| "WILDWOOD DANCING"
Author: Juliet Marillier
Interest Level: Older Middle Grades (6-8)
ATOS Reading Level: 5.4
AR Points: 17.0
Publisher Recommended Age: 12+
Publisher: Random/Alfred A. Knopf
Book Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 432
Book Description:
High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog.
But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.
But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he's there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store.
Meanwhile, Jena's sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom--an impossible union it's up to Jena to stop. When Cezar's grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish.
To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can't imagine--tests of trust, strength, and true love.
Book Reviews:
Publishers Weekly: "Combining several familiar fairy tales...(this book) crafts a romantic fantasy rich in detail, magical creatures and strong female characters." Ages 12+
School Library Journal: "Strong characters, two fully realized settings, and a fast-moving plot guarantee that readers will be spellbound by this page-turner." Grades 8+
Book Awards:
USA: American Library Association (ALA), Best Books for Young Adults (2008)
USA: American Booksellers Association (ABA), Book Sense Book of the Year (2007)
USA: Kirkus Reviews, Editor Choice Award (2007)
About the Author:
Juliet Marillier (born July 27, 1948) is a New Zealand born writer of fantasy, especially historical fantasy. She currently lives in Western Australia. While Marillier writes mostly for adults, her most recent book is Cybele's Secret, a sequel to her novel for young adults Wildwood Dancing. Cybele's Secret won a 2008 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel - Young Adult.
Juliet Marillier was born July 27, 1948 in Dunedin, New Zealand and grew up surrounded by Celtic music and stories. Her own Celtic-Gaelic roots inspired her to write her first series, the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Marillier was educated at the University of Otago, where she majored in music and languages, graduating BA and a B Mus (Hons). Before writing, Juliet spent many years working in the Australian Public Service. She has said in an interview that this academic training strengthened her writing, and that her lifelong interest in history, folklore and mythology has had a major influence on her storytelling style.
She lives in a hundred-year-old cottage in a riverside suburb of Perth. She shares her home with two dogs and a cat. She has four adult children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Australia. She has been a fulltime writer since 2002, having previously worked at a variety of jobs including music teaching at both secondary and tertiary levels and in the Public Service.
Several of Marillier's books are written in the first person. One of her strengths is her ability to use this point-of-view skilfully, allowing the reader to form a close bond with the main character. Her characters are well rounded and the reader becomes familiar with their strengths and weaknesses, which again encourages immersion in the characters' world. Marillier is also noted for writing sequels that can stand alone: readers of the earlier books in a series will recognise old friends while new readers will quickly feel at home with characters old and new.
Marillier has said that it takes her about a year to finish a novel and that she is often researching one book while writing another and editing a third. She also says that she usually bases a story on two elements: what the main character learns about herself and her world that makes this adventure personally significant; and the bigger picture, showing this character’s role in something outside herself, such as saving a community or forging peace between two warring tribes. The first idea reinforces the second, making the writing both personal and realistic.
Juliet Marillier's books have won many awards, such as the American Library Association’s Alex Award for Daughter of the Forest and the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel for Son of the Shadows, Blade of Fortriu and Wildwood Dancing.
You can find out more about Juliet Marillier at her website, www.julietmarillier.com. |
