Synopses & Reviews
In
West of the Moon, award-winning and
New York Times bestselling author Margi Preus expertly weaves original fiction with myth and folktale to tell the story of Astri, a young Norwegian girl desperate to join her father in America.
After being separated from her sister and sold to a cruel goat farmer, Astri makes a daring escape. She quickly retrieves her little sister, and, armed with a troll treasure, a book of spells and curses, and a possibly magic hairbrush, they set off for America. With a mysterious companion in tow and the malevolent andldquo;goatmanandrdquo; in pursuit, the girls head over the Norwegian mountains, through field and forest, and in and out of folktales and dreams as they steadily make their way east of the sun and west of the moon.
Praise for West of the Moon
FIVE STARRED REVIEWS
andquot;Like dun silk shot thought with gold, Preus interweaves the mesmerizing tale of Astriandrsquo;s treacherous and harrowing mid-nineteenth-century emigration to America with bewitching tales of magic. A fascinating authorandrsquo;s note only adds to the wonder.andquot;
--Booklist, starred review
andquot;Norwegian history, fiction and folklore intertwine seamlessly in this lively, fantastical adventure and moving coming-of-age story.andquot;
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
andquot;Enthralling and unflinching, this historical tale resonates with mythical undertones that will linger with readers after the final page is turned.andquot;
--School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;Astri is like a girl out of a fairy tale, and the native folktales that Preus weaves through the narrative serve as guides, lessons, and inspiration for her.andquot;
--Publishers Weekly, starred review
andquot;Several Norwegian folktales are seamlessly integrated into the fast-paced, lyrically narrated story, which features a protagonist as stalwart and fearless as any fairy-tale hero.andquot;
--The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
andquot;Itandrsquo;s Astriandrsquo;s voice, however, that is most appealing: her direct, no-nonsense narration has a sharp bite, yet it also reveals the vulnerable young girl whoandrsquo;s willing to continue to fight but is nonetheless exhausted by the weight of her struggle. The chapters have an episodic structure that makes this an ideal choice for readaloud or storytelling adaptations, while the mix of folklore, fact, and fantasy will please fans of Edith Patouandrsquo;s East.andquot;
--The Bulletin of The Center for Childrenandrsquo;s Books
Review
andquot;The story showcases the authorandrsquo;s talent for description and pacing...those who [invest in this title] will be well rewarded.andquot;
Review
andquot;Burackand#39;s story moves at an engaging clip with enough thrills and historical detail to please many readers.andquot;
Review
andquot;Set in 1842 and overflowing with historical detail, the novel...leads to a rewarding conclusion...andquot;
Review
andquot;Debut author Burack infuses this gritty tale with plenty of historical detail... this unique historical adventure is illuminating.andquot;
Synopsis
In 1842, Christopher Robertsonandrsquo;s family lives a difficult life as andldquo;crofters,andrdquo; farmers and fishermen so in debt to the landowner that they have no hope of ever breaking free. To make matters worse, Christopher also lives under the thumb of his morally questionable father and devious brother. When his brother frames him for the theft of their fatherandrsquo;s secret bag of coins, Christopher must leave his home and embark on a journey across the island to return the coins and clear his name. Itandrsquo;s a journey that takes twists and turns, including stops in prison, on a smugglerandrsquo;s ship, and at the house of a beautiful girlandmdash;and it ends with him escaping to a new life in America, which has dangers of its own.
About the Author
Years ago, Emilie Christie Burack discovered a set of brittle cassette tapes in a shoe box at the back of her fatherandrsquo;s closet on which her late grandfather had recorded his familyandrsquo;s history. When she learned her ancestor had come from the islands andldquo;where they had little ponies with long hair,andrdquo; she had to know more. She has traveled to the Shetland Islands and spent the last four years researching its history and unique Norse-Scots culture. She now resides in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. This is her first book.