akayeh's review
5.0
Another fabulous book from the category of "girls can't ______". This time it's be a shaman. Reminds me of why I love Tamora Pierce's books so much!
seano's review
5.0
*This book is free today on the Kindle. If you like YA fantasy about young female protagonist. You need to give it a chance.*
"The Calling" is the first book of a very promising series. I'd basically describe it as "The Female Inuit Harry Potter."
The protagonist is Alaana, a 12-year old Inuit girl who lives in the arctic with her people. By circumstance, she is chosen to become the tribe's newest shaman and becomes the student of Old Manatook a mysterious shaman that's part Gandalf and part Polar Bear.
Village is described authentically and in many ways this book resembles Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth." Inuit culture is (to my eyes) described accurately and respectfully. The characters are well-developed and are properly motivated.
But where this book really shines is the well-developed use of Inuit mythology as the fantasy world setting. We travel with Alaana to the Underworld and meet a great number of spirits and creatures, including squirrel-men, a spirit that lives in small stone, and a golden walrus spirit who should probably be cast in the film as Zach Gallifinakis.
I think this book is every bit as good as "The Lightning Thief" and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
"The Calling" is the first book of a very promising series. I'd basically describe it as "The Female Inuit Harry Potter."
The protagonist is Alaana, a 12-year old Inuit girl who lives in the arctic with her people. By circumstance, she is chosen to become the tribe's newest shaman and becomes the student of Old Manatook a mysterious shaman that's part Gandalf and part Polar Bear.
Village is described authentically and in many ways this book resembles Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth." Inuit culture is (to my eyes) described accurately and respectfully. The characters are well-developed and are properly motivated.
But where this book really shines is the well-developed use of Inuit mythology as the fantasy world setting. We travel with Alaana to the Underworld and meet a great number of spirits and creatures, including squirrel-men, a spirit that lives in small stone, and a golden walrus spirit who should probably be cast in the film as Zach Gallifinakis.
I think this book is every bit as good as "The Lightning Thief" and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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