The Tree Shepherd's Daughter (The Faire Folk Trilogy) [Library Binding]

Gillian Summers (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Faire Folk Trilogy | Publication Date: October 2008

When her mother dies, fifteen-year-old Keelie Heartwood is forced to leave her beloved California to live with her nomadic father at a renaissance festival in Colorado. After arriving, Keelie finds men in tights and women in trailer trash-tight bodices roaming half-drunk, calling each other lady and lord even after closing time! Playacting the Dark Ages is an L.A. girl’s worst nightmare.

Keelie has a plan to ditch this medieval geekland ASAP, but while she plots, strange things start happening—eerie, yet familiar. When Keelie starts seeing fairies and communicating with trees, she uncovers a secret that links her to a community of elves. As Keelie tries to come to grips with her elfin roots, disaster strikes, and Keelie’s identity isn’t the only thing that’s threatened.

One part human determination and one part elfin magic, Keelie Heartwood is a witty new heroine in a world where fantasy and reality mix with extraordinary results...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A promising premise...dedicated teen fantasy fans might enjoy the unusual atmosphere of the Renaissance fair setting in this first book of the Faire Folk Trilogy." -- VOYA, October 2007

"The constant action, both magical and otherwise, will keep [readers]interested in Keelie's fate. This first installment of a trilogy ends with a solid resolution that answers questions but leaves room for further adventures." -- School Library Journal, February 2008

"This one stands out thanks primarily to the quirky ren-faire setting, some interesting wood magic, and a cat with serious attitude." -- LOCUS Magazine, August 2007

The author deftly captures the young adult mindset in the heroine... [A]n intriguing introduction to this unique trilogy." -- From Renaissance Magazine, Issue #60 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Gillian Summers is the pseudonym for co-authors, Berta Platas (Georgia) and Michelle Roper (Georgia), both experienced writers in the romance and fantasy genres, respectively. But more importantly, both are ardent renaissance faire groupies. Visit them online at GillianSummers.com.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 331 pages
• Publisher: Paw Prints 2008-10-01; Reprint edition (October 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439555966
• ISBN-13: 978-1439555965
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,115,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gillian Summers is the pseudonym of Georgia authors Michelle Roper and Berta Platas, who write young adult fantasy. They have a lot of fun writing together.

Check out their website, www.gilliansummers.com, and their occasional blogs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read!, August 28, 2007

By 

Josie Noecker (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tree Shepherd's Daughter (Faire Folk, Book 1) (Paperback)

As soon as I started reading this book I absolutely fell in love. The story is great, it is easy to read, and also highly enjoyable. I love the fantasy elements in it as well as the issues a young girl faces when she meets a father she barely even knows. I could relate to the girl very well, and it hit home as for many years I, too, did not know my father very well. She even used some of the same terms I used to describe my father in the past due to the lack of father/daughter relations; like bio-dad for example. Because of that it really made the story feel real, and you could definatly sympathize with the girl who is brought into an enviroment totally different from what she had been raised in. How fun would it be to live at a Ren Faire?! This book has definatly made me want to go to one someday.
It does become a heart warming story as she does eventually develop a better relationship with her father, and also develops friendships along the way too. Of course you cannot escape some drama, a feud between her and another Faire person, a little bit of struggle due to some other Faire Folk not taking kindly to her heritage, but she pulls though like a shining star. She also learns more about herself, her family history, and what she really is.
I eagerly await the next two books that will come, unfortunatly the only downfall I have is that the next book does not come out until Summer of '08. Really that is the only bummer I have, having to wait so long to continue this wonderful literary adventure!
I recommend this book for teens, young adults, and 'grown-ups' who want to delve into a bit of fantasy and fun. One is never too young to read a great book!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Wait for the next book!!, September 19, 2007

By 

Gecko Mom (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tree Shepherd's Daughter (Faire Folk, Book 1) (Paperback)

I picked up two copies this book to use in a literature lesson for my homeschooled seventh grader and I am so glad I got two copies!! My seventh grade daughter did not want to put this book down. She read it while she was eating, riding, doing chores, etc. She asked me to start reading it, too, so we could discuss it in our literature lesson today. Any book that makes my daughter so excited she wants to do literature class first is a hit with me!!! I was rather surprised to find that I really enjoyed this book as much as I did. The writing was clean and crisp and the author didn't get bogged down with the teen angst thing. She kept the pace moving at a good clip while still allowing enough time for the reader to recognize and empathize with the mood changes the main character was experiencing. The author did a great job with the fantasy elements in the story and I loved the fact she set the story in a Renaissance Fair setting. My daughter and I are anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, July 7, 2008

By 

EssieGee (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tree Shepherd's Daughter (Faire Folk, Book 1) (Paperback)

Fifteen-year-old Keelie Heartwood is forced to live with the father she doesn't even know when her beloved mother dies in a plane accident. Even worse than not even knowing her father is the fact that he is a woodcraftsman in a traveling Renaissance Faire. Keelie, a fashionista from L.A., is positive that this arrangement isn't going to work out and makes plans with her friend Laurie to move back home.

Sure enough, everything is just as bad--if not worse--than Keelie expects. Everyone who works at the faire is weird, her father Zeke appears to be a `lady's man,' and his cat Knot seems insane! Plus, her freakish tree allergy is acting up overtime because they are deep in the Colorado forest. All she wants to do is go back home and be with her mom and have everything back to normal!

Slowly, she decides that Zeke isn't all bad--she even slips and calls him `Dad' sometimes--and she meets some okay people. But then she learns that her tree allergy isn't really an allergy and that her slightly deformed ear isn't really a deformity...and that her mother wasn't completely honest with her. It seems that there is a lot more to herself and the world than Keelie ever knew before coming to Colorado. And why won't that pesky cat Knot leave her alone?

This is a great book that I didn't want to put down. It ties current teenage trends with fantastical elements, which is sure to grab the interest of a young female reader who might not normally read fantasy. Keelie is a very likable character whose emotions are real--especially those dealing with the loss of her mother.

The Tree Shepherd's Daughter is the first book in a planned trilogy titled The Faire Folk Trilogy. I grabbed the second book as soon as I finished this one because I wanted to continue reading about Keelie and what she'll face as she and her father travel to the Renaissance Faire in New York. I'm eager for book three to be published!