THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater

THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater

Bibliography: Stiefvater, Maggie. 2011. THE SCORPIO RACES. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 978-0-545-22490-1.

Summary: After her parents passed away, Puck Connolly was the head of her household.  Her younger brother, Finn, works around the house and her older brother Gabe works at the local hotel to bring home money.  One horrible day Gabe tells his siblings he’s leaving for the mainland and leaving them behind. Out of fear, Puck enters the dangerous Scorpio Races to race against the terrible, dangerous Water Horses, the capall uisce. Puck refuses to ride one of the Water Horses since they killed her parents so she rides her own land horse, Dove.  Through a series of strange events she ends up being trained by the boy who is the reigning winner of the games.  People die in these races, will Puck?

Critical Analysis: This book was so much fun! I originally picked it because it was billed as like The Hunger Games.  I’m not sure I agree but it’s great nonetheless. Puck is a strong main character that drives the story with her stubbornness, pride, and unyielding faith in herself.  The other main character, who some of the chapters are written from their point of view, is Sean.  Sean is described by Puck as “still.” As a reader you can imagine how his silent, calm demeanor.  Maggie Stiefvater is a wonderful writer.  I was never bored the entire time I was reading this.  I simply could not put it down.

Review Excerpts:

·      Kirkus Reviews: “A taut, chilling, romantic adventure…Masterful. Like nothing else out there now.”

·      The Horn Book: “Stiefvater masterfully combines an intimate voice (think I Capture the Castle) with a fully evoked island setting with sensory-rich language (think Margo Lanagan) with a wealth of horse detail with a plot full of danger, intrigue, and romance…Stiefvater sets not one foot wrong as she takes readers on an intoxicating ride of their own…Stiefvater’s novel begins rivetingly and gets better and better…all the way, in fact, to best.”

Connections:

·      This book is violent so I would suggest a High School age student.

·      A great book for kids who liked Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, or The Percy Jackson series.

·      Other books by this author:

o   Stiefvater, Maggie. 2012. THE RAVEN BOYS.  New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 978-0545424929.

o   Stiefvater, Maggie. 2006. BOOKS OF FAERIE. Cambridge, MA: Hackett Publishing Co.