 |
|
|
Dee and Bee
“Young children will delight in the antics of the twins.” -Children's Book Review Service |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Firegold
Written by Dia Calhoun
Illustrated by Hervé Blondon
Kliatt,
5/1/1999
"Fantasies with classic themes are often the most satisfactory YA literature. This first novel by Calhoun succeeds on many levels. Calhoun is herself a resident of the Northwest, and the book's cover states that her family's orchard was an inspiration for this fantasy. A strong sense of place is one of the most important strengths of the story, as is the dichotomy between the lowlands and the mountains. Into this realistically described place, Calhoun puts warring tribes identified by their enemies as the dirtdwellers, who live below and farm, and the barbarians of the mountains, who tame horses and hunt.
"The prejudices and outright hatred between these peoples fuels the stuff of this fantasy. The main character is a boy born below, who suffers greatly because he has blue eyes—a characteristic of the mountain people. As he gets older he questions his own parentage, wondering if his father is actually his father. He knows already that his mother has some blood of the mountain people in her, and this further isolates the family from their neighbors. As a blight strikes the farmers, hatred toward Jonathon intensifies, and he strikes out to learn more about his heritage (classic theme, of course). Later, as lives with the barbarians high in the mountains and experiences the equivalent of a vision quest (another classic theme), the truth about him and his purpose in life becomes clearer.
"Just as the setting is realistic, so too are the details about farming, horses, hunting with a bow, and life in the mountains. Jonathon is an appealing hero, and his plight is gripping. His crushes, rivalries, ambivalent feelings toward his parents, and fears of his own failure all ring true and drive the reader on in this satisfying fantasy adventure."
Lorgnette,
3/1/2000
"Young readers will easily identify with Jonathon. He overcomes the pressures of being different from the rest of the kids and shows courage when it is least expected."
Washington State Young Adult Review Group
,
2/1/2000
"I'll be nominating this title for both the Mythopoeic Society's award as well as the Printz Award. A classic coming-of-age identity novel, Jonathon, the protagonist, must find a place for himself in a society that will not permit children to grow up between worlds."
|
|
