Strike the Zither
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Strike the Zither, by Joan He (The Ones We're Meant to Find), is the first in a planned fantasy series based on a famous work of historical fiction written during China's Ming dynasty. It follows 16-year-old Zephyr, an orphan and strategist for a claimant to the throne. Most violence is in battles with soldiers using weapons like swords, arrows, maces, and glaives (broadswords). Blood is mentioned spraying, seeping, etc., but isn't described in detail. Sounds like crunching and punching are mentioned, and there are some descriptions of pain. Sex and violence are briefly paired once when a character bites the lip of someone she's kissing hard enough to draw blood. There's a gruesome description of a young man in chains being tortured while surrounded by dead bodies sprouting plants. There are a few kisses and mild romantic dynamics. Strong language includes "oxs--t," "bitch," and "crap." Older teens in a fantasy world drink alcohol at feasts with some excess and hangover symptoms shown.
What's the Story?
STRIKE THE ZITHER tells the story of 16-year-old Zephyr, who despite an early life of depravation and loss is now the strategist to the female warlord Xin Ren. With a weak and young empress now on the throne, three warlordesses have begun to make their moves to take the throne for themselves, including Xin Ren. But Xin Ren rules no territory in her own right, and so relies on Zephyr to form alliances and gain footholds in Xin Ren's family territory. In order to help Xin Ren, Zephyr will have to balance on a tightrope between loyalty and betrayal, love and hate, even life and death.
Is It Any Good?
Author Joan He has created an intriguing and epic fantasy world that feels full of promise. Strike the Zither has a large cast of well-developed characters, lots of intrigue, and a plot that keeps the pages turning. Teen fantasy fans will enjoy exploring important issues like loyalty, friendship, mortality, family, and more through relatable narrator Zephyr's eyes.
Where the story falls a little short is with world building, particularly the aspects of the immortal world, which some readers may wish was more richly fleshed out, and which could almost be a separate book itself. But with at least one more planned volume, and the story by no means over with, fans will look forward to the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Strike the Zither. Is it too much? Does it matter if it's fantasy violence or in the real world? Why, or why not?
Is Zephyr a positive role model? What are her character strengths and weaknesses?
Why are fantasy series so popular? What do we love about them? What are some of your favorites?
Book Details
- Author: Joan He
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date: October 25, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 21, 2022
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