New York City School Librarians' Association

Let the discussion of Graceling begin! This was one of Melissa’s favorite books of 2008 and a discussion is timely, since the prequel Fire is coming out at the beginning of October. Here are some questions to get the conversaton started, but feel free to comment on any aspect of the book that struck you:

• One of the most popular aspects of Graceling, based on many reviews, is the contrast between a strong heroine and a sensitive (but well-matched) hero. How do Katsa and Po stack up to other fantasy protagonists in your experience?
• In any fantasy novel, world-building–setting, the internal logic of the magical systems, the politics of invented kingdoms–is integral to a reader’s enjoyment and the believability of the story. How does Cashore’s world-building in Graceling, particularly the superpowered aspect of the Graced? (And the always-fun reader association question: if you had a Grace, what would it be?)
• What age group and type of reader would be the best audience for this book? How does it compare to or complement other fantasy titles in your library?

Please add your thoughts to the discussion below. You don’t have to be a NYCSLA member to join in the fun (although we’d love to have you…)

Please join us in an experiment: the NYCSLA book club! Once a month, we’ll host a discussion for a middle grade or young adult book that’s a.) getting great reviews, b.) surrounded by ferocious buzz, c.) just won an award of some kind, or d.) just sounded really, really, REALLY, good. We’ve got ideas (or passions, really) for the first bunch of books, but soon we’ll open up the field for suggestions from our members.

For September, we’ll be reading Graceling by Kristin Cashore, in honor of its recent Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature and the upcoming release of the prequel Fire. Oh, and Corresponding Secretary Melissa Ahart’s abiding love of it, as she elbowed her way to the front of the recommendation line for the chance to talk about this book. Here’s a description from Cashore’s blog:

Graceling is the story of Katsa, who has been able to kill people with her bare hands since she was eight. Katsa lives in the seven kingdoms, where very occasionally, a person is born with an extreme skill called a Grace. Gracelings are feared and exploited in the seven kingdoms, and none moreso than Katsa, who’s expected to do the dirty work of torture and punishment for her uncle, King Randa. But then she meets a mysterious stranger named Po, who is also a Graced fighter and the first person ever to challenge her in a fight. The two form a bond, and each discovers truths they never imagined about themselves, each other, and a terrible danger that is spreading slowly through the seven kingdoms.

Discussion will open here September 28. Please join us!