Barker, Clive. Abarat.BARKER, Clive. Abarat. (Book One.) HarperCollins. 431p. c2002.0-06-059637-6. $6.99. SA* To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, November 2002: The first in a four-part series, Abarat takes readers into Clive Barker's imagination ... Teenager Candy Quakenbush of Chickentown, Minnesota, stumbles upon a skeletal skeletal /skel·e·tal/ (skel´e-t'l) pertaining to the skeleton. skeletal pertaining to the skeleton. See also skeletal muscle. lighthouse lighthouse, towerlike structure erected to give guidance and warning to ships and aircraft by either visible or radioelectrical means. Lighthouses were long built to conform in structure to their geographical location. Until the beginning of the 19th cent. in a field along with John Mischief A specific injury or damage caused by another person's action or inaction. In Civil Law, a person who suffered physical injury due to the Negligence of another person could allege mischief in a lawsuit in tort. , a "man" with the seven heads of his brothers growing from the antlers antlers metaphorical decoration for deceived husband. [Western Folklore: Jobes, 395] See : Cuckoldry on his head. With Mischief, she crosses the border between her reality and that which lies beyond, finding herself in Abarat, a parallel world of 25 islands, each representing a different hour of the day, as well as the mysterious 25th hour. Candy takes possession of a key, and in doing so becomes the target of the evil Lord Carrion and his minions. As Candy travels through the islands, she encounters fantastic creatures, places, and adventures. Barker's world is complex, as is his writing, making Abarat more suitable for advanced readers of fantasy who can piece together multiple plots and tease out tease v. teased, teas·ing, teas·es v.tr. 1. To annoy or pester; vex. 2. To make fun of; mock playfully. 3. the underlying logic of an unfamiliar world ... The appendix at the end of the book describes each of the islands and their characteristics, and might be a good place to begin reading. (An ALA Best Book for YAs and Top 10 Fantasy Book for Youth.) Michele Winship, Asst. Prof., Capital Univ., Columbus, OH |
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