March 8, 2009 @ 7:53 pm | Filed under: Books
Last fall a publisher sent me a review copy of Stolen, a middle-grade novel by Vivian Vande Velde. I would probably have picked up the book sooner but for the cover: the spooky-scary black-and-white image of wickedly clawed witch’s hands looked like something out of The Blair Witch Project and gave me the impression this was a creepy horror novel. It isn’t. It’s actually a kind of cross between fairy tale and mystery, and I enjoyed it a great deal once I finally stopped judging it by its cover.
The novel opens with a bang: a group of villagers are burning down the house of the “old witch” who lives in the woods at the edge of the village. She is believed to have stolen a baby, and indeed she takes a baby with her when she makes a hurried escape out a back window. The house burns to the ground, and there is no sign of either witch or infant. But on the same day, a twelve-year-old girl appears in the woods, lost and disoriented. She does not know who she is, not even her own name. Kindly villagers take her in and tend to her wounds—she was attacked by a hunting dog, but the injury is not severe—and the old couple’s six-year-old granddaughter is convinced that this lost girl must be another of the witch’s kidnapping victims who managed to escape in the confusion. Indeed, another young girl disappeared some years back, and this lost girl is exactly the right age to be the long-lost Isabelle.
Isabelle’s parents come to claim her, but her re-entry to home life is not easy. She remembers nothing; neither her mother’s tearful embraces nor her older sister’s sharp tongue sparks any hint of memory. That older sister, Honey, seems suspicious and hostile toward Isabelle. Isabelle searches for some kind of connection to her old life and wonders if there is really anything left of “Isabelle” at all, since she can’t remember any of the people around her or the stories they tell. If you don’t remember anything about yourself, are you really you?
The narrative moves quickly, and even though I thought I’d figured out the mystery, there were twists I didn’t expect. I think Jane will enjoy this one, and maybe Rose, though there’s a plot point I anticipate will trouble her somewhat and will generate a big discussion. I can’t say more without giving away the book’s secrets, but maybe later I can do another post with big spoiler alerts plastered all over it.
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I think I can guess where it goes. I wonder if I am right! Looks like I’m going to have to find the book to see.
Posted on March 8th, 2009 at 10:43 pmSounds like it needs to go on my wish list. I’m really fascinated by changeling stories, stolen children, that sort of thing.
Posted on March 9th, 2009 at 11:23 amOoo, V(3) is one of our favorite authors — well, not for 9 and 6 — will have to look this one up. Have you read Heir Apparent? That’s quite a good one.
Posted on March 9th, 2009 at 12:59 pmMelisa,
We read this at your suggestion. My 13 yo son loved it. I’m going to hold off letting my sensitive 10yo daughter read it.
Posted on March 18th, 2009 at 4:36 pmI also thought I had it figured out. I can’t wait to read your spoiler post…
Jen, so glad you enjoyed it! My 13yo loved it too. My 10yo looked at the cover and said thanks but no thanks.
Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 6:49 amBooks Read in March — Here in the Bonny Glen says:
[...] Times by Stephanie Spinner. The Film Club: A Memoir by David Gilmour. Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde. (Notes.) Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor by Mike Costa and Fiona Staples. Coraline by Neil [...]
Posted on April 1st, 2009 at 6:49 pmMelissa,
Posted on May 17th, 2009 at 1:43 pmI read the book and I think it is truly amazing! I am 13 years old.I like how they lead you on to think something but then it’s like completely different. I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know what was going on. And when I got to the end, I couldn’t believe what it really was. I couldn’t believe it because I thought a completely different thing! I recommend this book to people who likes mysteries.