by Margi Preus
Flap Copy Description:
When her aunt sells her to a cruel goat farmer, Astri is separated from her little sister for the first time since their father left to seek his fortune in America. Treated not much better than the goats she tends, Astri makes a daring escape and retrieves her sister, and together they set off, bound for a ship to reunite with their father.
Armed with a troll treasure, a book of spells and curses, and a possibly magic hairbrush, their company soon includes a mysterious companion who can spin straw into gold. With the malevolent "goatman" in pursuit, the threesome head over the Norwegian mountains, through field and forest, and in and out of folktales and dreams as they steadily make their way east of the sun and west of the moon.
My Thoughts:
West of the Moon has already created a buzz in the Kidlit community, so I wasn't surprised that I loved it. The award-winning author Margi Preus, has skillfully woven an enchanting tale that is part fiction, part folklore, and completely fantastic. One of the things I admire most about the book is the complexity of its main character: Astri. It is always a powerful element in a story to see how the protagonist transforms from the first act to the last. Bravo, Margi Preus!
To learn more about the author - a Newbery Honor Winner - click here: http://www.margipreus.com/margipreus.com/About_Me.html
