Traitor's Son

January 15, 2012
The second in the Raven Duet (Trickster's Girl, 2011) continues the tale of Raven the Trickster and the human partner in his quest to save Earth's ecology from the destruction unleashed by eco-terrorists. Sixteen-year-old, car-crazy Jase Mintok is picking up a client for his father's law firm when he catches the medicine pouch tossed by Kelsa Phillips over the Canada/Alaska border. Almost immediately, he becomes the target of Raven's enemies, attacked on the trip from the Canadian border to Anchorage. Raven presents himself here as a teenage girl--seductive, controlling and thoroughly irritating--and the developing relationship between her and Jase is awfully good fun. Alaskan geography is very much a part of this story: Its topology is crucial to the final conflict, which takes place on another plane of existence that mirrors the Alaskan forest. Tension mounts steadily as Jase comes closer to filling Raven's quest. The exciting climax resolves Raven's needs and helps Jase settle a serious family conflict. Although the two parts of the duet are complete in themselves, readers will be better off tackling these books in order. Nonstop action, family strife, Pacific Northwest Native mythology and a likable hero combine in an unbeatable combination for fans of the fantastic. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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March 1, 2012

Gr 6-10-In this companion to Trickster's Girl (Houghton Harcourt, 2011), Raven works with a different human to try to fix the world's ecosystem. Bioterrorists have poisoned trees, causing a ripple effect throughout this technologically advanced world, and now beings like Raven, the Otter Woman, and Bear are fighting over how best to save the planet. If Raven is able to prove that humans can repair part of the damaged magical ley lines that keep everything balanced, then she and the others will be able to step in and finish restoring the Earth. Otter Woman, however, wants nothing more than to see Raven and her pet human, Jase, fail. By invading his dreams, and then holding his grandmother hostage in the spirit world, she hopes to scare Jase into giving up the magical dust that will help him heal the world. If Jase has any hope of succeeding, he must embrace his Native Alaskan tribal heritage, previously denied to him, and repair not only the rifts on the planet, but also within his own family. With a strong, but not overwhelming environmental message, Bell blends an advanced technological society with a traditional tribal one. The juxtaposition of magic with science is fascinating, and the waking dreams into the spirit world will keep readers riveted. It does help to have read Trickster's Girl first.-Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2012
Grades 7-12 As readers of Trickster's Girl (2011) will know, the earth is in danger. Terrorists have released a bioplague that, unchecked, will destroy the world's trees and humanity along with them. Enter Raven, the shape-shifter from another dimension. He must persuade the reluctant 16-year-old Jason to accept Atalhanes' quest or doom will follow. Burdened with exposition, the book starts slowly, but once characters and context are established, the pace picks up smartly and readers of the first volume in the Raven Duet will enjoy this second and concluding one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)