Image: Scholastic
Happy rainy Thursday here in northern NJ! #tbt features The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. The narration of this novel alternates between nineteen-year-old Sean Kendrick and sixteen-year-old Kate "Puck" Connolly. They live on the island of Thisby, which is located somewhere off the coast of Britain. The islanders live a hard life that is made even harder by the annual rise of the capaill uisce, man-eating water horses, from the sea. Despite the danger, some attempt to capture and tame the terrifying stallions in order to race in the Scorpio Races. The purse is large, but the stakes are high. Many have lost their lives in the races, including both Sean and Puck's fathers.
Each have their own motives for racing. Puck is the first woman to enter the race and she's riding her own mare instead of a captured capaill uisce.
The tension is high throughout, but rachets up to almost unbearable during the race scenes. The fictional island is so beautifully wrought that it becomes a character, holding its own among many finely-drawn islanders.
This gorgeously written YA fantasy was published in October, 2011. It was named a Printz Honor as well as an ALA Notable Book, SLJ Best Book and Best Fiction for Young Adults. The author, also an accomplished artist and musician, wrote and performed the music that accompanies the audiobook.
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