Legendborn

 Legendborn  

By Tracy Deonn  

Legendborn centers around the life and story of Bree Mathews, a student enrolled in the Early College program at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. She enrolls shortly after her mother dies mysteriously. She doesn’t remember much about that day and tries to investigate what happened. This book is a story of power and self-discovery. Shortly after arriving at school, Bree discovers she can be a part of a secret magical society where all the members are Legendborn and descended from the Knights of the round table. She soon meets a boy named Nick and they grow very close. Romance is essential to the plot but does not take up the whole of it, which can be a problem in young adult literature nowadays,  Legendborn includes both Celtic mythologies along with stories of slavery and the great migration. Deonn does a great job of intertwining all of these stories. The book is action-packed and engaging and would be perfect for any library to be put in their young adult section. There are some triggering aspects to the book. Particularly with death and dying; readers should be warned beforehand. Bree is a very complex, likable, and fleshed-out character which is very refreshing. The themes of slavery and injustice are deftly explored with care and consideration. The ‘uncomfortable’ subjects are not shyed away from or downplayed. Legendborn would also be very good for a book club or book reading so participants could share their ideas. There are so many plot twists that would make the book enjoyable for this audience. Deonn is an amazing writer, and this book is filled with great worldbuilding and engaging prose among other things. This book won the Coretta Scott King award which is very prestigious. It has a sequel called Bloodmarked that has great reviews.  

BIBLIO: 2020 Margaret K. McElderry Books, Ages14-18, $13.99-$19.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Young Adult  

ISBN: 9781534441606 

House of Salt and Sorrows

 

House of Salt and Sorrows  

By Erin A. Craig  

House of Salt and Sorrows is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, a dark fairy tale by the Grim Brothers. It follows a girl named Annaleigh Thaumaus, one of 12 children. When the story starts, four of her sisters have died in tragic accidents. The first chapter is set at her sister Eulalie's funeral. Annaleigh lives on an island with her remaining siblings, her father, and her stepmother. She quickly meets a boy named Cassius and asks for his help in stopping more deaths from happening. Annaleigh starts seeing the ghosts of her sisters and discovers that they have been sneaking away to a magical land to go to dances. They seem not to be able to stop when they start. As the story goes on, she unravels the mystery of why her sisters keep dying. Annaleigh is very likable and is a strong female protagonist which can sometimes be hard to find.  Since there are some darker elements and descriptions of different kinds of death, readers should be informed of what they are about to read. These topics could be triggering for some, and educators and librarians have a responsibility to respect that. This book is a creative way to introduce readers to a fairy tale that is not very popular. Certain elements such as the romance between Cassius and Annaleigh could also draw readers in. Erin A. Craig has other books that are inspired by fairy tales, including a Rumpelstiltskin retelling. This book is a good introduction to her writing and could help readers discover a new favorite author. The characters are written well, the dialogue is engaging, and the book is fast-paced and enjoyable. This book would fit well in a Young Adult section at a Library, given that there was a warning about the content.  

BIBLIO: 2019, Penguin Random House, Ages14-18, $6.99-$19.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Young Adult  

ISBN: 9781984831927