Book talk: When Kara was six, her mother was executed for practicing witchcraft. She can still remember that terrible day. Now her father is a shadow of the man he was and her family is ostracized by the community for the taint of sin upon them. They can just barely scrape by in their miserable lives. But when Kara follows a bird into the Thickety she discovers a book that belonged to her mother. A book of magic. The book could give her the power to make all their lives better, but if she is caught with it she'll suffer the same fate as her mother.
Rave: The basic concept of a witch being persecuted by a religious community is pretty well-trod, but the setting and the style of magic in this novel are completely original. The Thickety is an ominous presence full of unknown dangers and Kara's feelings of excitement and foreboding as she discovers her power are palpable. The characters are layered and believable as their father copes with grief and members of the community are silenced by fear of persecution.
Rant: The rules of magic in this world are unlike anything I've read before and at times it can seem a bit confusing or arbitrary. I'll be interested to see how the mythology and magic of this world develops in the second book.
Every book its reader: I'd give this to students 5th and up looking for a fantasy adventure novel with strong characterization.
Topics and Trends: Magic, fantasy, witches, outsiders
Extras:
The book's website has posters for some of the creatures found in the Thickety as well as classroom discussion guides: http://thethicketybooks.com/
The author has a website with interviews and other extras: http://jawhitebooks.com/
There's a book trailer by the publisher on YouTube:
Source: school library
The Thickety: A Path Begins by J.A. White: buy it or check it out today!
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