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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
We follow Lee (Leah) as she makes her way across America in the hope of a better life in the Goldfields of California during the 1850's gold boom. This is not a high fantasy book as some may think, it's a historical retelling with a small weave of magical abilities that makes for one heck of an interesting read.
Lee is an extremely easy to like main character, she's brave when it's needed and she can hold her own, but she struggles constantly as she tries to hide the fact she's a girl travelling alone and doesn't actually know how to get where she's going and it's easy to sympathise and feel her fear and frustrations.
One of the main aspects I liked about this novel is the way Carson was able to portray the attitudes and beliefs of the era. The prejudices against Native Americans, the forced dependence of women on their husbands, the preacher who claims it's "God's will", the fact that real diseases killed real people. On top of all of that I also appreciated the detail in Lee's struggles, a young woman suddenly finding herself alone in a world where woman have no rights and therefore having to take on the appearance and act of a man to be able to cross the country as safely as she can. Heck, we even get details on her monthlies and I remembered why it's often referred to as being on her 'rags'.
With this being the first book in a trilogy it does explain a lot about the country, the people of the time and Lee's abilities and it also focuses greatly on her journey across America so it is quite detailed and lacks fast packed action but that's not to say it's boring. Quite the opposite in fact. A lot happens in this book but some people find it's too "travel" focused but really what did they expect? It's not like she could jump on a train from Georgia to California and be done with it, if that were the case a lot of families would have saved themselves a great deal of pain, sickness and loss. And Carson's portrayal of the difficulties they faced on the journey really showed how desperate some families were and the means to which we'll all fight to try for a better life.
I walked away from this with an appreciation of what people of that time put themselves through in the hope of providing for their families and future generations.
I'm so glad I read this now as the second book is due for release next month and it's been added to my list I'm greatly anticipating. I can't wait to continue on with Lee's story.
Lee is an extremely easy to like main character, she's brave when it's needed and she can hold her own, but she struggles constantly as she tries to hide the fact she's a girl travelling alone and doesn't actually know how to get where she's going and it's easy to sympathise and feel her fear and frustrations.
One of the main aspects I liked about this novel is the way Carson was able to portray the attitudes and beliefs of the era. The prejudices against Native Americans, the forced dependence of women on their husbands, the preacher who claims it's "God's will", the fact that real diseases killed real people. On top of all of that I also appreciated the detail in Lee's struggles, a young woman suddenly finding herself alone in a world where woman have no rights and therefore having to take on the appearance and act of a man to be able to cross the country as safely as she can. Heck, we even get details on her monthlies and I remembered why it's often referred to as being on her 'rags'.
With this being the first book in a trilogy it does explain a lot about the country, the people of the time and Lee's abilities and it also focuses greatly on her journey across America so it is quite detailed and lacks fast packed action but that's not to say it's boring. Quite the opposite in fact. A lot happens in this book but some people find it's too "travel" focused but really what did they expect? It's not like she could jump on a train from Georgia to California and be done with it, if that were the case a lot of families would have saved themselves a great deal of pain, sickness and loss. And Carson's portrayal of the difficulties they faced on the journey really showed how desperate some families were and the means to which we'll all fight to try for a better life.
I walked away from this with an appreciation of what people of that time put themselves through in the hope of providing for their families and future generations.
I'm so glad I read this now as the second book is due for release next month and it's been added to my list I'm greatly anticipating. I can't wait to continue on with Lee's story.
This book was awesome! I bought it a few months ago but put it off because I was nervous about not getting into this story. I haven't been reading a lot of Historical fiction lately but this was perfect because it had just a touch of magic. This was so refreshing from all the fantasy I'd been reading lately. Makes me want to take a vacay out west!
I ended up liking this book a lot more than I thought I would, which is always great! It's a fantastic coming of age novel set in the frontier during the Gold Rush. I'm a big fan of the 'Wild, Wild West,' and I was really glad to see that Carson described the world and characters in such a realistic (to the time period) fashion. The novel doesn't shy away from the dangers of making such a journey, and it has disease and death in it.
One of the strongest aspects of the novel were the characters. I enjoyed Lee as our main character. She's a strong lead, who does what she needs to do, and definitely grows as the novel progresses. I'm excited to see how she continues to progress as the series continues. I didn't necessarily connect with her relationship with her parents (due to something that happens early on, and a trope that I am pretty tired of in YA literature), but even though I couldn't completely connect, Carson did convey the emotions well. I'm glad her relationship with Jeff is turning out to be a slow burn romance, instead of insta-love. It's always nice to see characters develop into a romance over time, rather than just fall head over heels right away.
