Have you ever had an author that you’ve never read, but you were sure you wouldn’t like? Or a television show you’ve never seen, and just know it must be bad? Or even a food you’ve never eaten (coffee ice cream! brussels sprouts!) because you are convinced it must taste terrible?
I had always assumed I would not like Avi. First off, he wrote books in many genres, but mainly in the two I like the least: fantasy and historical fiction — his Newbery winner, Crispin, the Cross of Lead, is historical fiction. He had been well-reviewed and enjoyed by many, but wehn a new Avi book came out, I just added it to others in my pile.
Until this summer. I found myself with a group who was reading his latest book, the historical fiction title Traitor’s Gate. The book was fat (another drawback to me!) but it did have short chapters — which are great because they tend to be too short to satisfy so you just keep reading one more and one more and before you know it you are all through!
It’s not exaggerating to say that I read the book in just a few sittings. It’s a Dickensian story, set in 19th century London, of John, whose father has been sent to debtors prison for unpaid gambling debts. The rest of John’s family isn’t much better, and they send him to his Aunt Euphemia to help out the family. Aunt Euphemia is more than meets the eye, as are nearly all of the other peripheral characters. Several line-drawn illustrations dot the chapters to add even more eye appeal.
I enjoyed this story so much I read another of his recent titles, The Book with No Words. This fantasy “fable of medieval magic” is set in 11th century England. When old Thorston dies, he gives his servant girl Sybil and his sidekick, a talking crow, orders to find someone with green eyes, the only people who can read the book without words and determine the alchemical secrets inside. But just when they think they have Thorston buried, he comes back to life. Again and again. The fantastic theme is well done, but the humor sets this book apart. Read the first chapter and find discussion questions here(opens in a new window).
The good news is, now I have all of Avi’s older books to read! In the coming year, let’s all make a resolution to try to read something new that others love but you are sure you will dislike. (This means a lot to teens you work with too — read something they like that you think looks “bad,” — you just might be surprised and if nothing else you have a conversation starter!)