A Path Begins
by J.A. White
Flap Copy Description:
Hand in Hand, the witch's children walked down the empty road.
When Kara Westfall was six years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic...except, perhaps, the mysterious forest that covers nearly the entire island. It has many names, this place. Sometimes it is called the Dark Wood, or Sordyr's Realm. But mostly it's called the Thickety.
The black-leaved trees swayed toward Kara and then away, as though beckoning her.
The villagers live in fear of the Thickety and the terrible creatures that live there. But when an unusual bird lures Kara into the forbidden forest, she discovers a strange book with unspeakable powers. A book that might have belonged to her mother.
And that is just the beginning of the story.
My Thoughts:
The recently-released debut novel by J.A. White is a dark and spellbinding tale about the power of magic. The Thickety: A Path Begins is the first fantasy book in Mr. White's upper middle grade series - I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author has masterfully created a somewhat dystopian world that includes the island village of De'Noran; the mainland - the World; and the Dark Wood, known as the Thickety. The protagonist, Kara, is the perfectly imperfect main character. Her fatal flaws make her all the more, a heroine to cheer for. This tale of twists and turns reads like a young adult novel, even though the protagonist is twelve years old. It is recommended for readers from the ages of ten and up; I strongly agree. The Thickety: A Path Begins is definitely a book that would intrigue young adults, as well as adults.
To learn more about the author, J. A. White, click here: http://jawhitebooks.com/
