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| Image (c) Scholastic |
Release Date: September 1st, 2010
Book Format: Library Book
Rating: Five Stars
A debut novel that's as sharp as a knife's point.
Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden charms are so fine that some even call her "witch-blade" -- a dangerous nickname in a town where witches are hunted and burned in the square.
A long time, in a market town by a looping river, there lived an orphan girl called Plain Kate.
She was called this because her father had introduced her to the new butcher, saying: "This is my beloved Katerina Svetlana, after her mother who died birthing her and God rest her soul, but I call her just plain Kate." And the butcher, swinging a cleaver, answered: "That's right enough, Plain Kate she is, plain as a stick." A man who treasured humor, especially his own, the butcher repeated this to everyone. After that, she was called Plain Kate.
This is a magical story about a young girl named 'Plain Kate'. She becomes an orphan when her father becomes incredibly sick and dies to what everyone is calling Witch's fever. Everyone fears witches and do not take any chances: if they are for certain that if someone is a witch, they take them to a trial and the next day burn them to a stake. But he left Kate with a precious gift: the art of woodcutting, which she excels at even after his death. But people become suspicious at how well she is with her talent... and with the nickname 'witch-blade', people are slowly becoming convinced that she just may be a witch as well. After all, one of the 'witch' acts they claimed she did- catching several fish in one shot and the next day all the fish turn to ash save for the one she kept- tends to draw suspicion.
She knows she must run away because of this. And a certain person named Linay is all too willing to help... for a price: her shadow. She willingly gives it up for a chance to find someplace she belongs but, too late, she discovers how priceless her shadow really is and with her cat friend, Taggle, she aims to get it back. But there is a dangerous plan ahead... and Kate might have found herself in the middle of it.
This was a very fun read. I fell in love with the story. One of my favorite characters, I have to admit, was the cat Taggle- especially when he started talking to her. I love that he was portrayed as his own character and it was just awesome. He's pretty much how I imagined a cat would be like if cats would talk (well, at least, most of the cats I've ever come across). He was such a charming, adorable cat and the end made me almost cry.
But let's concentrate on the main character for a second: Plain Kate (after all, it is her book). She developed quite nicely throughout the book. Even as she traveled around, she continued to do her carving while finding herself in trying situations. She carved her way out of a cell (although, would actually carving something that looks exactly like the key to open the door actually work? Hmmmm). She grows up to be confident young girl. I, honestly, won't mind if I read another book with her in it but I wouldn't mind if I didn't either. It ended off at a satisfying place that I really can't complain either way.
I liked Linay, in a way. I felt bad for him, in the end, cause his reasons were good but his actions were... not. I don't want to say anymore, in order to avoid spoilers, but he does become a likable character.
If you like magic and adventure (and talking cats), this is the book for you.
She rocked like a cradle. There was a chuck, chuck like a dove or waves on a dock. Plain Kate woke up.
She was dry. She was lying on something soft. She was wrapped in quilts. There was a star of light drifting above her, and a smell like an herb garden. Taggle was a long warmth stretched at one side, his chin in her hand, his tail curled over her neck. She thought they might be in heaven.
Taggle farted.
Originally posted and shared January 6th, 2014
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