Twilight Child [Hardcover]

Sally Warner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Eleni didn’t choose to be a twilight child; it chose her. Born on the longest day of the year in the northern country of Finland, Eleni can communicate with creatures unseen by others—the tontuu of the sauna, the blue men of the Minch, and the brounies of the Scottish highlands. Part of her life is touched by magic, but the other is touched by sorrow. After losing her home, her family, and the boy she loves, Eleni finds comfort and friendship in the little town of Tobermorie. But as much as she wants to call it home, she feels the pull of someone, and something, stronger.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–Eleni is a twilight child; born at dusk, she can talk to all sorts of magical creatures, including the fairies and sprites of her native Finland. Because of her father's involvement in the current (1790s) conflict with the Swedes and Russians, family circumstances force Eleni on a long sea voyage to Tobermory Bay on the Scottish island of Mull. Working there in a laundry, the girl finds kindred spirits in abundance. The novel ends with a chance for a fresh start in Nova Scotia. Grounded in thorough research and including a liberal sprinkling of terms in Finnish, Scottish, and Swedish, Warner's novel promises many things, delivering on some of them. While the fantasy premise is intriguing, it fails to remain central to the plot, which is in places sparse, losing out to details of the protagonist's travels and the history and geography of the Finns and the Scots. Eleni is a brave and likable heroine, but some of the minor characters are underdeveloped. However, the vivid settings and tantalizing hints of magic along with a twist of romance will please many readers. The story concludes with helpful pronunciation guides, sources, and an author's note. This is not an essential purchase, but it will easily find an audience among girls who enjoy historical fiction.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT
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From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Born at twilight, "the precise moment between day and night," Eleni is privy to the world of the "wee creatures" that live in the shadows of reality. The young Finnish girl certainly needs their help, caught as she is in late eighteenth-century political turmoil and difficult family circumstances. When her mother dies and her fugitive father, accused of treachery by the occupying Swedes, spirits Eleni away from her servant's position, she finds herself on a perilous voyage that ends in shipwreck. Washed ashore on a Scottish island, Eleni finds comfort in the home of a warm-hearted laundress who shelters young girls in need. There, unwanted attentions from the island's pompous and mean-spirited Colonel Hardie further complicate her life, especially when childhood friend Matias arrives on the scene and vies for her affections. Warner deftly interweaves fantastical elements of Finnish and Scottish lore with rich cultural specifics, and her strong characters, led by courageous, searching Eleni, elevate the story above the ordinary. And while Matias' appearance on the island is a little too convenient, the brisk action will draw many readers, particularly those who enjoy fantasies rooted in history. Try this on fans of Katherine Langrish's Norse duet, Troll Fell (2004) and Troll Mill 2005). Anne O'Malley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670060763
• ISBN-13: 978-0670060764
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,849,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BIOGRAPHY OF SALLY WARNER

Sally Warner was born in New York City and grew up in Connecticut and California, where her family moved when she was eight years old. She attended public schools in Pasadena. She then received her B.A. degree from Scripps College in Claremont, California, and her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in fine arts from Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.

Sally Warner worked as an artist (primarily charcoal drawings) for many years, exhibiting her work at galleries, small museums, colleges, and universities across the country. Her drawings are in many private collections. She also taught art education for ten years at Pasadena City College. Her teaching led her to write her first non-fiction book for adults, ENCOURAGING THE ARTIST IN YOUR CHILD, in 1989. This book sold more than 20,000 copies. Another of her non-fiction books for adults, MAKING ROOM FOR MAKING ART (1994), is still in print and doing well.

Sally Warner then began writing fiction for young readers. Her first novel, DOG YEARS (1995), has almost 90,000 copies--in Italy! Sally Warner did the cartoons herself. IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY, another novel she has illustrated--with nearly 100 drawings---was published in 2008 and is for ages 8--12.

To date, Sally Warner has had 23 novels published, mostly for ages 8--12. One of her most popular books so far was SORT OF FOREVER (1998, still available through Scholastic Book Club), which has sold more than 220,000 copies! She also writes for younger readers, ages 7+; the books in her current funny series for Viking (ONLY EMMA, NOT-SO-WEIRD EMMA, SUPER EMMA, BEST FRIEND EMMA, and EXCELLENT EMMA) have been getting lots of positive attention. At least 3 ELLRAY JAKES books will be coming out in the next few years as well.

Sally Warner and her husband live in Southern California. She has four step-daughters, five step-grandchildren, and two sons who both have active careers in the arts: dance/choreography/teaching, and computer generated imagery for television and movies.

For photos, cartoons, and more information on her books: www.sallywarner.com