Bibliography-
ISBN
0147518059
Plot Summary-
Sefia
knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she
flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track,
and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of
her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken to, or if
she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her
father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind. An object
she comes to realize is a book, a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise
illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious
stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and
find out what really happened the day her father was killed and punish the
people responsible.
Critical Analysis-
I
enjoyed this book for its graceful writing, thoughtful details, thrilling plot,
and compassionate characters. It celebrates the wonder and eye-opening power of
reading. Chee not only lures us into a magical world with exquisite words, but
also with a visual feast. There are words hiding throughout the book, not
to mention stunning touches throughout the story that make the words come
alive. Chee’s writing is complicated and mesmerizing,
as we are drawn into her web. There were many times throughout
the book I thought I had things figured out, only to be surprised. In the end,
there is a sense of satisfaction about the puzzle pieces that have come together.
In this story there are tender moments of discovery, but also the reality that
these very treasured books are vulnerable to the elements. The Reader
is a book that embodies the true spirit of reading.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters Sefia and Archer,
the mysterious boy Sefia meets. Their friendship is one of my favorite parts of
the book as it portrays trust, support, and acceptance. I loved each character
for different reasons, even Tanin. They are
all very lifelike, bursting with personality and flair, impressing themselves
into your mind and memories.
Review Excerpts-
A School Library Journal Best
Book of the Year – 2016
“Commanding storytelling and vivid details, particularly
of the magical process of reading, bring the story to life… the first of what
promises to be an enchanting series.”-Kirkus
Review
“With
evocative language, fascinating world building, multifaceted characters, and a
compelling plot, this is a series fantasy lovers
will want to sink their teeth into.”-Booklist
Starred Review
Connections-
-If students enjoy this book, they can read the other books in
the trilogy:
The
Speaker- ISBN 0399176780
The Storyteller- ISBN 0698410645
-This can be done after
reading the book: On Traci Chee’s website, choose “Books,” then “The Reader,”
and “Extras.” She included Spotify playlists based on her books, and included 2
short video clips, one is a Book Talk. Librarian can use these resources to teach
students how to create their own Book Talks or Spotify playlist.
http://www.tracichee.com/the-reader-trilogy-extras.html
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