MMGM: The Castle Behind the Thorns

I picked up this book, because it was a Cybil’s nominee. The title alone intrigued me—it would’ve something I would’ve been drawn to as a kid. (And, no, despite the title and cover--this is not a Sleeping Beauty retelling.) Although the first few chapters were somewhat slow, once I got to chapter four (and a second character entered this story), I was totally hooked.

I am glad I persevered, because this story was interesting and unique, a deftly woven tapestry of history and magic.

Here is the synopsis (from Amazon):

This magical adventure in an enchanted castle surrounded by thorns tells a tale of the power of memory and story, forgiveness and strength, and the true gifts of craft and imagination. By the acclaimed author of The Princess Curse and Handbook for Dragon Slayers, this original fantasy is perfect for fans of Gail Carson Levine, Karen Cushman, and Shannon Hale.

When blacksmith apprentice Sand wakes up in a ruined castle, he has no idea how he got there, but the thorny brambles that surround the walls prevent him from leaving. As he begins to fix up the castle in order to survive, everything he touches somehow works better than it should. Then, as he continues to explore, Sand discovers the castle's secrets, including its long-lost heir, Perrotte. Together, they must fully repair the broken castle if they ever want to leave.

What I loved about this book:

    1. Magic that was based on history. I am pretty picky about what fantasies I read. But if it’s based on fairy tales or history, I’m all in. The magical aspects of this book were so well-grounded in the reality and history of the Middle Ages that it was easy to suspend my disbelief.

    2. A well-developed theme and symbols. Sand is learning the power of mending, while Perotte is learning about forgiveness. The symbols the author uses: a castle behind thorns (for unforgiveness and bitterness) and the power of blacksmithing (and mending) really added a lot to the story.

    3. Equally strong male and female protagonists. Throughout most of the book, Sand and Perotte are the only characters. I find that sometimes when you have a strong female in kidlit, it often means the boy is not as strong. I liked how strong both these characters were, equally matched for sparring (at the beginning) to friendship at the end.

    4. Friendship. Although there are hints that someday there might be something more between Sand and Perotte, the focus was really on their friendship, which was forged (excuse the pun) in the difficulties of the castle. Their friendship and loyalty to each other made this one of the most believable boy-girl friendships I’ve read in awhile.

    5. It was set in Brittany! I am a fangirl of anything set in France, which is probably due to being raised by a mom, who’s a former French teacher. I loved how the author brought in elements of Brittany culture. This part of France is not written about much and that added to the book’s uniqueness.

Quibble: Although I enjoyed the ending, there wasn’t a typical climax.  The character arcs were satisfying, but I was hoping for more of showdown between the protagonist and antagonist. But still, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of this book.

Most of the historical fantasy I've read has been YA. It was interesting to see how this genre could be handled for younger ages. With its authentic historical details, CASTLE BEHIND THE THORNS would appeal to fans of Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale, or Jessica Day George.

What are you favorite fantasies with historical elements for the middle grade set?

If you're looking for Marvelous Middle Grade suggestions, check out Shannon Messenger's blog.