This book is magical. it carves the life of Kate Carver into immortality. Plain Kate grows up with her father, a brilliant woodcarver, in a small village. She learns to carve with him and soon is almost a master carver. She tells her father "I'll be a master carver by 20." But one day the Skara Rok comes to the village and they look for a witch to blame. Since Kate has witches eyes (one blue, one brown) they look to blame her and she flees for her life. On her journey she runs into an actual witch but she runs away from him, straight into the arms of a travelling troupe of Roamers. She travels with them for a good while and then, just when things start looking up, Kate's life takes another turn for he worse. She flees the Roamers and starts life anew with her cat. Little does she know more trouble is on the way for her, and there's nothing she can do about it. What of the fate of Kate and her little cat? You'll have to read the book to find out.
This book was the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award but despite that it's not just a book for children. I would argue that it's not really a book for children at all but when you re-read Harry Potter at 19 you start to think that maybe that's a bit to intense for children too. But an old enough child might just find it fascinating and wonderful and mysterious to live in a magical world. It is indeed a masterful piece of writing and absolutely gripping. I say, to any who want to read it, do so, it is absolutely brilliant.
Well, that concludes my review for today. If you looked at my Summer Reading List you would have noticed that this book was recommended to me by a friend, or, in this case, a friend's mother, I'd like to Thank Susan Bee for recommending this book to me, it was a truly gripping read and one I'l come back to again and again.
Also on my reading list!
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