The Returning [Hardcover]

Christine Hinwood (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 14, 2011

An engrossing epic tale with a cast of characters that will hijack your heart.

Cam Attling, having lost an arm, is the only one from his town of Kayforl to return after twelve years of war. All his fellow soldiers were slain, and suspicion surrounds him. When his betrothal to Graceful Fenister is called off and his role in the community questioned, Cam leaves to find the lord who maimed him but spared his life, seeking answers and a new place in the world.

But this is not just Cam's story, it's about all those whose fates entwine with his. Set in a medieval world that is entirely the author's creation, this is an ingenious, exquisite story about what happens after the battle. When sisters, sons, friends, parents, and lovers are left to deal with the subtle aftermaths and unimagined repercussions of war.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A beautiful examination of the complexities of love and loyalty in the aftermath of war." -Megan Whalen Turner, author of The Thief, Newbery Honor winner

"I loved this novel. I cried through the whole last chapter from the sheer beauty of these characters and their world." -Melina Marchetta, author of Jellicoe Road, Printz Medal winner

About the Author

Christine Hinwood lives in Australia. This is her first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dial; First Edition edition (April 14, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803735286
• ISBN-13: 978-0803735286
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing -a review without spoilers- May 11, 2012

By Alaskan Girl

Format:Hardcover

Megan Whalen Turner's rec on the cover is what got me to read this novel - I'm a big fan of her Queen's Thief series. In some ways, The Returning is similar to Turner's novels. The quietly thoughtful, introspective writing. The court intrigue. A maimed protagonist who's struggling to find a place and to regain his purpose in life. And romance - it was beautiful to see a young lady who had been deeply hurt so many times realize that she has found someone to trust and love.

In some ways this book did not live up to expectations. Several times the plot builds up to an important point, a character takes a big step... and the author skips the actual event and just shows what happens after. (Here's an example: H has a confession to make to J. H dreads this quite a bit. H goes to find J. But in the next paragraph, the big conversation is over and after all this tension we only see the aftermath of H's revelation to J.) To me, that is an author's way of taking the easy way out.
Also several times in the novel, the storyline skips forward a few years without any indication. After some careful attention, it is easy to follow, but it has a disruptive affect on the reader - I had to take myself out of the story and realize, oh, it's skipped three years again!

But those are both minor points. The big disappointment for me was the inclusion of mildly explicit adult content in several places. I know that some people won't be bothered by that at all, but I am. One particularly empathetic character whom I loved becomes involved in an affair, which is quite a let down. But even then - why write everything? Why not just hint at what's going on? We don't need to know the details. It was all gratuitous and turns this otherwise mature, intelligent book into a something I can't recommend to my sisters or friends. One of the reasons I love Turner's novels is that while they are adult in style and comprehension, they are quite clean. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for this book. Christine Hinwood is writing another novel set in the same world as this. I sincerely hope that she will leave out the dirt this time, because I am willing to give her writing one more try.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Readers Slip into Another Time and Place June 27, 2011

By Teen Reads

Format:Hardcover

When Cam Attling returns from war 12 years later, he realizes he no longer fits in with his town. Cam is the only soldier from Kayforl to come back, and the villagers resent him. Even though he lost his arm during battle, they are angry that he survived while the others died. They ask him to tell them what happened to their relatives, but Cam doesn't want to talk about the war. He would rather forget all about it.

Before Cam left, he was betrothed to Graceful Fenister, but her father breaks these ties because he wants his daughter to marry better. Graceful is crushed and wonders: If Cam Attling is the best the village has to offer, then who will I end up with? She can't help but think about what her future holds.

Meanwhile, Cam's own father won't let him help on the farm. A frustrated Cam feels like he's rotting away with no work to do. Thinking he doesn't belong in Kayforl anymore, he goes back to where his enemy lives. He seeks answers from the lord who maimed him, healed him and cared for him, wanting to know why his life was spared.

In a way, all of the characters live with the enemy. While language and cultures are different, they adapt. Lord Gyaar and Graceful unite two families from each warring side --- the Uplanders and the Downlanders. Cam becomes friends with the very person who severed his arm. He comments that his own people, the Downlanders, didn't show him the mercy that Lord Gyaar did.

Christine Hinwood has written a thought-provoking novel about the survivors of war. Her debut examines the relationships of families, the emotional displacement of surviving, and finding love in a changed world. When lives are altered after war, a community has to face those changes. Hinwood lets readers slip into another time and place, as the issue of belonging anchors us to the characters.

--- Reviewed by Kathleen M. Purcell

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars looks deeply at the impact of war April 15, 2011

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

Cam Attling left his hometown of Kayforl to fight in the war. Just a boy when he joined, Cam lost an arm but is the only person from Kayforl to survive the combat. He knows his fortune occurred because Lord Gyaar, son to the winning side's ruler, allowed him to live.

At home, he finds the townsfolk resent his surviving when other loved ones died. His family wants him to leave as they are embarrassed he came back alive while his engagement to Graceful Fenister ends ungracefully when she wants nothing to do with him. Cam leaves Kayforl for the second time in search of the Lord who spared him to learn why. On his quest for the truth he becomes friends with a boy and meets others like Diido who lost everything to the war.

This is an engaging novel that looks deeply at the impact of war on the returning vets and those in the home-front. The living must move on emotionally with what happened to their loved ones and yet must rebuild their devastated world in order to survive the ordeal. Although being an in depth character study including looking at villages like Kayforl limits the action and slows the pace deliberately as Christine Hinwood cleverly avoids dumbing down with her powerful tale that respects the middle school audience as intelligent caring readers.

Harriet Klausner