Ellis, Leanne Statland The Ugly One, 245 pgs. Clarion Books,
2013. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG;
Micay
is a young Inca girl living in a small village high in the mountains. She
has had to deal with a disfiguring scar on her face so mostly she stays away
from others especially the young boy that taunts her. As she gets older,
she become apprentice to the local shaman and begins learning the ways of magic
and healing. During a particularly hard year of drought and no
food, her village becomes restless and begins to blame the drought on the
shaman. She worries they will try to run him out and her chances of a
meaningful life will be gone. The shaman wonders if he has done something
to anger the Gods and decides to leave the village. He takes Micay with him to
meet shaman from other villages in the kingdom hoping they can find a way to
appease the Gods and bring rain to the land. Well written book with a
good story that could be used in different classroom settings from historical
objectives to overcoming obstacles. Initially Micay is mostly reclusive
because she gives power to what she thinks the villagers believe about her and
allows that to dictate her life until she learns that sometimes what we think
others think of us isn’t necessary the truth.
Wished I loved the cover a
bit more. I may need to put this into the hands of students and teachers
as I think they may overlook it.
EL/MS – ADVISABLE Reviewer:
RB
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