And this book definitely passes the Bechdel test, which is great. There are some great female relationships that I think will continue to get stronger as the series progresses, and I was so glad to see how everyone worked together to take care of each other.
Right now, I do think that the villain is a bit trope-y and could use more complexity, but I think Carson might do interesting things with him.
Overall, I loved this book! Can't wait to read the next one, and I highly recommend it if you're a fan of the American West and novels that have great relationships between characters, as well as a lot of adventure.
One of the strongest aspects of the novel were the characters. I enjoyed Lee as our main character. She's a strong lead, who does what she needs to do, and definitely grows as the novel progresses. I'm excited to see how she continues to progress as the series continues. I didn't necessarily connect with her relationship with her parents (due to something that happens early on, and a trope that I am pretty tired of in YA literature), but even though I couldn't completely connect, Carson did convey the emotions well. I'm glad her relationship with Jeff is turning out to be a slow burn romance, instead of insta-love. It's always nice to see characters develop into a romance over time, rather than just fall head over heels right away.
And this book definitely passes the Bechdel test, which is great. There are some great female relationships that I think will continue to get stronger as the series progresses, and I was so glad to see how everyone worked together to take care of each other.
Right now, I do think that the villain is a bit trope-y and could use more complexity, but I think Carson might do interesting things with him.
Overall, I loved this book! Can't wait to read the next one, and I highly recommend it if you're a fan of the American West and novels that have great relationships between characters, as well as a lot of adventure.
Omg, i loved this book! Even though it took me longer to finish it than anticipated, it was emotinal in so many ways and the characters were realistic. I loved Leah, and i loved her way of thinking and her way of acting. She was a fantastic character, whom you can easily relate to in so many ways. The book didnt put to much focus on the romance, wich i really liked. Not that Jefferson and Leah doesn't belong togehter.
Sooo, if you love historical fiction, hidden powers, friendship and a bit of romance, then this book is just what you should read - acctually every person should give this book a chance :-)
Sooo, if you love historical fiction, hidden powers, friendship and a bit of romance, then this book is just what you should read - acctually every person should give this book a chance :-)
A great start for this new series by Rae Carson. This story about a young girl who escapes her uncle and travel from Gorgia to California in hope to make her fortune is exciting and full of surprises. I am looking forward to the next book.
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Walk on Earth a Stranger was a fantastic story, I never know exactly where Rae Carson will go in her books. She is not afraid to take risks, and jump right in with her characters. The Girl of Fire and Thorns series is one of my favorites, but that taught me that Rae Carson has a brilliant imagination, and even if she loves her characters she is not afraid to take them down to a dark place. And that's exactly what she does with Lee.
This book is full of mystery, intrigue, good people and bad people. It's about Lee finding out who she is, and who she wants to be on the road to California. The side characters in this book, are just as good as the main character, and I found myself crying right along with Lee at times. This book does start out with a bang, and it definitely caputred my attention. However, there is a lull from about 25%-50%, where I found myself getting bored and really just wondering where this book was going. I am so glad I stuck it out though, because the last 50% is just nothing but action and one thing after another snowballing into this fairly anti-climactic scene at the end. And its only anti-climactic because after everything Lee has been through, the man pursuing her just doesn't seem as scary. Besides that by the end of the book Lee has friends that she can call family, who are there for her no matter what.
Aside from the slow spot in this book, I absolutely loved it. I also have to give Rae Carson credit because looking back on that, the slow spot fooled me into thinking that the trip was going to be uneventful or had me pigeon-holing side characters as one dimensional, when they ended up being so much more. I would give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend picking this series up, because if you liked Girl of Fire and Thorns then you will love Walk on Earth a Stranger.
*This review was first posted on Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2015/09/5346.html*
Walk on Earth a Stranger was a fantastic story, I never know exactly where Rae Carson will go in her books. She is not afraid to take risks, and jump right in with her characters. The Girl of Fire and Thorns series is one of my favorites, but that taught me that Rae Carson has a brilliant imagination, and even if she loves her characters she is not afraid to take them down to a dark place. And that's exactly what she does with Lee.
