Los Secretos De Los Duendes (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
I tried to finish this for at least a year before I finally gave up and admitted that it wasn't my thing. I felt like I should read it since it won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature a couple years ago, but I guess the lesson here is that I shouldn't feel like I need to read ALL the award-winners (except for the Newbery - that's non-negotiable). It made me curious to learn more about the National Book Award and who decides which books win -- apparently, it's a panel of authors, with separate panels for fiction, non-fiction, young people's literature, and poetry. The fact that this book won reinforces my observation that award-winners aren't necessarily the ones that kids are clamoring to read, which isn't a bad thing. The award is given based on the quality of the book; it's not a popularity contest. And this is certainly a fine book -- I just typically don't go for fantasy, and I can't say I've had kids asking for it at the library. Still, every book has its reader, and I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there who liked this one. Reading tastes are so subjective, and I certainly don't suffer from the delusion that my opinion is the right one. I loved this book. I loved the magic, and tenderness, and creepiness. Scary in the way that children's books are and adult books are not. A running theme was the importance of story in relation to truth and life. "Our selves are rough and unrehearsed tales we tell the world." And the lonely journey of the hero: "You set yourself apart from the world by changing the shape of it."Vague spoilers ahead.I loved that those who were Other turned out to be the helpers (with a lot of parallels to Gypsies/Roma people). Organized power was corrupt while the organic roots of the social order was home. The Baba Yaga-inspired character was a force of her own in shades of gray. The language and imagery was fresh and inventive with just enough humor. (My new favorite insult will now be "Scowly trousers.")A lot going on for a middle-grades book. Beautiful.
What do You think about Los Secretos De Los Duendes (2014)?
Not all that heat middle school book . People and actors wear many masks
—sisi
Author won the National Book Award for this debut novel
—air_conditioner19
2012 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
—baba
