The Seven Tales of Trinket

Starred review from July 16, 2012
Thomas (the Good Knight series) spins tales worthy of her heroine’s aspirations in this nimbly structured collection of seven magical adventures that build into a highly rewarding story. When 11-year-old Trinket’s mother dies, Trinket sets off to find her father, a celebrated storyteller known as James the Bard, and resolve her anger and anguish as to why he abandoned them five years earlier. Accompanied by her good friend, 10-year-old Thomas, following an old map of her father’s and keeping secret her dream to become a storyteller herself, Trinket has exciting, often frightening experiences that turn into the tales that come to define her as the Story Lass. In one coastal village, she rescues a human baby from selkies and is rewarded with a magical harp, on which she learns to compose melodies that lull humans and animals alike. Set in a realistic, unspecified long-ago time and country, the tales are rooted in Celtic folklore and populated by banshees, ghosts, faeries, and gypsies; each ends satisfyingly with a simple, lyrical song that captures its emotional essence. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media.

Starred review from August 15, 2012
Like her main character, Trinket, Thomas clearly loves storytelling, and she has a real talent for it, too. Seven interlinked episodes follow a brief exposition. The distinctness of these episodes keeps the text from seeming overlong, particularly since the smooth flow and intriguing elements will easily capture readers' interest. Unusual characters (a gypsy princess, fairy queen and ghostly highwayman, among others) add excitement and suspense, while the overarching tale, which effectively connects the disparate characters and individual events, features a quest of sorts. Eleven-year-old Trinket recently lost her mother to a fever. Her father, a wandering bard, abandoned the family five years ago when he failed to return as promised from a storytelling sojourn. With no one to care for her, Trinket sets out with a friend to discover what became of her father--and to collect some stories to tell. Hardships abound, and the two often go hungry, but they persevere in their search. Readers familiar with Celtic folklore will recognize the outlines of some of the sections. But even those for whom selkies and banshees are brand-new will appreciate the clever way Thomas weaves together traditional elements and her fictional creations. Though it's filled with incident, emotion, magic and adventure, what stands out most is Trinket's clear voice and loving heart, both of which will endear her to readers. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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December 1, 2012

Gr 4-6-Set in a fantasy version of the Middle Ages and shot through with medieval-style magic, this is the story of 11-year-old Trinket, who takes to the road, accompanied by Thomas the Pig Boy, after her mother dies. She is in search of her father, a traveling storyteller who left when she was little. As she journeys, she discovers her courage, her own storytelling gifts, and a strong sense of self. The episodic narrative consists of a series of linked stories, one to a chapter, in each of which there is an adventure or a conflict with magical creatures, including fairies, a banshee, a highwayman, and a pooka. These stories are tied to Trinket's own development as a storyteller. Her adventures are expertly told, with some suspense or danger in each chapter. However, the danger is resolved by the end of the chapter, giving the whole a gentle, reassuring feel. One is reminded of the world of folktale journeys and quests. The language is simple and direct, with a sprinkling of archaic words adding a taste of the medieval. Trinket's character is clearly drawn, and her determination and sense of self come to the fore when she is confronted by the Old Burned Man and the reality of who he is. The accessible format will appeal to readers who like their fantasy not too scary, and the flow of the narrative lends itself to being read aloud.-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2012
Grades 3-5 *Starred Review* Alone after her mother's death, 11-year-old Trinket decides to follow in the footsteps of her father, a traveling bard who left when she was six years old and never returned to his family. Trinket, who longs to become a teller of tales as well, sets off with her loyal friend Thomas in hopes of reuniting with her father. Along the way, they find hardship and trouble as well as friendship and magic. Relying on their wits, they face cruel, powerful foes, including a banshee, a ghost, and the faerie queen. Readers may guess Trinket's father's identity before he appears on the page, but that will not diminish the tension when their problematic meetings leave her with conflicting emotions and a difficult choice of endings. The novel is structured as seven tales Trinket tells of her adventures on the road. Each ends with a song. In the appended notes, Thomas discusses the roots of the stories, which were inspired mainly by Celtic folklore. A storyteller as well as the writer of Good Night, Good Knight (2000) and its sequels, Thomas offers an impressive debut novel in which she weaves seven compelling stories together with narrative power and considerable grace.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)