Whither Fantasy?
If you’ve read the blog long enough, you probably know that when push comes to shove, I’m going to advocate for nonfiction and fantasy if there are viable contenders from those genres. We’ve already covered the various possibilities in the former genre, and while Nina recently brought up EGG & SPOON as the most likely fantasy candidate, there are yet some other books worthy considering. I’m going to admit up front that I haven’t read any of these yet, but would like to read all of them. I have some projects that haven’t allowed me to read my normal quota of chunky fantasy tomes, but I’ll have some extra reading time next week when I’ve got some significant airplane time. I’ll look to your comments to help me decide which ones to take along.
GABRIEL FINLEY AND THE RAVEN’S RIDDLE by George Hagen has three starred reviews. Booklist: Yet this story, told from several points of view, is fresh: full of ravens, riddles, and the ongoing urge to make things right in a world where much has gone wrong. Though the narrative is a bit choppy in places, the characters carry the day, with their humor and strength. Humor is, in fact, one of the book’s selling points, often in the form of the characters’ witty repartee. Publishers Weekly: Though familiar tropes abound, Hagen’s sensibility is unique-the desk-wrangling scene is not to be missed. School Library Journal: Hagen has crafted a tale that contains riddles, magic, courage, loyalty, and compassion in a way that is sure to engage readers. Gabriel inhabits a dark world where friendship is the guiding light and differences are respected and valued. This is a great read for fantasy lovers who have worn out their copies of “Harry Potter.”
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THE GLASS SENTENCE by S.E. Grove has two starred reviews. Kirkus: Grove’s intelligent and challenging debut is brilliant in concept, breathtaking in scale and stellar in its worldbuilding; this is a world never before seen in fiction. Publishers Weekly: In the alternate Earth of Grove’s thrilling, time-bending debut, first in the Mapmakers series, the world was sliced up, seemingly at random, by the Great Disruption of 1799 and reassembled with numerous present, prehistoric, and future “Ages” all connected.
THE MAP TO EVERYWHERE by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis has four starred reviews. Booklist: The unique details, expert plotting, charming characters, and comic interludes combine in a tantalizing read that’s made even more appealing by the promise that the story will continue in future volumes. Kirkus: Multifaceted characters, high stakes, imaginative magic, and hints of hidden twists and complexities to come add up to a memorable start to a projected four-volume voyage. Publishers Weekly: Fast-paced and imaginative, this adventure combines action with whimsy, injecting emotion and pathos into an otherwise lighthearted romp. School Library Journal: This is an ambitious undertaking, and strong readers who enjoy adventure fiction and fantasy will inhale the first book in what has the potential to be an extraordinary series.
THE WITCH’S BOY by Kelly Barnhill has three starred reviews. Kirkus: Barnhill skillfully interweaves the stories of Ned, Aine, Sister Witch and the stones, along with an intriguing group of secondary characters. The third-person narration switches perspective smoothly, and it’s all related in a precise, flowing prose that easily places readers into the fantastic setting and catches them up in the story. The classic fantasy elements are all there, richly reimagined, with a vivid setting, a page-turning adventure of a plot, and compelling, timeless themes. Publishers Weekly: Barnhill elegantly joins the story’s diverse threads in a complex tale whose poignancy never turns sentimental. School Library Journal: The boy’s growing confidence and ability to wield and protect his mother’s magic adds elements of a classic origin-quest tale to a story that’s already brimming with a well-drawn, colorful supporting cast, a strong sense of place, and an enchanted forest with a personality to rival some of the best depictions of magical woods.
So many great books! Which to read?
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About Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan Hunt is the Coordinator of Library Media Services at the San Diego County Office of Education. He served on the 2006 Newbery committee, and has also judged the Caldecott Medal, the Printz Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. You can reach him at hunt_yellow@yahoo.com
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I am about a hundred pages into The Glass Sentence and have been really impressed with the premise and supporting concepts of this book. So much so, I am not really paying attention to the quality (or lack of) found in the actual writing. There was an interesting thread started on the Mock Printz Goodreads discussion board about how fantasy is often overlooked for the award. It seems the Newbery does not have the same issue, though. Curious if people have theories about that, too.
