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A review by leslie_d
The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat
5.0
Unlike the other children who arrive at the Guardian Academy, Plum was content to live on a small island with her grandparents and farm. Believing she was special, it was her Grandfather who applied on her behalf. It is her Grandmother who encourages her to try it.
Unlike the other children, Plum didn’t spend most of her life dreaming of becoming a Guardian and can’t claim any relationship to one. She’s just a girl from the farm who isn’t sure who she is supposed to be.
Plum’s reasons for wanting to succeed at the Academy changes over the course of the story. She wants to become a Guardian so she doesn’t disappoint her grandparents; she doesn’t want to fail like a bully expects; she wants to succeed because this could be a dream her (deceased) mother has for her. But she’ll only succeed by getting out of her own way and allowing herself to just become who she is supposed to be.
Plum struggles with trusting the process and allowing other voices and self-doubts to get in the way. Of course the Readers will know what Plum won’t allow herself to suspect. She does have a special way with plants and animals. She does belong.
Plum has a charming gift rooted in the way she was brought up. It fuels her humility. But her abilities prove tricky to classify and has baffled her instructors which fuels her continued feelings of difference. She can’t see what we all see as Readers is that most of the children are “different.” They come from different backgrounds, have different skills and interests.
Soontornvat only delves into characterization as far as she needs, but she definitely reminds us (and Plum) that new information changes our perspective; we can’t assume things or rely only on our first impressions. That said, Plum is different from the others and as this is Book One, we’ll have time to explore that further.
The Guardian Test is a relatively short novel with short chapters and illustrations. It’s a delight to enter such a rich world with charming lore, interesting characters and relationship dynamics, and to do so with only 151 pages. Sure, it is Book One in a series, but Soontornvat seeds future intrigues while giving us a focused, satisfying story in one volume.
Quick with the world- and character-sketches, Soontornvat allows the plot to unwind in an effortless and effective way. Tension builds quietly and soon an uncertain and unfocused Plum finds herself misguided, the pressure to succeed allowing a temptation that brings us to a very tense moment—and a breathtaking one. Soontornvat makes so many great decisions and can afford incredible turns because she has skillfully laid the groundwork.
I’m looking forward to reading what Soontornvat builds from such a strong and promising beginning. Into the Shadow Mist is already out. Shall we see what happens next?
++
There is a strong environmental bent that should appeal to readers who love Studio Ghibli films. The looking for belonging, figuring yourself out, and the threat of capitalism sounds like one of my recent reads: Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life by Emma Steinkellner. The reluctant, noble hero brings to mind: The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant; Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend; The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody
Unlike the other children, Plum didn’t spend most of her life dreaming of becoming a Guardian and can’t claim any relationship to one. She’s just a girl from the farm who isn’t sure who she is supposed to be.
Plum’s reasons for wanting to succeed at the Academy changes over the course of the story. She wants to become a Guardian so she doesn’t disappoint her grandparents; she doesn’t want to fail like a bully expects; she wants to succeed because this could be a dream her (deceased) mother has for her. But she’ll only succeed by getting out of her own way and allowing herself to just become who she is supposed to be.
Plum struggles with trusting the process and allowing other voices and self-doubts to get in the way. Of course the Readers will know what Plum won’t allow herself to suspect. She does have a special way with plants and animals. She does belong.
Plum has a charming gift rooted in the way she was brought up. It fuels her humility. But her abilities prove tricky to classify and has baffled her instructors which fuels her continued feelings of difference. She can’t see what we all see as Readers is that most of the children are “different.” They come from different backgrounds, have different skills and interests.
Soontornvat only delves into characterization as far as she needs, but she definitely reminds us (and Plum) that new information changes our perspective; we can’t assume things or rely only on our first impressions. That said, Plum is different from the others and as this is Book One, we’ll have time to explore that further.
The Guardian Test is a relatively short novel with short chapters and illustrations. It’s a delight to enter such a rich world with charming lore, interesting characters and relationship dynamics, and to do so with only 151 pages. Sure, it is Book One in a series, but Soontornvat seeds future intrigues while giving us a focused, satisfying story in one volume.
Quick with the world- and character-sketches, Soontornvat allows the plot to unwind in an effortless and effective way. Tension builds quietly and soon an uncertain and unfocused Plum finds herself misguided, the pressure to succeed allowing a temptation that brings us to a very tense moment—and a breathtaking one. Soontornvat makes so many great decisions and can afford incredible turns because she has skillfully laid the groundwork.
I’m looking forward to reading what Soontornvat builds from such a strong and promising beginning. Into the Shadow Mist is already out. Shall we see what happens next?
++
There is a strong environmental bent that should appeal to readers who love Studio Ghibli films. The looking for belonging, figuring yourself out, and the threat of capitalism sounds like one of my recent reads: Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life by Emma Steinkellner. The reluctant, noble hero brings to mind: The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant; Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend; The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody