Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Author: Laini Taylor
Author's Website:
ISBN: 978-0-316-13402
Publisher: Little Brown
Copyright Date: 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level/Interest Age: 15-18
Awards: Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2012), Andre Norton Award Nominee for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (2011)
Plot Summary: A talented art student living in Czechoslovakia who has always felt different from her peers, accidentally discovers how unusual she really is. By traveling through a magical door which opens onto any street in the world, Karou has spent her young life running strange errands to purchase teeth for her adopted family, a family of creatures who resemble monsters but who treat her kindly and rear her with love. Her life changes on one such trip to Morocco when a beautiful Angel tries to slay her. Her search to understand why leads her to question what is good and evil, beauty and ugliness, angelic and demonic, but mostly, where she fits in.
Critical Evaluation: This is a rich, satisfying fairy tale of a book where "good" and "bad" are not what they first seem; Beautiful angelic conquerors can be demonic in their actions and the monstrous creatures pressed into slavery can be as pure-of-heart as angels, but only if the world is seen with eyes truly open.
Critical Evaluation: This is a rich, satisfying fairy tale of a book where "good" and "bad" are not what they first seem; Beautiful angelic conquerors can be demonic in their actions and the monstrous creatures pressed into slavery can be as pure-of-heart as angels, but only if the world is seen with eyes truly open.
Reader's Annotation: Can Karou find out the truth about who she is, where she came from, what and who are truly good in her world and what is worth fighting the save.
Booktalking Ideas: The nature of good and evil, seeing beyond the surface, worlds at war
Challenge issues: A few references to religion that might be offensive to some and a few religious terms used like demon and angel, though they aren't used in a religious context. Discreet sexual scene that is still appropriate for older teen readers.
Why did you include this book: The writing is so lyrical, rich and atmospheric, but still accessible to readers of this age, that this is a must-read. Unusual locations in Czechoslovakia and Morocco.
Quote: "Once upon a time, a little girl was raised by monsters. But angels burned the doorways to their world, and she was all alone."
Why did you include this book: The writing is so lyrical, rich and atmospheric, but still accessible to readers of this age, that this is a must-read. Unusual locations in Czechoslovakia and Morocco.
Quote: "Once upon a time, a little girl was raised by monsters. But angels burned the doorways to their world, and she was all alone."
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