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Finnikin of the Rock
- By Melina Marchetta
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Riveting epic, but too complex, violent for younger teens.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this epic fantasy has mature themes and depictions of violence in a war-torn dystopia that make it better for more mature teen fantasy readers. And the complexity of the fantastic story -- multiple kingdoms, politics, a large cast of characters -- will turn away less experienced readers, as well. Despite the undercurrent of darkness, with killings, wartime rapes (somewhat graphic without being explicit), burnings at the stake, and graphic battle scenes, the compassion and strength of the young main characters shine through, as do themes of hope, redemption, and forgiveness.
What's the story?
At the age of 9, Finnikin has a prophetic dream that leads him to make a pledge with his two best friends; one of them a prince, the other the prince's cousin. Then the entire royal family is brutally slaughtered by a new king who also burns those who worship a different goddess, eliciting a curse that raises a wall and imprisons the new king and those left behind in Lumatere, and plunges the other half into refugee camps and despair. At 19, Finnikin is still searching for a new homeland for those exiles. Led to a young mystic called Evanjalin, she convinces Finn and his mentor that the true heir of Lumatere still lives. Their quest to restore the rightful heir and thus defeat the curse separating them from their homeland leads to unexpected reunions and many dangerous battles for Finn as they raise troops. Evanjalin is a Joan of Arc-type heroine whose lies are as troubling as her powers, and as Finn falls in love with her he finds himself forced to choose between the country he fled and his own future.
Is it any good?
Political intrigue, epic adventures, and characters who sometimes struggle to do the right thing but who long to live up to their ideals and those of their families are brilliantly realised. Marchetta eloquently articulates the damage caused by violence to those who experience it, and the necessity of recognizing and repairing that damage with compassion and hope. Mystery, young love, great family relationships, unusual cultures, and compelling characters combine to create an epic that will be read repeatedly by fantasy lovers and will hook other readers with its interplay of darkness and light. Rich and complicated, with humor, wisdom, and surprising plot turns, this story also raises provocative moral issues, just as the best epic fantasies have always done.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what drives Finnikin and his mentor to travel the world for 10 years. What keeps them from giving up the search for a new homeland for the other exiles?
What inspired the pledge that Finnikin made with his two best friends at the age of 9? What inspired their culture to raise their children to hold such devotion to their country? Was it religion? Or cultural values? What were those values?
As Finnikin and Evanjalin travel back to Lumatere they are reunited with many loved ones. Which revelation was the most surprising? Evanjalin has hidden many things about herself. What was the source of her strength, do you think?
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AGE
Hard to get into, but AMAZING
It was a little hard to get into, and a little difficult to understand, because it's set in an entirely different world. At the beginning, there is little hope, and the main character,Finn, is very bleak and hopeless. But Evangelin, at first a silent, 'simple' girl, then a strong-minded seeress, changes his personality. I really liked it, but you HAVE to keep going even if it seems a little boring at the beginning.
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AGE
Im 15 and I discovered this book the day my favorite teacher lend it to me. I think its a very good book but not everyone is meant to read it. My opinion is that not everyone would understand the point of this book. Maybe if more people would be interested in reading they would discover the great things there is behind many books. I think that no one should judge a book by its cover. Go Ask Alice its specially a real great book for teens age of 15 . To me this would be a perfect age to understand the meaning of this book and the point behind it. I highly recommend it to people who sometimes think that giving up is the right think to do. It can help them realize that no matter how hard the pressure can be there can always be a way out. I really understand Alice and the way she feels there is many things in my life that I've gone through and think that I wont ever be able to share with everyone. I really admire how strong she was by being able to share all this with others specially for teens to read. The message she is trying to give them can mean a lot and could possibly make thme realize that their going through a wrong path. I think that people like this should stand up to themselves and ignore the negative comments insignificant people make. The reason why i think this is because many of my friends would realize many things in there life if they would just make up the time to pick up books like this and read them. After reading this book it made me realize that if I could just help my friends and help them understand many of the things I did after reading this awesome book I would. Also like many other people I use to judge things without knowing what was behind it. After reading this book I really thank my teacher that lend it to me if I could just be able to express to her how thankful I am with her for lending me this book. I really hope that other people one day would pick up this book and read it and help them realize its never to late to make the right choices in life.
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AGE
Good book!
i loved this book. at first, it was boring and i wanted to walk away, but it became really good and i loved reading it. Evanjalin is a strong minded and a very good role model who i admire. very good book, recomend it to all!
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| Author: | Melina Marchetta |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | February 9, 2010 |
| Number of pages: | 399 |
| Hardcover price: | $18.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 13 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
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