- Library Binding: 159 pages
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1439536260
- ISBN-13: 978-1439536261
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up-Between the first line, "My people, lay down your stones," and the last, "Remember me, and love me anyway," is a tightly plotted story of pride, jealousy, magic, passion, and regret. The Dollmage is the keeper of the village's stories, and as she makes the "dolls" of the townspeople's world, she shapes and defines their roles and lives. Leavitt unfolds her tale carefully, weaving other stories into and over it, bringing other villagers into sharp focus and making Seekvalley a well-defined place. She tells of four children born on one day, when her powers are slipping and she must choose a successor. As the years pass, she chooses the wild, lazy Renoa, who has the gift but no desire to help those around her. Annakey also has the gift, and she is kind and industrious. As the girls grow, Annakey's power grows stronger and stronger, until she mistakenly usurps the power of the Dollmage. She is betrayed by the jealous Renoa, raped and forced into a marriage promise by Areth, and denied her rights to justice because she reneges on her promise. The punishment for promise breaking is death. As the story reaches its conclusion, the village is overcome and ruined by wild animals and fire. When blame must be placed, all but two of the survivors, the Dollmage and Annakey's sweetheart, are ready to stone her. The ending, though surprising, fits neatly into the tale, without being too convenient and tidy. A book that is extraordinary for its characterizations and plot.
Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
"This fast-paced story is driven by all-too human failings. . . The strength of this story lies in the character motivations, which will appeal far beyond genre lines."
-- VOYA
"A tightly plotted story of pride, jealousy, magic, passion, and regret."
-- School Library Journal
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pride comes before destruction,
By "torianna" (Atlanta, Ga.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dollmage (Paperback)
I found this book to be wonderful, an intricately woven tale of love, pride, hate, and broken promises. The characters were well-formed, and the narrator was very open with her faults.The ending was perfect, a little rushed, but very well done. I would recommend this book to at least teen girls, as there is content not suitible for younger readers.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pride comes before destruction,
By "torianna" (Atlanta, Ga.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dollmage (Paperback)
I found this book to be wonderful, an intricately woven tale of love, pride, hate, and broken promises. The characters were well-formed, and the narrator was very open with her faults.The ending was perfect, a little rushed, but very well done. I would recommend this book to at least teen girls, as there is content not suitible for younger readers.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.8 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews) 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Pettiness and Pride,
By S. L. Lovell - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Dollmage (Paperback)
My DD and I loved "Keturah and Lord Death" by this same author. Her storytelling draws you into the story and keeps you there, rooting for the hero only for the story to take a different path."Dollmage" is no different. Strictly fantasy, this story is about the storyteller of the village, the Dollmage. She is growing old and must have a successor. She predicts that on a certain day, the new dollmage will be born. And on that day, four children are born: two girls and two boys. She picks one girl over the other because of her pride has been hurt. The dollmage gives dolls that will bring comfort, peace, and tell of future promises. As in any village, there are certain laws and expectations. This village is no different. Promises are kept and very rarely broken because it is punishable by death. But who is to say that a promise given because another is extorted is a promise? The dollmage's story was hard to hear: her pettiness and pride and the ripple effect they have on the entire village. Interesting story. I would recommend this book for old teens. But my favorite of this author is "Keturah and Lord Death" 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest Narration,
By Avid Reader - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Dollmage (Paperback)
This is a beautiful, thoughtful book, with a narrator who willingly shows us how her own mistakes have caused so many problems. I loved the descriptions and the perspective on the selfishness of human nature and how difficult and painful it can be to overcome it and how much we hurt others when we think only of ourselves. Beyond that, I liked the world that Leavitt creates, with the aspects of life made and cared for in miniature dolls.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pride comes before destruction,
By "torianna" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Dollmage (Paperback)
I found this book to be wonderful, an intricately woven tale of love, pride, hate, and broken promises. The characters were well-formed, and the narrator was very open with her faults.The ending was perfect, a little rushed, but very well done. I would recommend this book to at least teen girls, as there is content not suitible for younger readers. |
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