I did a bunch of fluff reading while visiting my family.
While the kids played with grandparents, I read. I chose easy, entertaining
books for the purpose of collecting reading points for the adult summer reading
program. Hey, the big drawing prize is an iPad, and if I can get an extra
chance, why not?
My 9 year-old daughter got a few new books and when I ran
out of things that sparked my interest, I moved to it. This one was really
nice. Elodie is a young girl of 12 who is taking a boat to Two Castles where
her family has instructed her to apprentice herself to a weaver-a good and
noble trade-for 10 years (because it’s free), when her heart is in mansioning
(acting). During the trip, she learns that the law has done away with all 10
year free apprenticeships and she has no money to pay for even a 7 year
apprenticeship anywhere. She has also been warned that in Two Castles, there is
a king (Greedy Grenny) ruling one castle and an Ogre who rules in the other.
There are also rumored to be dragons in the city as well.
First day there, she sees the Ogre and a Dragon and manages
to get her only large coin stolen by one of the many cats who are there for
protection from the Ogre. Ogres are shape shifters and if there are enough
cats, they can force an ogre to shape shift into a mouse and then devour it.
Through many adventures, Elodie explans her talent of
acting, learns how to think-to induce and deduce and use common sense-and how
to overcome prejudices. Many people feel a certain way toward certain beings
and refuse to change. But Elodie is not inhibited by previously held
suspicions, and it appears that those inhibitions are limited to those who have
been brought up in Two Castles. Others elsewhere are much more open-minded to
allow time for explanations and rational thought before making a judgment call.
Plenty of twists and turns, suspects who are guilty-or not!
Plenty of suspense could be found
as well. I really enjoyed this book for middle readers.
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