|
DiDonovan
, May 05, 2015
(view all comments by DiDonovan)
At what point do stories featuring thirteen-year-old protagonists become accessible and of interest to adult readers as well as young adults? It's when action and events woven into the story line spark a level of complexity that challenges and involves all ages, when human and spiritual connections embrace nightmares and positive possibilities alike, and when a book such as Arctic Storm focuses as much on the emotional development of each protagonist as it does on the wider story line of sled dogs in the line of fire.
A pending multi-volume production warning is there on the cover (Arctic Storm is Book One of the 'Watch Eyes Trilogy') - but what isn't as immediately evident is an indication that young adult and adult readers alike are in for a treat with Arctic Storm: one they won't want to see concluded in a single book.
Since dogs feature so prevalently in Arctic Storm, it's important to note that readers with a prior affection for canines will find the sled dog insights compelling; not to mention that the saga is set in 1908, an unusual feature for a crossover novel of fantasy.
Anya's abilities pair with her take-charge determination to lead her on a desperate journey to save everything she loves, and highlights the idea of 'spirit' on many levels; from supernatural connections to self-inspired decisions.
The story centers around Anya, a young medium who is able to connect to the spirit world and who will do anything to protect her beloved dogs from any threat; even from a deadly ice storm.
Woven into the realistic story line are accounts of sled dog practices, the conflicts between a boy who loves the sea and a girl who is bound to the land, and the underlying belief of each that the other won't truly understand their world.
Set against the backdrop of Siberia and a world beset upon by darkness and light, it's all about choices and direction as well as spiritual connections, and what seems an ending is really just the beginning.
At what point do stories featuring thirteen-year-old protagonists become accessible and of interest to adult readers as well? It's when the human element is so well-developed that age groups are forgotten and the compelling story reaches out to embrace all ages in a storm of conflict, purpose and hope.
|