Graceling--Delving in the Science Fiction World

Kristen Cashore's Graceling is the first true-blooded fantasy novel I've really worked through. I just can't get into them, but I toughed it out for our class discussion. This story deals with the world of Seven Kingdoms and the special power, or "grace," of Katsa--the power to fight and kill with her bare hands. Katsa's uncle, King Randa, keeps her employed doing his dirty work, a graceling himself able to manipulate others' thoughts. One of her missions, however, introduces her to Prince Po, with whom she falls deeply in love, a particularly difficult situation when she has trained herself not to feel too much when she must work as a killer. Po, graced himself, is able to meet Katsa fairly in battle, using her talent for fighting to grow close to her and make her more human. Po and Katsa bond over their suspicion of the current power structure, and go on a sort of adventure to turn the established order upside down. This book expresses well the awkwardness of being a teenager, of feeling like being different, even if it is a gift, is mostly a burden.

I've never been a sci-fi/fantasy type of reader. A fervent supporter of the classics in most genres, I have yet to get through a single J.R.R. Tolkein novel. I've always felt that sci-fi writers get to break the rules in whatever way they want, they get to "cheat" so to speak, in the way they explore the problems of our current world. In addition to my resentment of the sci-fi genre in general, I also had some problems with repetition of other novels' major themes. If you've read some of my previous posts, you'll see how much I enjoyed Looking for Alaska, and my analysis of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. This novel also presents a strong female character searching for self and truth, but whereas those two titles deal with a figurative "fighting the man," Graceling gets to present that same struggle literally. That sort of translation into a literal battle just feels like a cop-out to me. Katsa does take a uniquely strong anti-marriage stance, saying that giving herself to Po in marriage would be taking away her freedom. I can't quite figure out how it would be much different than the current relationship she has with him, but the assertion was a pleasantly bold one. Overall, I would recommend this book to a student needing that strong female experience but looking for something more in the fantasty realm; it just isn't my personal cup of tea.

Suggested Grade Level: 10th grade
Appropriateness: some violence, some sexuality
Classroom use: literature circles dealing with strong female narrators