From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–A story set in an unidentified prehistoric time. When Thorn is to be sacrificed for the good of the people on the High Island, in the hopes of reversing their fortunes, his father arranges for him to return to his grandparents' home, the People of the Singing Seals, rather than be killed. Yet Thorn doesn't fit there either, and his crippled leg breeds suspicion and distrust among the People. Only Willow, a girl being trained as the next Keeper of Story, dares approach Thorn and tries to befriend him. Although he is suddenly accepted, even venerated by the People, he does not feel safe there, so he begins planning his escape. Told in alternating chapters by Willow and Thorn, the story is uneven, requiring some leaps of faith (and reason). Middle school readers will be frustrated by the inconclusive ending. Although the dialogue and superstitions lend authenticity to the setting, they cannot save the story. A disappointing read from Levin, who excelled in portraying primitive life in
The Ice Bear (1986) and
The Banished (1999, both HarperCollins).
–Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 7-10. In Levin's latest, set in prehistoric times, the People of the Seals are dying out. Babies are born malformed or dying early, and young women are nurtured and protected in a desperate attempt to produce more of the tribe. Thorn, a young boy with a shriveled leg, is delivered to the People's island and then deserted. The men of the village reluctantly rescue him, but they sequester him from the others for fear he may be a bad omen. Willow, who was chosen to be the people's Keeper of Story, takes care of Thorn and gradually learns that Thorn has come from a more advanced people, who have skills in boatbuilding and survival. Unfortunately, these skills may not be adequate to save the young boy's life. Levin has written a challenging story about superstition, death, and friendship, and she offers an interesting examination of what happens as people remember, forget, or reinterpret their history. For reflective readers who are interested in these questions,
Thorn will be a satisfying starting point for discussion.
Frances BradburnCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
