YA Literature Module 5: Fantastical Fiction

 The Black Cauldron
Written by: Lloyd Alexander

Bibliography: Alexander, L. (1965). The black cauldron. Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.

ISBN: 978-0805080490

Plot Summary: The Black Cauldron is the second book in Lloyd Alexander's high fantasy Chronicles of Prydain series, following Taran's journey to find and destroy a magical cauldron that is being used by Arawn to create an army of Cauldron-Born. Taran is an assistant pig-keeper who has found himself as an unlikely hero in this novel, and he is tasked by Prince Gwydion with joining his quest to destroy the cauldron. Initially, the group splits up into separate sections for their specific tasks, with King Morgant leading an attack at Annuvin, Gwydion leading a group through the mountains to find the cauldron, and Taran and noble warrior Adaon leading a group to stay behind for the retreat. With Taran and Adaon are Ellidyr, a prideful and stubborn prince who resents Taran and desperately desires his own glory, and Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy. Soon, the group's plans change when Gwydion's group finds them and alerts that the cauldron is missing; now all of them are urgently trying to find the cauldron before it is too late. With the help of various characters, including Doli, Gwystyl, and Fflewddur Fflam, Taran and the others set out to find the cauldron. Ellidyr is determined to find the cauldron and claim his own glory, and he sets off on his own. 

They discover that the cauldron was stolen by three witches, Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch, who refuse to give it up until they receive a precious possession from one of the quest members. Adaon, the wise and courageous warrior, is fatally injured in battle and leaves Taran with his magical brooch. Reluctantly, Taran gives this brooch to the witches in exchange for the cauldron. Unfortunately for the group, they then learn that the cauldron can only be destroyed when someone willingly sacrifices themselves in it. Determined to find another way to destroy the cauldron, the group heads to Dallben to seek advice; however on the way they find that King Morgant has betrayed them and seeks to use the cauldron to create an army that will defeat Prydain. They also find Ellidyr, taken prisoner by Morgant, and a battle ensues. During the battle, Ellidyr willingly sacrifices himself and gets in the cauldron, thus destroying it and defeating Morgant. Ultimately, the quest members succeed in their mission and are grateful to Ellidyr for his honorable sacrifice.

Critical Analysis: The Black Cauldron includes all of the elements of a fantasy adventure story: an unlikely hero, a perilous quest to defeat evil, and magical creatures. Alexander's ability to add depth to the many characters and create nuances within the hero's journey elevates his novel to more than just a high-quality fantasy novel, but also a well-written, engaging story of friendship and courage. While there are many characters to keep track of, they are each well-developed into characters that differ from each other in ways that help the reader follow along with the plot. Taran, the main character, is the unlikely hero who has previously proven himself to be more than just an assistant pig-keeper, and he spends this novel continuing to show that as he joins the dangerous quest to find and destroy the cauldron. On the other hand, Ellidyr, an arrogant and stubborn prince, is written as Taran's foil; Ellidyr believes he deserves the glory of being the one to succeed in this quest and foolishly goes off on his own to find the cauldron himself. 

Instead of working with others to destroy the cauldron for the good of all, Ellidyr is primarily focused on showing off and being the one to have all the glory upon the quest's successful completion. Taran, however, works alongside various other characters such as Doli, Eilonwy, Gwystyl, and more, to find the cauldron because he recognizes that everyone has unique capabilities that can help their shared cause. Finally, the journey becomes full circle when Ellidyr willingly sacrifices himself to destroy the cauldron, and it is through this selfless act that ultimately makes Ellidyr achieve the hero status he was searching for throughout the story. All of the characters in the story contribute in some way to the success of their quest, but it is through Ellidyr's sacrifice that author Alexander highlights the many ways heroes can be born.

Awards and Recognition:

Newbery Honor, 1966

Review Excerpts:

From Kirkus Reviews: “The same characteristics that made the first book so rich are again present--a fine flow of words; an inticate, active plot; an admirable balance between the forces of black and white magic ... The sweep of the battles, the pressures of fear relieved by interludes of comedy, the blends of good and evil combine to the kind of once-in-a-lifetime reading that will assure Prydain a permanent place in geographies of fictional territories."

From Booklist: “Taran, the gallant Assistant Pig-keeper, and his companions once again fare forth to destroy the evil that threatens their beloved country, Prydain.... A wise and wondrous tale written in epic fashion.”

Connections: Readers can enjoy exploring other stories in the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, including The Book of Three, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King. Other connection activities could include doing a character study on one of the many characters in the Chronicles of Prydain series, analyzing their characteristics, motivations, and character development across the series. Similar books that readers may be interested in that connect with this series include The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper, The Riddle Master series by Patricia McKillip, and The Queen's Thief by Morgan Whalen Turner. 

