Jessica's Book Review

The Queen of the Tearling By Erika Johansen

When Kelsea Raleigh Glynn turns 18, she is suddenly thrust into a very different life than she has ever known. Growing up in a remote cabin with her adoptive parents, Kelsea knew there was something else in store for her. She spent her childhood studying, learning what it takes to be the Queen of the Tearling, a medieval-like civilization that was begun from scratch after people were finally fed up with the world we live in. However, nothing could prepare her for the challenges ahead.

Queen Kelsea, the protagonist of Erika Johansen's The Queen of the Tearling, is another in what has become a long line of strong female protagonists in young adult fantasy books. Like Katniss in The Hunger Games, she is thrust into a role that she might not have asked for if given the choice. Kelsea really takes control of her position of power and is not afraid to make tough choices, even if they may not be popular ones. Watching her navigate such difficult situations forces readers to ask difficult questions and think about what they would do in her shoes. Is doing what's "right" really what's best for the most people? Should a few people be sacrificed for the good of a society? How far does a ruler's power stretch? Johansen explores these and more in the page-turning first installment of her new trilogy.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed The Hunger Games and Divergent, I raced through this and the second book in the series, The Invasion of the Tearling. These books have it all - adventure, romance, magic, and thoroughly interesting characters There are some scenes that are not quite 6th grade material - but older YA readers should definitely check out this book!

Jessica Eng