BookPikks

Bunce’s debut novel is a fantastic addition to the world of fairy tale retellings.  Mixing historical fact, fantasy, romance, and a suspenseful ghost story with the retold tale of Rumplestiltskin results in a tale that’s hard to put down!

Upon the death of their father, Charlotte Miller and her sister Rosie find themselves responsible for their family’s woolen mill.  Although the girls are skilled in their trade and eager to work, they find themselves fighting a losing battle to keep their mill.  Strange accidents, bad luck, unexpected debts and rumors of an ancient curse plague their family business.  Out of desparation, the girls make a deal with a mysterious man who appears to magically save the day.  But the price of his help, which at first comes cheap, soon threatens those they cherish most.

A fascinating new book from Levine, inspired by the Biblical story of Jephthah, who must sacrifice his own daughter to fulfill a vow made in haste.  Kezi and Olus have fallen in love.  But Olus isn’t just a good-looking guy–he’s the Akkan god of the wind, while Kezi is a mere mortal.  To further complicate things, Kezi only has 30 days to live.  Together, Kezi and Olus set out to change fate and find a way for their true love to last forever.  Levine has created an interesting world of gods and mortals.  Most young readers will take this book at face value–the simple struggle of 2 people trying to make true love last forever.  More discerning readers will find much to discuss in Levine’s worldview–fate, gods and mortals, and the existence (or non-existence) and character of one god over everything.

To an outsider, it would seem as if Julie lives a fairly ordinary life. She has a mom, Zel, a cat, Boots, and a slightly eccentric grandmother, Gothel. But Julie’s life is far from ordinary. Her mom’s full name is Rapunzel, of “let down your golden hair” fame. Hundreds of years ago, Rapunzel was responsible for rescuing all of the fairy tale characters from their imprisonment to their stories. Trapped in the Wild, and forced to re-enact their stories over and over again, the fairy tale characters never had a chance for freedom, until Rapunzel defeated the Wild.

Now Zel and her daughter Julie are responsible for keeping the Wild under control. But when the Wild somehow escapes and begins to trap Julie’s friends one by one in its stories, it is up to Julie to make the right choices that will save everyone once again, without being captured herself.

Durst creatively weaves numerous fairy tales into one grand retelling, and challenges both Julie and her readers to decide what is really a “happily ever after” ending.

Another phenomenal book by Shannon Hale. This time she retells the little-known Brother’s Grimm tale entitled: “Maid Maleen.” Dashti is a maid who, along with her mistress Lady Saren, is imprisoned by the Lady’s father in a tower for 7 years. Dashti keeps a record of their time in the tower–her book of a thousand days. When their supplies begin to run low, and enemies threaten from the outside, Dashti must find the courage to save them both from certain death.

Hale writes fairy tales, but her stories seem real. Her characters–their culture, languages, traditions and lands–come to life as you read. You won’t be disappointed by this fine addition to Hale’s collection.

When I picked up this book at the library, I had no idea of the controversy swirling around it. I don’t have the time or the inclination to address all of the charges leveled against this book. Many have done this already. However, I wanted to record a few thoughts:

• Pullman is a great writer. His book drew me in and kept my interest all the way through. The Golden Compass is a fascinating adventure.
• Pullman is most certainly not a Christian. In his own words, he says:

I don’t know whether there’s a God or not. Nobody does, no matter what they say. I think it’s perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don’t know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away.

Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it’s because he’s ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they’re responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I’d want nothing to do with them.

• Pullman’s writing very obviously reflects the above stated belief. For example, he portrays the church as supporting attacks on innocent children. Pullman also feels free to re-write Genesis Chapter 3, this time including daemons (see below).
• Pullman’s characters all have daemons, which are animal counterparts that are part of their human’s soul and conscience. If a human is somehow separated from their daemon, they are viewed as incomplete. Daemons keep their humans from ever being really alone. As a Christian, this is what God is for me; Pullman obviously has a different answer to mankind’s longing to belong.
• It’s foolish to try and compare Pullman with C.S. Lewis. There’s just no comparison. It’s even more foolish of Pullman to criticize C.S. Lewis.
• I haven’t read the second and third books in this series, although I plan to. My opinions may change as I get further into the series.
• I have heard that the movie version of the book (coming out this Christmas) doesn’t include many of the anti-God elements that are found in the book. So please don’t judge the book by the movie!

In spite of all this, I would still let my child read these books. Pullman makes no secret of his worldview. He’s not trying to slip something past us and it’s pretty obvious that he’s not a Christian. His writing would be fuel for some great discussions about the origins of sin, the place of the church, and the presence of God in our lives. Honestly, I would have more of a problem with my child reading something like Ann Brashares’ Forever in Blue. In my opinion, Brashares’ worldview of “no consequences for sin” is much more subtle and difficult for children to detect than Pullman’s obvious anti-God themes.