Kirjailijakuva

Louise Spiegler

Teoksen The Amethyst Road tekijä

2 teosta 74 jäsentä 4 arvostelua

Tekijän teokset

The Amethyst Road (2005) 45 kappaletta
The Jewel and the Key (2011) 29 kappaletta

Merkitty avainsanalla

Yleistieto

Syntymäaika
20th century
Sukupuoli
female
Kansalaisuus
USA
Asuinpaikat
Seattle, Washington, USA
Ammatit
history teacher

Jäseniä

Kirja-arvosteluja

I can't believe this book isn't more popular than it is -- it's so good! I actually had a hard time deciding which genre it would fit into (in my opinion, always the sign of an interesting, complex story), but I think "alternate history" works best. The book follows the story of Serena, a half-Yulang, half-Gorgio who has been declared outcast because her sister had a child out of wedlock. When that child is taken away by the bureaucratic-loving Gorgios, Serena attacks two people working with social services (an agency nicknamed the Cruelty) and has to escape when she believes she kills one of them. A boy named Shem offers to help her, and together they set off on a journey to get their lives going on the right path.

I am a huge fan of coming-of-age stories, especially when they involve a headstrong girl who needs to learn when to use her temper and when to curb it in order to survive in the world. Through her journey, Serena learns that there are actually good people in the world who are willing to help those in need, and sometimes, situations aren't as black-and-white as she'd like them to be.

The real strength of this book lies within the characters. They are so relatable, complex, and interesting. I liked that Spiegler didn't reveal everything about Shem in the beginning -- his motives for helping out Serena aren't fully revealed into rather late in the novel, and I appreciated the mystery his character represented. As always with coming-of-age novels (probably the main reason why I like them so much), the characters show a great amount of growth throughout the story.

Also, the storytelling is fantastic. Nothing is cut-and-dry, there are plenty of surprises and twists to keep you flipping the pages and wanting more answers. I don't think The Amethyst Road has enough action to be considered a true adventure book, but I felt like that's exactly what I was reading. I had a hard time putting the book down once I picked it up, because the stakes were high and I needed to know that everything was going to turn out all right.

There are some problems that I would expect from the first book of an author. Sometimes, we are told things instead of shown them, but they were really minor, especially compared to all the good stuff within this story.

If you can find this, pick it up. It's so worth the read. I'm planning on reading Spiegler's other book, The Jewel and the Key, and I hope she writes more.
… (lisätietoja)
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
sedelia | 2 muuta kirja-arvostelua | May 11, 2013 |
Originally posted on Read Handed.

The Jewel and the Key is geared toward older teens - the main character, Addie, is sixteen. That's not to say that there is anything in this book that would earn higher than a PG rating - it's good, clean fun.

Addie loves theatre, but will never be cast in one of her school's productions because she's not part of the in-crowd. Meanwhile, she's worried about her best friend Whaley's future when he's kicked out of school for fighting. After Addie discovers a box of old clothes (including a beautiful and mysterious mirror) in her house and an earthquake strikes her hometown of Seattle, strange things start happening. Addie soon learns that she can go back and forth through time - specifically back to 1917 when the Jewel, a historic old theatre, was in its prime. She befriends the director of the Jewel, the owner, and the owner's handsome young son, Reg.

Sounds like a lot's going on, doesn't it? That's not even the half of it. There are also Wobblies, anti-war protests (in both time periods), an escaped prisoner, and the restoration of the modern Jewel. The Jewel and the Key is engaging, but Spiegler's mistake might have been trying to cram too much plot into one book. There have to be at least three plot lines in each of the two time periods, and a full cast of separate characters, too. It doesn't get confusing - the transitions between the present and the past are well done - but it does get a bit overwhelming. I hit a point in the middle of the book where so much was going on, I thought I must have reached the climax of the story. But no. The story arc in this book is more like a story double-arc.

Another point that some might consider a weakness is the flagrant anti-war message throughout the book. One of Addie's main motivations in the book is to keep Whaley from joining the Army. And in the 1917 world, she's trying to keep Reg from enlisting, too. It was a bit heavy-handed at times, and Spiegler writes on the assumption that everyone reading the book shares her opinions. If you don't, you might find the soapboxing tedious.

With the multi-era romance going on between Addie and Reg (oh, come on, that wasn't a spoiler, you could see that coming from a mile away), I was wary about the ending, but I really like how Spiegler handled it. She managed to tie together most of the story lines, with few loose ends.

All in all, I recommend The Jewel and the Key to teenagers and adults alike if you enjoy a good time-travel coming of age story and don't mind the overloaded plot(s) and politicking.
… (lisätietoja)
½
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
ReadHanded | Oct 14, 2011 |
In this alternate reality, a gypsy-like people roam the Pacific Northwest, the victims of racism and sometimes their own tribal rules. Serena, a fiercely angry yet entirely likable young teen, gets drawn into a difficult quest to find her mother and save her niece. An alliance with a young man seeking to change his fate leads them to unexpected realizations about themselves and each other. This book has it all -- adventure, drama, romance, a little magic, and an inspiring message about living your own life.… (lisätietoja)
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
ChrisEboch | 2 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Sep 4, 2009 |
Serena is anything but serene. Quick to anger and impulsive, she gradually grows into her name. She never, however, completely leaves behind her outrage over the injustice that surrounds her, chief among which is the fact that her niece is unfairly removed from her home by an agency that bears a frightening resemblance to Child Protective Services. An outcast among her own Yulang people and unwelcome in her boyfriend Shem’s world. Spiegler skillfully allows the reader to believe Serena’s rants against Shem or Anchara, while skillfully maintaining the narrative distance showing the self-defeating nature of these rants. Especially enjoyable is Serena’s rant when Shem attempts to explain how and why he will sell the gems they find. Shem studies the Yulang culture and desires to be accepted by the Yulang. Serena is an unwilling and ignorant member of the Yulang. The interactions between Shem explaining Yulang culture to Serena, which forces Serena to reflect on her life, have real world parallels to our own culture clashes. Books like The Amethyst Road give teens a safe outlet for discussing prejudice, tradition, justice, and a host of other related issues, while also telling a great story with very real teen characters. Recommended for middle school and high school students.… (lisätietoja)
½
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
edspicer | 2 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Nov 10, 2007 |

Palkinnot

Tilastot

Teokset
2
Jäseniä
74
Suosituimmuussija
#238,154
Arvio (tähdet)
½ 4.3
Kirja-arvosteluja
4
ISBN:t
6
Kielet
1

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