SWON Libraries

By Kate O'Hearn (Fiction)

$16.99 (Hardback), 307 pages

Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers (2009)

ISBN: 9781935279051

Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Use: Recreation

Format: Chapter

Genres: Fantasy

Literary Merit: Excellent

Characterization: Excellent

Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Level: Mature Reader

Summary:

War comes to their kingdom and the notorious Lord Dorcon and his knights are sent to Kira's home to escort her father, mother, and brother Dane to the palace where they are to serve the king. Meanwhile, Kira and her sisters are being sent to Lasser Commons, which is a prison. Their only crime is being unwed girls. Kira and her sister, Elspeth, come back from exploring to find their home in shambles and escape the clutches of Lord Dorcon. In order to protect her sister and her family, Kira strikes out on a mission to stay alive and rescue her family with the help of a tiny fox and a baby dragon. Meanwhile, Dane is fighting to stay alive and trying to find a way to help his mother and father escape their prison at the palace.

Evaluation:

Kate O'Hearn's first novel in this series is a page turner. I could not put this one down. The story moves at a steady pace, and makes the reader feel as if they are going on this journey with Kira and her sister Elspeth. Kira is a strong female character in the story and I admired her bravery and perserverance. I liked the way the author alternated the story from Kira and Elspeth to Dane. It kept the story moving fluidly and the transition was done smoothly. I highly recommend this for any collection that has a teen interest in fantasy and for reluctant readers. Some of the story is kind of graphic so I would recommend this for teens ages 13 and up. This would make an excellent addition to any collection.