"My lady ad I are being shut up in a tower for seven years. Lady Saren is sitting on the floor, staring at the wall, and hasn't moved even to scratch for an hour or more."Hale's "Books of Bayern" series and her more recent the Princess Academy were well received. While her stories could have a wide audience,
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"My lady ad I are being shut up in a tower for seven years. Lady Saren is sitting on the floor, staring at the wall, and hasn't moved even to scratch for an hour or more."Hale's "Books of Bayern" series and her more recent the Princess Academy were well received. While her stories could have a wide audience, they are most likely to appeal to girls.Hale has taken a Gimm Brothers fairy tale, placed it in Mongolia, and created a substantial story. Saren's father requires that she marry Lord Khasar, the powerful ruler of the Thoughts of Under. When she refuses, she is placed in the tower for seven years to teach her to do what she is told. Her new maid, Dashti, lost her brothers and finally her mother. She arrives in Titor's Garden with nothing but the clothes on her back. Dashti has lived on the plains and plain's folk are seen as primitive and stupid by the city dwellers. Plain's people are called "muckers." Dashti soon finds herself bricked into the tower with her lady.Lady Saren is weak while Dashti is strong. The story is told in the notes that Dashti makes in a sort of diary. Excellent small illustrations [as well as a front matter map] by James Smith enhance and illuminate the story.Besides being isolated in the tower, problems soon develop with the food and rats. While Dashti does her best, using her own strength and healing songs learned from her mother, Saren remains weak and fearful.While in the tower, there are two visitors. Khan Tegus, intending to marry Saren, visits the tower. Saren won't speak to him, asking Dashti to pretend to be Saren and that begins a continuing deception. Lord Kasher also visits showing himself to be evil and powerful. Finally, there is the possibility of escape from the tower and flight to the city of Khan Tegus. If they are successful, will they be welcomed there and will Dashti continue to be Lady Saren?While there are bits of action here and there, this is a story about character and situations as well as culture or roles. We see the growth of Dashti and how the "muckers" have skills and strenght that make a very real difference in whether or not people and a kingdom survive. With the exception of the two rulers, this is a novel about girls and women finding their place in a difficult and rigid culture.World building is well done. The culture is clearly and persuasively described and seems authentic. Saren is perhaps too weak to be interesting and her transformtion at the end seemed out of character. Dashti and Khan Tegus are well developed.There is enough suspense to be interesting, but this is not a real page turner.Recommendation:Hale is a recognized and well regarded author, especially since receiving the Newberry Honor Award. This story is not as appealing as the earlier ones, but the strong female lead and the notably positive outcome will certainly appeal to older girls, tweens, and some teens.
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