While I didn’t love THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK, I could tell that Barnhill had talent. I’m excited about THE WITCH’S BOY.
So far, of these I’ve only read GABRIEL FINLEY, and wrote the somewhat lukewarm Horn Book review. I agree that this is highly appealing, new, good plotting and great riddles. I just found the characters and the language stilted in a way that doesn’t place it in my contenders pile.
I’m a fantasy fan too, but sometimes I wonder if it–like humorous fiction–doesn’t have a higher bar than plain-old contemporary fiction. I need fantasy to be excellent at the sentence-level, at the character level, and at the world-building level. A writer of “regular” fiction only needs to convince us that the fiction in actual world exists.
I’ve read all and enjoyed all of these. The riddles in Gabriel Finley are clever and fun, the intriguing politics of The Glass Sentence have me eager to read the next, The Map To Everywhere has a brisk style and very endearing main characters, and The Witch’s Boy is absolutely captivating. Yet none of them had the oomph for me that brought them to the same level as others I’m advocating for Newbery.
I’ve just begun reading for the Cybils first round in Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. (We’re allowed to talk about it online. Woo-hoo!) I was a late addition to the panel, though — so I haven’t read *any* of those books you list here yet. And I won’t pass on what others have said about them. (That’s not the idea of talking about them. The idea is to promote the books, not start rumors. I’ll only talk about my own opinions, anyway.)
One outstanding one I have already read has the whole sequel problem — The Whispering Skull, by Jonathan Stroud. Of course, he’s British, so not eligible for the Newbery anyway. (With the Cybils, we also have to decide how to deal with the fact that the first book won the category last year.)
Another excellent one is The Interrupted Tale, in The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series. That’s another one with the sequel problem. And not a “Newbery type” book, but terribly fun, and with a wonderful narrator in the audiobook.
A Snicker of Magic, which you’ve already touched on, is in our category, and so are The Night Gardener, Boys of Blur, Nuts to You, The Fourteenth Goldfish, “Shouldn’t You Be in School?” (sequel problem), The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing (not so much of a sequel problem), and Nightingale’s Nest. Anyway, this will mean I’ll probably finally get all those read. Most of those aren’t as traditional fantasy as the ones you list here, but they do have a speculative element (or so I’m told). Egg and Spoon has been put in YA. So I have to say that Speculative Fiction is quite well represented in Newbery contenders, it appears.
Oh yeah — I think “Interrupted Tale” was published at the end of 2013, so it’s eligible for the Cybils, but not the Newbery this year. Oh well.
I read “The Witch’s Boy” right on the tail of “The Thickety,” which I couldn’t put down but ended up finding too dark, hopeless, and inconclusive (i.e., part 1 of yet another trilogy). “The Witch’s Boy” reminded me that dark fantasy can be wonderful when handled in the right way. There’s always a touch of tragedy running through the various narratives, but there’s also this core of rightness that the main characters are searching for that allows the reader to maintain hope that events will ultimately turn out happily. At the same time, what’s “right” isn’t always black and white, and so readers can sympathize with even the bad guys. I thought it was beautifully written.
If I had seen the second Bulletin star for HOOK’S REVENGE by Heidi Schulz then I would have added it to the list. Anyone care to make a case for that one?
I haven’t read The Map to Everywhere yet because, like Sondy, I’m on the MG SF first round panel for Cybils and that’s the only MG reading I’m doing right now. Of the books mentioned here (including Hook’s Revenge), the one that I found to have the most distinguished writing is The Witch’s Boy. That being said, I couldn’t finish it because it was deep down depressing me. I would go for days without picking it up and feel like I was under this huge weight every time I looked at it. Which is a compelling argument for how well she wrote it and truly made you feel the power of the dark magic in the book. But it was making me dread reading, not something I want to dread, so I gave up. Not all readers will have the same response obviously.
All the other books mentioned are fun and thoroughly enjoyable, but I don’t think any of them are the most distinguished children’s book of the year. Hook’s Revenge is my favorite read so far out of those mentioned in this post.
Feels compelled to add: These thoughts are mine and mine alone and do not reflect the thoughts/opinions of my fellow panel members. Don’t read anything into this or attempt to predict anything. I’m one person out of 7. 🙂