This book is full of mystery, intrigue, good people and bad people. It's about Lee finding out who she is, and who she wants to be on the road to California. The side characters in this book, are just as good as the main character, and I found myself crying right along with Lee at times. This book does start out with a bang, and it definitely caputred my attention. However, there is a lull from about 25%-50%, where I found myself getting bored and really just wondering where this book was going. I am so glad I stuck it out though, because the last 50% is just nothing but action and one thing after another snowballing into this fairly anti-climactic scene at the end. And its only anti-climactic because after everything Lee has been through, the man pursuing her just doesn't seem as scary. Besides that by the end of the book Lee has friends that she can call family, who are there for her no matter what.
Aside from the slow spot in this book, I absolutely loved it. I also have to give Rae Carson credit because looking back on that, the slow spot fooled me into thinking that the trip was going to be uneventful or had me pigeon-holing side characters as one dimensional, when they ended up being so much more. I would give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend picking this series up, because if you liked Girl of Fire and Thorns then you will love Walk on Earth a Stranger.
*This review was first posted on Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2015/09/5346.html*
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy by Rae Carson. There was no way I could pass up a chance to read an ARC of her new book Walk on Earth a Stranger. This is an incredibly different sort of fantasy from her first trilogy. I wasn't really sure if I would like it as much going in as I've never been a huge fan of Gold Rush/Oregon Trail novels, but I LOVED this. Loved loved loved it. Yesterday it was included on the longlist of books for National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It most assuredly deserves to be there.
Lee Westfall has a special ability that must remain a secret. She can sense the whereabouts of gold. If this were discovered, she knows people would want to use and exploit her for their own gain. Lee is content finding what gold she can on her father's claim in Georgia and living a quiet life with her parents. Everything changes when her parents are shot dead by someone they trusted, someone they told her secret to. Knowing she needs to escape, Lee disguises herself as a boy and heads for Independence Missouri where her best friend Jefferson has already gone to join a trip to the California gold mines. As Lee makes her way across the country, she faces harsh conditions and fears for her safety, but she also discovers that the family you choose can be just as special as the family your born with.
Lee is a gold seer which makes this a fantasy yes, but more importantly it is an amazing work of historical fiction. Rae Carson did her research well and pulls absolutely no punches about the difficulties of the journey west. The book is gruesome is some places. There is sickness, there is death, there are unpleasant situations for Lee and her traveling companions around every corner. The harsh realities of the time period are shown. It is in no way glorified or looked at through rose colored glasses. I appreciated how Carson also showed many people's problematic attitudes towards those who were different from them. She had people demonstrate racist attitudes toward Native Americans and slaves, but they were demonstrated as problematic by other characters on the very same page. That is how you do historical authenticity with balance. It is done simply too. By having a diverse cast of characters and showing their reactions and discomfort in these situations, Carson was able to achieve exactly the right tone with this. This is, without a doubt, the best westward expansion novel I've ever read. Part of my dislike for them as a whole is that they never satisfy what I want from one. This one completely satisfied me in every way.
The plot of the story is mostly the journey itself. The book gets off to a thrilling start with the murders of Lee's parents, and there are several places in her journey west where major events take place. For the most part this is a story of a journey though. There is a lot of traveling. Maps are looked at. Plans are discussed. I loved the authentic feel this lent to the book, but see how it might be frustrating for a plot driven reader. I think the pacing is perfect for the story it is telling, which is that of a girl traveling across the country and the community that she finds amongst her fellow travelers.
My favorite part of the book is the characters and the relationships that are developed on the journey across the country. Lee is young and impulsive, but she is clever and works hard to think her plans through and stay several steps ahead of those who may be pursuing her. She meets a diverse and interesting mix of people on her journey and slowly comes to realize the world has all sorts of people in it. She has always kept herself distant from people outside of her parents and her best friend, Jeff, but she slowly learns to trust and open up to others. That is the heart of this book. Lee finds community, friendship, and family in places she least expects it, and it is a beautiful story. I adored all the characters who became an essential part of Lee's core group and the slow way each one's story was revealed through their journey. (This may be slightly spoilery, but this especially applies to Becky Joyner who is my favorite secondary character. I LOVE her.) The way this community and self-made family comes together through tragedy and challenge is just so wonderful.
I definitely will be pre-ordering the second book as soon as I can.
I read an ARC made available by the publisher, Greenwillow, via Edelweiss. Walk on Earth a Stranger goes on sale September 22nd.
I loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy by Rae Carson. There was no way I could pass up a chance to read an ARC of her new book Walk on Earth a Stranger. This is an incredibly different sort of fantasy from her first trilogy. I wasn't really sure if I would like it as much going in as I've never been a huge fan of Gold Rush/Oregon Trail novels, but I LOVED this. Loved loved loved it. Yesterday it was included on the longlist of books for National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It most assuredly deserves to be there.
Lee Westfall has a special ability that must remain a secret. She can sense the whereabouts of gold. If this were discovered, she knows people would want to use and exploit her for their own gain. Lee is content finding what gold she can on her father's claim in Georgia and living a quiet life with her parents. Everything changes when her parents are shot dead by someone they trusted, someone they told her secret to. Knowing she needs to escape, Lee disguises herself as a boy and heads for Independence Missouri where her best friend Jefferson has already gone to join a trip to the California gold mines. As Lee makes her way across the country, she faces harsh conditions and fears for her safety, but she also discovers that the family you choose can be just as special as the family your born with.
Lee is a gold seer which makes this a fantasy yes, but more importantly it is an amazing work of historical fiction. Rae Carson did her research well and pulls absolutely no punches about the difficulties of the journey west. The book is gruesome is some places. There is sickness, there is death, there are unpleasant situations for Lee and her traveling companions around every corner. The harsh realities of the time period are shown. It is in no way glorified or looked at through rose colored glasses. I appreciated how Carson also showed many people's problematic attitudes towards those who were different from them. She had people demonstrate racist attitudes toward Native Americans and slaves, but they were demonstrated as problematic by other characters on the very same page. That is how you do historical authenticity with balance. It is done simply too. By having a diverse cast of characters and showing their reactions and discomfort in these situations, Carson was able to achieve exactly the right tone with this. This is, without a doubt, the best westward expansion novel I've ever read. Part of my dislike for them as a whole is that they never satisfy what I want from one. This one completely satisfied me in every way.
The plot of the story is mostly the journey itself. The book gets off to a thrilling start with the murders of Lee's parents, and there are several places in her journey west where major events take place. For the most part this is a story of a journey though. There is a lot of traveling. Maps are looked at. Plans are discussed. I loved the authentic feel this lent to the book, but see how it might be frustrating for a plot driven reader. I think the pacing is perfect for the story it is telling, which is that of a girl traveling across the country and the community that she finds amongst her fellow travelers.
My favorite part of the book is the characters and the relationships that are developed on the journey across the country. Lee is young and impulsive, but she is clever and works hard to think her plans through and stay several steps ahead of those who may be pursuing her. She meets a diverse and interesting mix of people on her journey and slowly comes to realize the world has all sorts of people in it. She has always kept herself distant from people outside of her parents and her best friend, Jeff, but she slowly learns to trust and open up to others. That is the heart of this book. Lee finds community, friendship, and family in places she least expects it, and it is a beautiful story. I adored all the characters who became an essential part of Lee's core group and the slow way each one's story was revealed through their journey. (This may be slightly spoilery, but this especially applies to Becky Joyner who is my favorite secondary character. I LOVE her.) The way this community and self-made family comes together through tragedy and challenge is just so wonderful.
I definitely will be pre-ordering the second book as soon as I can.
I read an ARC made available by the publisher, Greenwillow, via Edelweiss. Walk on Earth a Stranger goes on sale September 22nd.
This book started at a 3 for me, but ended as a 4. I liked the protagonist a lot and it reminded me of playing the Oregon Trail computer game. Also, I enjoyed that it seemed very different than a lot of other young adult fiction I've been reading lately.
A winning heroine—part unsinkable Molly Brown & part Anne of Green Gables—riveting story & beautiful writing. A satisfying YA read that I really enjoyed!
4.5
A great story about the journey to California in 1848. I look forward to reading the next book to see what adventures and troubles Leah has in California while looking for gold. This book was really well researched and I felt like every character was interesting and necessary. I wasn't really expecting an exciting story about the road to California but a lot of times I found myself not able to put the book down.
A great story about the journey to California in 1848. I look forward to reading the next book to see what adventures and troubles Leah has in California while looking for gold. This book was really well researched and I felt like every character was interesting and necessary. I wasn't really expecting an exciting story about the road to California but a lot of times I found myself not able to put the book down.