by
Michelle Harrison
(April
12th 2010, Little, Brown Books)
Book Description:
Thirteen-year-old
Tanya has an unusual gift: she can see fairies. When she’s sent off to her
grandmother’s manor in the country after yet another incident involving them,
she discovers a fifty-year-old secret whose ramifications still haunt her
family. With the assistance of Fabian, the groundskeeper’s son, she must unravel
the mystery of the disappearance of Morwenna Bloom and stop her legacy for
destroying Tanya’s family forever.
Pros:
13
Treasures is an atmospheric fantasy that’s chock-full of fairy lore – perfect
for days when you want a dark (but kid-friendly) fantasy. The mystery of
Morwenna Bloom’s disappearance at the center of it all is well constructed and
fascinating. The inclusion of members of Tanya’s grandmother’s household also
means more risks and a personal stake in the solving of the mystery. Michelle Harrison’s
use of fairy lore here, while not unique, is great. It’s difficult to make
small creatures like the fey seem dangerous, but she does an admirable job of
it. So many other concepts here are also superb. My favorites are the Seelie
and Unseelie Courts and the thirteen treasures, but there are some others that almost
as great.
Tanya makes for a good, if unremarkable,
heroine; but the real stand-outs here are sharp-as-a-whip Fabian and dauntless,
single-minded Red. Their support of the story as it progresses decreases
boredom with slower-moving portions of the plot and adds much-needed zest.
The
portrayal of abusive and unhealthy relationships is well-calibrated, as is the
treatment of the negligent parental relationships (with one major exception). The
author never sets out to vilify or demonize, as is common. Rather, she
demonstrates the consequences of such relationships on people earnestly. There’s
some emotional resonance here as well. The near-perpetual fear that Tanya
experiences is realistic, and Red’s sacrifice at the end of the book is
surprising, but is, at last, moving. The finale is brilliant and delivers
non-stop action until the bittersweet, mostly-conclusive ending.
Cons:
Much
of the writing in 13 Treasures is the stilted prose of a writer who hasn’t
quite found her style yet. When Harrison attempts to craft more sophisticated
prose it ends up feeling inorganic and flat. This severely affects the
treatment of the emotions of characters in that she often tells instead of
showing.
I
felt that Tanya’s mother’s decision to (temporarily) abandon her child during a
difficult time is an appalling, messy plot contrivance. It’s doubly offensive
considering the significantly harsher treatment of the less-bad relationship
between Fabian and Warwick.
Also,
the first half of the book is far too uneventful. Much of what occurs could
have easily been compressed significantly. In fact, I’m sure it could have been
cut down by half.
Harrison’s
dialogue, while good in general, can sometime falter in that characters will
often make long, rehearsed-sounding, info-dump-laden speeches. This becomes
specifically irritating during the ending where the antagonists obligingly
explain in detail their plans to the
protagonists.
Verdict:
With
its atmospheric setting, magic, and mostly-engaging plot, 13 Treasures is a
flawed but ultimately satisfying tale that will make readers impatient for
future volumes. This promising first book will appeal to fans of the Spiderwick
Chronicles and British manor fantasies.
Rating: (6.5/10)
Get 13 Treasures on Book Depository.
For more excellent MG book recommendations, go to Shannon Messenger's blog.
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A balanced review that makes me think I might like the book; sometimes a good plot can make up for not-so-polished writing. I certainly like the cover.
ReplyDelete13 Treasures is certainly worth reading, so check it out!
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