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A review by spiffybumble
First Test by Tamora Pierce
5.0
First Test: 9/10
By: Tamora Pierce
In an online interview, Gail Carriger differentiated the hero’s journey and the heroine’s journey as such: “[The Hero’s Journey is:] increasingly isolated protagonist stomps around prodding evil with pointy bits, eventually fatally prods baddy, gains glory and honor…. [The Heroine’s Journey is:] increasingly networked protagonist strides around with good friends, prodding them and others on to victory, together.”
Carriger’s insight struck me when I first read it, and now reading about Kel’s journey in this book as she gathers more and more friends and spurns not just herself to succeed but others around her as well, I am seriously excited for when Carriger’s book on the topic comes out later this year!
It is this story, the Heroine’s story, Kel’s story, that made my heart so warm and my smile so deep as I read this book as a grown-ass man. Kel, opposed simply for who she is and mistreated and given harsher and harsher requirements, is left at the beginning of the book feeling isolated and alone. She quickly makes allies however. This small band of sympathizers starting with animals, outcasts like Neal, and understanding adults like the Shang warriors or a handful of teachers, grows steadily into other pages, stablehands, and people of influence.
On one hand this book makes me angry and filled with memories of injustice within elementary school and general life as a child. On the other hand, the moments of acceptance and validation Kel receives from her friends makes me melt and relax that tension that the books created within me in the first place. It can pull at my emotions and make me both angry and joyful within the same page, which is the mark of a great book.
It has been far too long since a middle grade book has gripped me like this one has. I think I’d recommend it to anyone!
By: Tamora Pierce
In an online interview, Gail Carriger differentiated the hero’s journey and the heroine’s journey as such: “[The Hero’s Journey is:] increasingly isolated protagonist stomps around prodding evil with pointy bits, eventually fatally prods baddy, gains glory and honor…. [The Heroine’s Journey is:] increasingly networked protagonist strides around with good friends, prodding them and others on to victory, together.”
Carriger’s insight struck me when I first read it, and now reading about Kel’s journey in this book as she gathers more and more friends and spurns not just herself to succeed but others around her as well, I am seriously excited for when Carriger’s book on the topic comes out later this year!
It is this story, the Heroine’s story, Kel’s story, that made my heart so warm and my smile so deep as I read this book as a grown-ass man. Kel, opposed simply for who she is and mistreated and given harsher and harsher requirements, is left at the beginning of the book feeling isolated and alone. She quickly makes allies however. This small band of sympathizers starting with animals, outcasts like Neal, and understanding adults like the Shang warriors or a handful of teachers, grows steadily into other pages, stablehands, and people of influence.
On one hand this book makes me angry and filled with memories of injustice within elementary school and general life as a child. On the other hand, the moments of acceptance and validation Kel receives from her friends makes me melt and relax that tension that the books created within me in the first place. It can pull at my emotions and make me both angry and joyful within the same page, which is the mark of a great book.
It has been far too long since a middle grade book has gripped me like this one has. I think I’d recommend it to anyone!