Monday, November 21, 2016

Bibliophile's Corner

Grayling's Song
by Karen Cushman

Flap Copy Description:
Like all Karen Cushman's gorgeous novels, "Grayling's Song" delves into the past to let us know what we must ask of our future. It's time for Grayling to be a hero. Her mother, a wise woman a sort of witch, has been turned into a tree by evil forces. Tangles and toadstools! Lacking confidence after years of being called Feeble Wits by her mother, Grayling heads off dubiously into the wilds in search of help, where she finds a weather witch, an aromatic enchantress, a cheese soothsayer, a slyly foolish apprentice, and a shape-shifting mouse named Pook! A fast-paced and funny coming-of-age odyssey from a Newbery medalist."

My Thoughts:
Like all of Karen Cushman's novels, Grayling's Song is set in medieval times. However, this middle grade tale marks the first time that the Newbery medalist has written an adventure fantasy - I loved it! The Old World setting is the perfect place to combine a magical plot with a malevolent adversary. The author's dialogue, character development, and setting descriptions are all spot on...as usual. I highly recommend Grayling's Song to readers aged eight to twelve!

Click here to learn more about award-winning author, Karen Cushman.