N. M. Browne is the author of many novels for young adults including The Story of Stone and Basilisk. A former teacher, she is inspired by a lifelong love of fantasy and Celtic lore. She lives in London with her husband and four children.
"With subtlety and style, Browne gradually makes this world complex and intricate. Clever and compelling." --Kirkus Reviews
Gr 7-10-An unevenly written fantasy. Teenaged Karen was badly beaten and now lies in a coma, while her spirit inhabits the body of a fox in a different world. Her fox-self joins forces with young Mowl Speare, and together they help overthrow a wicked regime and reinstall a former king. Unanswered questions abound. How and why did Karen end up a fox? What is the different world that she visits-a parallel universe, or another planet? What is the point of her attacker's visit to Karen's comatose body in the hospital, and what is the outcome? In better-constructed stories, such as Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series (Knopf), these questions could add an element of mystery. Unfortunately, here they just seem like loose ends. While some passages are compelling, and some parts of Karen Fox and Mowl's quest are fairly interesting, there are also page-long paragraphs and missing or misplaced commas throughout the book. The novel's shortcomings jar readers back to reality, which is the kiss of death in this genre.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
"With subtlety and style, Browne gradually makes this world complex and intricate. Clever and compelling." --Kirkus Reviews
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
