Raven Speak (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Raven Speak April Spisak Wilson, Diane Lee. Raven Speak. McElderry, 2010 [256p]. ISBN 978-1-4169-8653-9 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 6-8 In 854, the life of a Viking, even the daughter of the chieftain, was fairly short and brutal. Fourteen-year-old Asa is all too aware of the precarious nature of life as she watches her mother become the newest victim of a devastating fatal illness and worries for her father (almost certainly dead), who headed off into the seemingly endless winter with the last of the able men to try to secure food, supplies, and insight. Her loyalty to her small tribe is challenged by her hatred for the powerhungry manipulative bard, whose subtle efforts at garnering control escalate rapidly [End Page 357] in the absence of leadership. Running away only lands her in different trouble, as Asa encounters a seer who informs her that she is destined for greatness, but only after sacrificing something dear to her. It is little shock that Asa ends up as leader, though the particular prophesied loss and her unorthodox method of manipulating the bard are both surprises. It is also little matter that the conclusion is clear from the start, as the elegant storytelling, intriguing setting, and quirky, memorable characters (even the horrible bard has depth in his backstory that makes him much more complex than he first seems) are all much more the point than where the book is headed. Wilson offers a tough girl who fits her time and place and yet authentically pushes the boundaries and expectations of her gender, making this a likely sell to readers who appreciated French's similarly themed and set Rover (BCCB 6/07). Even while readers may question whether most of the tiny tribe is worth Asa's heroic efforts, they will certainly cheer her coming of age as the core leader she was clearly always meant to be. Copyright © 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois