East

Pattou, Edith. East. Harcourt, 2003. ISBN-10:015204563

Plot Summary
Unlike her siblings, Rose is a wanderer at heart. So when a white bear promises to cure her sister in exchange for Rose, Rose goes with the bear. Far away from her home in Norway, Rose and the bear live in an enchanted castle. But instead of breaking the spell, Rose endangers the white bear further. Rose sets out to make things right, trying to unravel the mystery of the troll queen and the white bear who is neither man nor bear. Her journey takes her across land, sea and ice meeting foreign people and strange creatures.

Critical evaluation
This story is slow to start and follows the story of Beauty and the Beast too closely. But I'm glad I persevered because I was delighted with the new twists. In fact, the Beauty and the Beast story is only the half of it, the rest is a heroic journey that weaves elements of fairy tale with pure adventure.


Readers Annotations
Here, Redwall Abbey meets Jane Yolen with a bit of old norse mythology thrown in.


Information About the Author
Edith Pattou is the author of the YA series Songs of Eirren. She lives in Columbus Ohio.

Genre
Fantasy; adventure

Curriculum Ties


Booktalking Ideas
Heroines

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 7+



Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas
none

Why Book Included
Appeared on a list of recommended books published by Sacramento Public Library