Graceling

Bibliographic Information
Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Type of Media: text
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Copyright Date: October 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0152063962
Genre: Fantasy
Curriculum Ties: Creativity
Reading Level: 730 Lexile
Interest Age: 12+






Plot Summary
Katsa is a graceling, a person who has been graced with a special talent. Except, she doesn't feel like it is a gift because her talent is that of killing and the king of the realm, who happens to be Katsa's uncle, uses her ability to further his reign. Meanwhile Katsa has a secret group of friends who ban together to carry out what they see as right. When working on a council mission she gets caught up in a plot which forces her to unravel secrets and figure out where her loyalty lines. Luckily for her she meets Prince Po who she quickly begins to trust and they go on this adventure together which brings together their two kingdoms and dark secrets are exposed which could change everything.

Critical Evaluation
This is Cashore's debut novel and it does not disappoint. The character development is superb, you get to watch Katsa go from a uncertain teen to a formidable young lady who is not afraid of standing up for what she believes. You watch her face dilemmas such as trust, loyalty, freedom, friendship, and love in a way in which all young adult readers will be drawn into and relate with. Cashore's ability to write teenage characters with believable personalities and who speak in a real way adds even more to the enjoyment of teen readers.
Cashore brings in themes with real life implications such as friendship and how there are times in life in which we need others to lean on. Such messages as this are done in a way in which you feel the emotions of the characters without it being cheesy or shoved in your face. The themes are woven beautifully into a fantasy world of magic, adventure, and love.

Reader's Annotation
A brilliant story of adventure and love with a strong female protagonist who I wish I could be friends with.

Author Biography
Kristin Cashore grew up in the northeast Pennsylvania countryside as the second of four daughters. She received a bachelor's degree from Williams College and a master's from the Center for the Study of Children's Literature at Simmons College, and she has worked as a dog runner, a packer in a candy factory, an editorial assistant, a legal assistant, and a freelance writer. She has lived in many places (including Sydney, New York City, Boston, London, Austin, and Jacksonville, Florida), and she currently lives in the Boston area. Graceling, her first book, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Fire is her second book.

Kristin Cashore. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Kristin-Cashore/e/B001JS0LUG/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Book Talk Ideas

• Family Loyalty
• Friendship
• Defining who you are

Possible Challenges

• Sexual Content 
• Magic

Defense File

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Reason for InclusionEnticing fantasy read which is hard to put down even for reluctant readers. It has also won the following awards: Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, winner of the SIBA Book Award/YA, Indies Choice Book Award Honor Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2008 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2008 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Amazon.com’s Best Books of 2008, 2008 Booklist Editors’ Choice, Booklist’s 2008 Top Ten First Novels for Youth, 2009 Amelia Bloomer List, BCCB 2009 Blue Ribbon List