 The Belles
Written by: Dhonielle Clayton

Bibliography: Clayton, D. (2018). The belles. Hyperion.

ISBN: 978-1368070959

Plot Summary: The Belles tells a magical tale set in a world where everyone has been cursed to live without beauty, with the exception of the Belles, whose job it is to serve others (usually the royal and wealthy) and make them beautiful every month before their beauty fades. Camellia and her sisters, who have grown up together, training their powers to be able to provide the glamour of beauty to others, begin the story by showcasing their skills in the hopes of being The Favorite, which is the Belle that serves the royal family of Orleans. Camellia, who likes to change the rules and rejects following the orders of others, makes a splash but is ultimately passed over for the Favorite, which is given to her sister Amber. However, Camellia soon is summoned to the palace and named the new Favorite, with Amber being mysteriously sent away for unknown reasons. Camellia soon discovers that there is something sinister going on, learning that there are other Belles that are being hidden away after being overworked so hard that they become disfigured. Camellia also is desperate to find information about her rebellious sister Edel, who is rumored to have run away. Camellia's life in the palace is not all that she thought it would be, with Princess Sophia's terrifying temper, experiments, and obsession with being the most beautiful of all, and Princess Charlotte's mysterious ailment that has kept her in a magical slumber for years. Camellia is asked by the Queen, who has become gravely ill, to stop Sophia from becoming Queen, as she will be a selfish and horrible ruler. Meanwhile, Camellia tries to strike up a tentative friendship with her appointed guard, Remy, as well as meets the mysterious but charming Auguste, a suitor to the princess. Unsure of who to trust, Camellia sets out to discover a way to stop Sophia and find out what is happening with her sisters, ultimately learning that Sophia has been poisoning Charlotte for years. The story ends with a cliffhanger into the sequel, with Remy and Camille fleeing the palace and meeting up with Edel.

Critical Analysis: The Belles takes the reader into a fantasy world that seems idyllic and charming at its surface, but soon reveals itself to be deceptive and ugly at its core. Author Dhonielle Clayton does an outstanding job in this novel of world building, with descriptive details throughout the novel that take the reader into another land. The world of the Belles is interesting, as Clayton weaves together a world in which only the few Belles hold the power to transform people into beauties, using a combination of their own magical power and their tools and potions. The commentary about beauty standards and the world's obsession with beauty and perfection comes through very clearly in the novel, with Camellia's wealthy clients willingly going through painful treatments to keep up with the current beauty standards. Additionally, it is often highlighted throughout the novel that people are constantly changing their appearances, leaving them with a lack of solid identity and personal choice in showing their own unique beauty. While at first it seems that everyone is sharing the same mindset at first, it soon becomes apparent that there are cracks in the facade, and not everyone agrees with accepting the same beauty standards as everyone else. Clayton slowly reveals these cracks in the facade as Camellia spends more time at the palace, letting the reader discover along with the main character that there is something ugly brewing in the palace and beyond. While not all characters are fully developed in the novel, there are reveals towards the end that suggest further developments will occur in the next novel. In particular, it is revealed that Auguste betrayed Camellia so he could marry the princess and his mother could become the next Beauty Minister. Also, Edel is finally found at the very end of the novel, indicating that she will be an important character in the next story that may focus on Camellia, Remy, and Edel finding a way to stop Princess Sophia and expose the mistreatment of the hidden Belles. Main character Camellia is described at times as a rule-breaker, using her strong sense of identity to guide her decisions. However, she also is depicted as grappling with the realization that the Belles may have a mysterious and dark origin that she has been lie to about all her life. While much of her character development and the culmination of the secrets she has discovered are not focused on in this novel, it does a great job of setting up the reader for the next story in the series. The focus on world-building and Camellia's shattered worldview set the stage for an exciting adventure that carries on into the rest of Clayton's series.

Awards and Recognition:

YALSA Teens' Top Ten Finalist, 2019

Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection, 2019

Junior Library Guild Selection, 2018

Review Excerpts: 

From Kirkus Reviews: "With wonderfully descriptive language, Clayton builds a grand and lavish world, carefully chipping away at the veneer to reveal its dark, sinister interior...With a refreshingly original concept, this substantial fantasy, the first in a duology, is an undeniable page-turner."

From School Library Journal: "Clayton has created a world full of lush colors, beautiful people, and delicious desserts...This work challenges readers to reflect on their notions of beauty. Through the actions of the characters, teens will understand what a beauty-obsessed world really looks like and that possessing conviction and selflessness is just as beautiful as outward appearances."

