West

August 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-At the close of East, Rose and her new husband, formerly enchanted as a white bear, are reunited. Now, they are torn apart again by the Troll Queen, with the added complications of the couple's new baby and a young foster daughter, Estelle. Readers follow the saga through multiple narrators as Rose, the white bear, Rose's brother Neddy, their mother, and Estelle become scattered by the magic of the wind and the evil of the Troll Queen. The protagonists fight back as individuals-with the aid of Neddy's love Sib-and in teams of two or three. Pattou artistically spins the broad and long tale without making the details feel burdensome and always keeps the pace from lagging. The variety of adventures and challenges that the characters face require mental and physical toughness and willingness to try rather than give up in defeat, although very realistic injuries and illness do occur. Details from European history, including the ravaging plague, superstitions, and even crafts, appear without intruding. Readers unfamiliar with the prequel should start there in order to develop a clear understanding of Rose's devotion to her white bear. VERDICT A wait of longer than a decade proves completely worthwhile in the case of Pattou's continuing spin on Norwegian myth filled with fully realized human characters and adventures both fantastic and emotionally authentic.-Francisca Goldsmith, Library Ronin, Worcester, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2018
Once upon a time (East, 2003), a girl rescued an enchanted white bear from a wicked Troll Queen in a palace "east of the sun and west of the moon." But what happened after "happily ever after"?Rose and Charles (or, as she still calls him, her "White Bear") have been blissfully married for three years and have an adopted daughter and a baby boy. When word comes that Charles has been lost at sea, Rose is not convinced it was an accident, suspecting the Troll Queen has survived to seek vengeance. After leisurely reacquainting readers with the characters and backstory, the pace quickens and the stakes become both grander and more personal, as the Queen schemes to kidnap the "bairn" and eradicate every other "softskin" human. Pattou (Ghosting, 2014, etc.) builds a solid, convincing 16th-century Europe from minutely observed details. No longer tethered to a specific tale, this sequel brings in elements from legends across time and around Europe. Like the first entry, the narrative here unfolds in short vignettes from multiple perspectives (all apparently white). The secondary characters--even in brief appearances--make the most vivid impressions; Rose and Charles seem somewhat opaque. Still, she remains fearless, independent, clever, and determined (if headstrong and heedless); he is again the kindhearted, if bewildered, gentleman in distress.Necessary wherever the first is popular; a good addition to any collection where fairy-tale retellings circulate well. (glossary) (Fantasy. 12-18)

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September 1, 2018
Grades 7-10 In this long-awaited sequel to East? (2003), plucky, determined Rose once again finds herself on an arduous, life-or-death journey to rescue the man she loves. While East was a retelling of the Nordic fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, this is a wholly original adventure. After she rescued Charles, once trapped in the body of a white bear, from the evil Troll Queen, Rose settled down with Charles and their new son. But now Charles has been lost at sea, presumed dead. Rose, however, doesn't believe he's really gone, and terrible things are happening to her family and across the globe. Someone is pulling magical strings, and Rose will have both old and new enemies to face if she wants to protect what's dear to her. Both East and its sequel stand alone, and this is an exciting, layered adventure that draws from various cultural mythologies. An epic drama featuring high romance and a resourceful heroine that will appeal to fans of Pattou and new readers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)