UnLondon’s Propheseers have named Zanna the chosen one, or the Shwazzy, who will rescue the abcity from the Smog which threatens to poison and kill all of UnLondon’s inhabitants. Before Zanna can even complete the mission she chooses not to accept, the girls are returned to London, and their bizarre experience seems but a dream- until Deeba stumbles upon a mysterious link between the London she knows and the UnLondon she now feels compelled to return. Only Deeba knows the real reason why UnLondon is in even greater danger than its inhabitants originally thought. But how will she- a twelve-year old from a London housing project, the true Shwazzy’s funny friend, the UnShwazzy- convince UnLondoners that they are being tricked by an evil force posing to be benevolent? Luckily, a half-ghost named Hemi and an animated milk carton named Curdle have joined her crusade, but even with her two best allies she still needs more help to warn UnLondon and escape the Smog’s minions. Her journey is filled with narrow escapes from death, the most bizarre citizens, and one mysterious UnGun.

UN LUN DUNis an imaginative and fresh novel that is filled with great classic themes such as friendship, mistaken personas, (false) prophesy, and heroism. The book also alludes to the threat of pollution and how it affects political attitudes and actions. From the first chapter readers will be captivated by Meivilles’ original and witty writing, all the while feeling as surprised as Deeba by the unique cast of characters and bizarre but entertaining scenarios. UN LUN DUN is like an updated and edgy version of Alice in Wonderland and is a wonderful reminder that even the most unlikely characters can be heroes, or heroines. Grade 3 and up.


Mieville, China. (2007). UN LUN DUN. New York: Del Rey Books, an imprint of Random House
ISBN: 978-0-345-45844-5
Cover art from Random House, http://www.randomhouse.com/