Connections: Readers who want to continue the series will want to check out the sequel to The Belles, titled The Everlasting Rose and the third novel in the series, The Beauty Trials. A similar series that readers may also enjoy that connects with this series is The Selection by Kiera Cass. Other connections that involve exploring beauty standards and self-image include Uglies by Scott Westerfield and Matched by Ally Condie.

Warcross
Written by: Marie Lu

Bibliography: Lu, M. (2017). Warcross. G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

ISBN: 978-0399547966

Plot Summary: Warcross tells the story of Emika Chen, a teenager barely making it by as a bounty hunter and hacker in futuristic New York City. Emika is talented and smart, and finds herself glitching into the world famous Warcross Championships due to her hacking abilities. Her talented hacking skills draw the attention of young Warcross creator Hideo Tanaka, and she is whisked away to Japan to meet him and accepts an offer to join the Warcross championships as a way to find Zero, a dangerous hacker who has managed to make his way into the games and cause havoc. Accepting this job means that Emika's debts would be paid and she could make a different life for herself and start new. However, Emika's Warcross team, The Phoenix Riders, are suspicious of Emika's seeming lack of commitment to the team. Emika discovers that Zero is collecting data about the Warcross participants and may pose a threat to Hideo's life. Emika and Hideo grow closer, with both opening up and sharing secrets to each other as they gain each other's trust. Emika learns that Hideo's motivation to create Warcross came from the disappearance of his brother Sasuke when they were just children. 

Zero discovers that Emika is hunting him and threatens her with deleting her stored Memories and then causing an explosion at the Warcross champions' house. Hideo, wanting to protect Emika, fires her from the team in an attempt to make her go back to New York, however Emika is determined to defeat Zero and makes a plan with her team during the Warcross championship game. In a shocking twist, Emika learns that Hideo plans to use the Neurolink to mind-control all Warcross users in a seemingly misguided attempt to restore peace and order across the world. Emika, fearing that Hideo's plan is unethical and overly-controlling, rejects his plan, thus ending their relationship. Finally, Emika learns that Zero is actually Hideo's long-last brother Sasuke, and Emika must decide whose side she will take in the upcoming conflict that will surely follow the final events of the story.

Critical Analysis: Marie Lu's Warcross is an action-packed, futuristic adventure that delves into virtual reality and the ramifications of technology vs. free will. Readers will enjoy getting lost in the extensive and detailed world building that Lu creates, as well as the fast-paced action sequences during the Warcross games. The story is fairly fast-paced and well-written in its description of how the players strategize and manipulate their avatars to skillfully beat the best Warcross players in the world. The futuristic ideas of how each player is able to delve into the world of virtual reality are clever and well thought-out, with the technology maintaining a balance of futuristic and realistic. Emika is a well-developed, complicated character, with her motivations of survival keeping her active in the games for the majority of the story. She has to grapple with the decision to keep investigating the mysterious hacker Zero even after the stakes become higher and more dangerous. With careful detail applied at the beginning of the story when describing Emika's current precarious situation and how vastly her life changes when living with her Warcross team, Lu skillfully creates a clear before and after for Emika's character, showing how Emika becomes enmeshed in Hideo's extraordinary world. Additionally, Hideo's backstory is heartbreaking and subsequently makes him more of a sympathetic character to the reader, a stark contrast from the aloof tech wiz that he is initially presented as. This makes the ultimate reveal of Hideo's betrayal more gut-wrenching to Emika and the reader; his reasons for wanting to control the minds of anyone on the Neurolink are misguided and unethical, however they are born out of his despair over losing his brother all those years ago. In this way, Lu uses character development and an action-filled plot to bring the reader into a futuristic and highly engaging world.

Awards and Recognition:

YALSA Bet Fiction for Young Adults Selection, 2018

Best STEM Books Selection, 2018

CCBC Choice Selection, 2018

Junior Library Guild Selection, 2018

YALSA Teens' Top Ten Winner, 2018

Review Excerpts:

From Booklist: “[A]n inventive first in a series that showcases Lu’s versatility as a storyteller. . . . Dystopia, dark fantasy, and now a sci-fi thriller—what can’t Lu do? Her boatloads of fans can’t wait to find out.”

From Kirkus Reviews: "A stellar cyberpunk series opener packed with simmering romance and cinematic thrills."

Connections: Author Marie Lu has many additional young adult novels that readers of Warcross will enjoy, including its sequel Wildcard as well as her other titles The Young Elites, The Rose Society, The Midnight Star, Legend, Champion, and Skyhunter. Because Warcross focuses on the idea of virtual reality and video games, connections with this novel include incorporating classic video games, coding tutorials, and exploring the idea of creating your own virtual reality with discussion questions to encourage readers to think about what their ideal "game world" would look like. Similar books that can be connected with Warcross include Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Girl Gone Viral by Arvin Ahmadi, and Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman.