Alia Waking [Hardcover]

Laura Williams McCaffrey (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Alia wants nothing more than to be selected as a keenten, a warrior woman. Her friend Kay, strong and fierce, is sure to be chosen, but Alia is not nearly as certain about herself. When Kay stumbles upon a shelter in the woods belonging to two Beechians, enemies of their people, the girls see a perfect opportunity to prove their courage and worth. But then strange events unfold, and Alia begins to question everything that has always been certain in her life—her friendship with Kay, her opinions of the Beechians and of war, even her singular desire to become a keenten.

A vividly portrayed, perfectly realized world and elements of the supernatural provide a magical setting for this stirring story, which will resonate long after the final page is turned.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-Alia, a Trantian, wants to be a keenten, a warrior woman. As her 13th birthday approaches, she and her friend Kay hold pretend battles in hopes of impressing the adults who will choose new warriors. When the girls encounter two Beechian children, their savage enemies, and take them captive, Alia is certain that she and her friend will be praised for their bravery. Instead, the keentens are upset that they have taken it upon themselves to capture the enemy. As punishment, the girls must care for the prisoners. While tending to them, Alia begins to see them as people, and when they become ill, she quarrels with Kay over her decision to bring her healer cousin to their aid. Alia begins to question all she has believed in, including the honesty and integrity of their leader, the Divin Ospar. In addition, she discovers that she has an ancient and powerful gift. The rich characters, vivid descriptions, and suspenseful storytelling are well blended in this novel about war, enemies, and finding oneself. The unpredictable conclusion will give readers much to think about. The book is an excellent springboard for a timely discussion about war and the role leaders play in controlling conflict among nations and people.
Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-7. Twelve-year-old Alia yearns to become a "keenten," a warrior woman, but she has little time to take part in the mock skirmishes because she is stuck tending her baby sister and doing all the indoor chores at home. The possibility of war with the Beechians makes Alia even more eager to earn an invitation to enter the keenten sisterhood. Her fortunes take a different turn, however, after she and her best friend, Kay, who also aspires to become a keenten, capture two young Beechians who have been hiding in mysterious Raven Wood, the site of an ancient, largely forgotten, magic. Kay scorns the captives, but Alia befriends them, learning a shocking secret about the leaders of her village, which, in turn, leads her to her own true destiny. This is McCaffrey's first novel, and both its setting and characterization are convincing. The story is also a solid blend of heartwarming coming-of-age tale and compelling adventure. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 214 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (March 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618194614
• ISBN-13: 978-0618194612
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,633,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laura Williams McCaffrey was born and raised in Vermont. She attended Barnard College of Columbia University, then returned to Vermont and eventually became a school librarian, answering to the names "Ms. Librarian," "Library Lady," and sometimes simply "Ms. Library." She now writes and teaches writing full-time. Her third novel, which will be released by Clarion Books, is a dystopic fantasy for teens. She's the author of two children's fantasy novels, Water Shaper (Clarion Books, 2006) and Alia Waking (Clarion Books, 2003). Water Shaper was selected for the New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age 2007 list. Alia Waking was named an International Reading Association Notable Book. It was also a nominee for the annual Teens' Top Ten Books list and for Vermont's Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award. Laura is on faculty at Solstice, the low-residency MFA in Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College. She lives in a small house in the woods with her husband, regionally acclaimed musician Colin McCaffrey, and their daughters. For more information about her or her work, visit her website at: http://www.laurawilliamsmccaffrey.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantasy Page Turner, May 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Alia Waking (Hardcover)

Okay first off I am 32...not that my age should exclude me from reading young peoples literature...but my point is this book was as exciting to me as it would be to a young reader. I saw on Laura Williams McCaffrey's website that she enjoyed the Lloyd ALexander books. They were some of my favorite fantasy as a youth. In my late youth, I now add Alia Waking to my list . The story of Alia took me to a new but believable world. The struggle between good and evil, right and wrong exists in both the vastness of this new world and amidst the personal relationships Laura Williams McCaffrey develops in her characters; characters of substance and complexity who are believable even as they develop their magic and special skills so foreign and "fantastic" to our world. The book took me on twists and turns with the various twists in both plot and subplot. Nothing is as it seems for Alia. Finding out how she deals with change and comes of age is told in an adventurous tale with sound moral and ethical undertones. I look forward to Laura William McCaffrey's next book...and perhaps Alia's next adventure?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story great theme, April 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Alia Waking (Hardcover)

I was looking for a new fantasy novel and this sounded like a good read so I bought it and am thrilled that I did. You read and want to continue right through to the end. The characters are great and the story captivating, both on a " I want to escape into a different world " level and on a level that explores some pretty solid and beefy themes about making choices that are based on personal versus accepted social reasons. I would recommend this to anyone, it was very reminiscent of the early McKinley works ( a Knot in the grain and such ). You won't regret you bought it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth May Set You Free, But It Also Makes You Lonely..., April 18, 2003

By 

Susan Shedd (South Woodbury, VT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alia Waking (Hardcover)

Alia, a young woman in a culture that provides few exceptions to wife-and-mother roles for women, has spent her whole life practicing to be chosen for the keenten, the warrior sisterhood. When she and her best friend take a chance opportunity to capture two young "enemies," she hopes that this will win her favor in the keenten's eyes. Unfortunately for her own peace of mind, Alia's habit of reflecting on her actions to see if they meet the demands of "honor" required by the keenten forces her to look at the dark side of her own culture's limiting beliefs. As a result, she feels compelled to uphold a standard of truth that sets her apart from others in her community -- including the keenten. This story, with its fascinating culture and believeable characters, would be well worth reading just for those reasons. What sets it apart, though, is Alia's growing understanding of and respect for a community she has hardly noticed in the past -- the Healers -- and her discovery that losing her connection with the mind set of the keenten has freed her to walk her own unique and fascinating path, providing her with life choices far richer than she had known before. Readers are part of Alia's reflections , her evaluation of received beliefs, her path toward finding her own true self -- learning important life skills as an exciting adventure. The limitations of either/or beliefs and the value of thinking "outside the box" are an integral thread of the wonderful plot, rather than an inserted message.

The culture Alia lives in is fascinating; the story is exciting; she's a normally flawed and very admirable person. I'm very much hoping that this is only the first book about this world!