Clement-Davies, D. (2007). The Sight. New York, NY: Firebird Fantasy.
ISBN-13: 978-0142408742
Genre: Fantasy,
Wolves, Magic
Reading level/
interest age: 12+
Plot summary:
Two wolf pups are born in the harsh winter landscape of Transylvania.
A black male pup, Fell, and a white female, Larka, struggle to survive through
the cold. Before they can even open their eyes, their fate is already being
discussed by the other pack members. Morgra, a former member of the pack,
returns to claim a pup as her own and threatens the leaders. She is driven away
by the others but promises to get her revenge on the pack.
Learning that Larka possesses magical abilities, a
neighboring pack catches wind of the news and pays the group an unpleasant
visit. Larka’s gift is coveted by many and seen by few. With the only other
wolf, Morgra, having wielded magic during their time, Larka may be forced to
turn to her as a mentor. When the pack experiences a death protecting Larka,
she decides it may be time to leave her pack to protect their safety and embark
on a journey to find out more about her gift. With so many others striving to
use Larka for their own devious plans, can she find a way to save her family
and prevent a future war between the wolves and man?
Reader’s annotation:
Larka has been gifted with the sight, or the ability to see
the future. Her power is coveted by others- enough to start a war over! Can
Larka keep the peace or is fighting inevitable?
Information about the
author:
“From a very early age I thought I might become a writer.
But after university in Scotland, where I studied History and English
Literature, I went to drama school and for some time couldn't really decide if
I would write or act. I then got a job as House Manager in The Open Air Theatre
in Regent's Park in London. Then I became a travel writer.
“Though I live in smelly old London I spent many childhood holidays in Wales and, as a travel writer, wildlife and the outdoors were naturally what I gravitated to, though it is hard to make a living as a journalist if you only do what you enjoy. But a few years before, I had written the first few pages of a story which later turned into my first novel, Fire Bringer. I had spent far too long worrying about the purpose of writing, whether it was wrong to try and make money from a novel, whether I was any good at it and so on. So one day I simply sat down and got on with it. I believe that is the step that transforms the scribbler into a writer, commitment and self-belief. You'll soon find out if you can or really want to write” (Clement-Davies, 2014).
“Though I live in smelly old London I spent many childhood holidays in Wales and, as a travel writer, wildlife and the outdoors were naturally what I gravitated to, though it is hard to make a living as a journalist if you only do what you enjoy. But a few years before, I had written the first few pages of a story which later turned into my first novel, Fire Bringer. I had spent far too long worrying about the purpose of writing, whether it was wrong to try and make money from a novel, whether I was any good at it and so on. So one day I simply sat down and got on with it. I believe that is the step that transforms the scribbler into a writer, commitment and self-belief. You'll soon find out if you can or really want to write” (Clement-Davies, 2014).
Curriculum ties: N/A
Booktalking ideas:
1.
Why do you think Larka is the only one to see
Morgra as different from the rest of her pack?
2.
What drew you into the story? Did you like that
the main character was a wolf?
Critical evaluation:
I found The Sight
to be an extremely interesting tale because the villain of the story turns out
to not be bad. The reason Morgra is cast as the villain is because of a
terrible mistake she made and the rules governing the pack. This causes the
reader to step back and think about the laws of society and how people are
portrayed and wrongfully treated.
This book is also very interesting because the main
character is killed at the end. If the reader continues on to the second book, Fell, they will be shocked to learn that
the villain in that story wears her fur as a coat. Quite gruesome for a young
reader’s tale! However, The Sight is backed by both VOYA and the
School Library Journal as appropriate
for children sixth grade and up (Barnesnnoble.com, 2014).
The Sight is a
great transition book from juvenile to young adult reads because of its length
and complexity of characters. The book gets the reader to think about
traditional roles and family dynamics. Larka is a strong female character and
far outshines her brother. Gender roles are challenged as Larka is the family
favorite rather than their only son, Fell. An interesting read with a sequel to
satiate voracious readers, The Sight
is not one to miss!
Challenge issues:
·
Violence
Defensive Maneuvers:
·
Have the library’s collection development policy
memorized and on hand in case a situation arises.
·
Keep positive reviews on hand to refer to or
hand out when needed.
·
If the book has won any awards, mention them to
the patron and briefly explain the award.
·
Listen to the patron and practice good customer
service skills when communicating. Let the customer know where or if he/she can
escalate his/her complaint.
·
When necessary, cite sections of the ALA’s
Library Bill of Rights or refer to the ALA's
Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials.
Why included:
The Sight is an
interesting book because it is told from the perspective of a wolf. I think
that it is a good transition book from juvenile fiction to teen fiction because
of the animal themes which could entice young adults to branch out possibly to
werewolf tales later on.
Reference:
Barnesnnoble.com. (2014). The Sight. Retrieved December 3, 2014 from
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sight-david-clement-davies/1100377736?ean=9780142408742
Clement-Davies, D. (2014). About Author. Retrieved August 29, 2014
from
http://www.sfbookcase.com/author.asp?forename=David&surname=Clement-Davies
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