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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
4.5
THIS WAS REALLY REALLY COOL! The story telling in this story is A+. I am an absolute sucker for novels with multiple story threads that eventually tie together!
THIS WAS REALLY REALLY COOL! The story telling in this story is A+. I am an absolute sucker for novels with multiple story threads that eventually tie together!
I quite enjoyed it and might read it again. Not sure it is really a teen book though.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
"The sun does not go down.
"This is the first thing Eric Seven notices about Blessed Island. There will be many other strange things that he will notice, before the forgetting takes hold of him, but that will come later."
In June 2073, Eric Seven arrives at Blessed Island chasing a story. It isn't the first time his work as a journalist has brought him to the far reaches of society. Nor is it the first time he has encountered strange locals.
But as Eric investigates the strange island and a rare flower rumored to be found there, Eric also begins to feel a strange familiarity toward the island--especially toward a local woman named Merle.
As Eric and Merle come closer to the truth it becomes apparent that their journey, if it is a journey, is only just beginning. Or perhaps just nearing its conclusion in Midwinterblood (2011) by Marcus Sedgwick.
Midwinterblood was the winner of the Printz Award in 2014.
Midwinterblood presents seven intersecting stories of love, loss and rebirth in this deceptively slim volume. Although the stories vary in scope, all are grounded firmly in the landscape of Blessed Island where the more things change, the more some constants remain the same.
These stories span time and theme ranging from the unique problems faced by an archaeologist hoping to unearth a find to make a career to a story of two children in a viking colony plagued by an impossible monster. The loves presented here come in all forms with varying results for those involved.
Sedgwick presents a carefully plotted and delicate story over the course of this novel. It is very rare for a book to work as well when read forwards as it does read backwards, but Midwinterblood does just that. With plot points that transcend individual stories this is a rich, meditative story that begs to be read and read again.
Possible Pairings: The Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher, The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton, Mortal Fire by Elizabeth Knox, The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan, Sabriel by Garth Nix, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
"This is the first thing Eric Seven notices about Blessed Island. There will be many other strange things that he will notice, before the forgetting takes hold of him, but that will come later."
In June 2073, Eric Seven arrives at Blessed Island chasing a story. It isn't the first time his work as a journalist has brought him to the far reaches of society. Nor is it the first time he has encountered strange locals.
But as Eric investigates the strange island and a rare flower rumored to be found there, Eric also begins to feel a strange familiarity toward the island--especially toward a local woman named Merle.
As Eric and Merle come closer to the truth it becomes apparent that their journey, if it is a journey, is only just beginning. Or perhaps just nearing its conclusion in Midwinterblood (2011) by Marcus Sedgwick.
Midwinterblood was the winner of the Printz Award in 2014.
Midwinterblood presents seven intersecting stories of love, loss and rebirth in this deceptively slim volume. Although the stories vary in scope, all are grounded firmly in the landscape of Blessed Island where the more things change, the more some constants remain the same.
These stories span time and theme ranging from the unique problems faced by an archaeologist hoping to unearth a find to make a career to a story of two children in a viking colony plagued by an impossible monster. The loves presented here come in all forms with varying results for those involved.
Sedgwick presents a carefully plotted and delicate story over the course of this novel. It is very rare for a book to work as well when read forwards as it does read backwards, but Midwinterblood does just that. With plot points that transcend individual stories this is a rich, meditative story that begs to be read and read again.
Possible Pairings: The Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher, The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton, Mortal Fire by Elizabeth Knox, The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan, Sabriel by Garth Nix, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
mysterious
fast-paced
I read this book because it was required in my YA Lit class.
I would teach this in school because of how rich the story is and the opportunity for analysis. This book should be taught in public schools because the story has several layers that can teach students how to analyze literature. It also has a lot of historical background, so it also exposes students to various parts of history.
Sex: The two main characters are originally lovers and are reincarnated as different people who share different types of love, not just romantic.
Drugs: One of the reincarnations is frequently given tea that dulls his senses and makes him tired.
Rock&Roll: In each reincarnation, Erik or Merle come to an untimely death. Killed by bombs, sacrificed, turns self into a hare, etc.
Language: None
Violence: Moderate. A character dies because of a bombing, one character is sacrificed, a vampire torments people in a village.
I would teach this in school because of how rich the story is and the opportunity for analysis. This book should be taught in public schools because the story has several layers that can teach students how to analyze literature. It also has a lot of historical background, so it also exposes students to various parts of history.
Sex: The two main characters are originally lovers and are reincarnated as different people who share different types of love, not just romantic.
Drugs: One of the reincarnations is frequently given tea that dulls his senses and makes him tired.
Rock&Roll: In each reincarnation, Erik or Merle come to an untimely death. Killed by bombs, sacrificed, turns self into a hare, etc.
Language: None
Violence: Moderate. A character dies because of a bombing, one character is sacrificed, a vampire torments people in a village.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don’t know what it is about this book. It’s an excellent idea, and I feel compelled to try and read it again after some distance. But I was bored by a good chunk of it and just not connecting to the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Okay I'm sort of cheating by putting this version of the cover up, but look how pretty it is!
Such a wonderfully bizarre and striking book.
Such a wonderfully bizarre and striking book.