Read-Alikes: GRACELING

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FIND IT: YA CA

FOR FANS OF GRACELING BY KRISTIN CASHORE:

These titles have been selected not only on writing style and tone (comparable to Kristin Cashore's Graceling), but on three categories as well: characters with special abilities or powers; a setting primarily focused on kingdoms and royalty, with perhaps a "Medieval" feel to it; and novels featuring strong female main characters.  Readers that enjoyed any of these elements as presented in Graceling would likely enjoy any of the ten titles presented below, ranging from printed books, to digital audio books, to films, all covering these main components that readers of Cashore's Graceling Realm novels are familiar with.

Fiction about people with special abilities are reflective of the experience of difference--one that young people are all too familiar with.  Not only are these stories interesting, as the range of what counts as a special ability is so vast and infinitely possible, but they can be used to mirror the teen experience quite effectively.  We're all different, even in worlds immensely dissimilar to our own.

Fantasy fiction includes world-building as an incredibly essential component.  For readers looking for an escape from the real world, intricate world-building is essential.

Finally, young adult novels with strong female lead characters are rising in popularity (and availability), but it is how these young women choose to conduct themselves, despite opposition, that separates them from many women in YA fiction.

Use the key below to view the format of each recommendation.  To see the item in our catalog, click on the symbols provided above the "Find it" line.  If the item you want is unavailable, we can retrieve it for you from another library within SCLS.

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SPECIAL ABILITIES

Albin, G. (2012). Crewel. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

In Arras, some women are born with the ability to see the fabric of the universe as strands, and are able to manipulate them as they wish.  These women, known as Spinsters, have immense power and beauty, but are also under strict control by the Guild, who oversees the world and all its happenings.  Adelice has the gift of a Spinster, but her family trains her to hide her talents, so as not to be taken away from them. Using a compelling writing style and inventive world-building, Albin weaves society in which special abilities are revered, and controlled by those with power to abuse.   (368 pages)

FIND IT:  YA AL

Lu, M. (2014). The Young Elites. Rutherford, NJ: Putnam Pub. Group.

Not only did the blood fever in Kenettra kill most of its victims, but it left anyone unlucky enough to survive with a mutated appearance.  These mutants, known as malfettos, are unwanted, but those with unusual powers, dubbed the Young Elites, are the most reviled of all. Adelina was infected as a child, and discovers as a teen that she was also left with strange abilities.  The world-building and angst-filled writing will be sure to draw reader attention.  (336 pages)

FIND IT: ILL (in-house copy on order)

Mafi, T. (2011). Shatter me. New York, NY: Harper Teen.

Cursed with a touch that can kill, Juliette has been incarcerated for the better part of a year, far away from others.  Thinking herself unable to be around anyone else, for fear of killing them, she is suddenly presented with a cellmate, who is unaffected by her disturbing, unwanted power.  Juliette's situation multiplies in complexity as it becomes clear that both sides of an impending rebellion want to use her as a weapon and a symbol.  Readers looking for a suspenseful read will be satisfied with Mafi's dystopic debut. (352 pages)

 

FIND IT:  YA MA

Winter, R. (Producer) & Singer, B. (Director). (2000). X-men [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox.

Stigmatized for their strange powers, Mutants live in high tension alongside regular humans.  While out in the public, these Mutants are widely feared and shunned--but at Professor Xavier's school, a special institution that trains Mutants displaying special abilities, they are respected and welcomed.  Their training, however, comes in handy when the school's residents--known under Professor Xavier's tutelage as the X-Men--must band together to fight a group of Mutants with a sinister agenda.  Exciting and action-packed, this film shows just how important our talents can be, especially when we decide how to use them. (Rated PG-13, 104 min) 

FIND IT: DVD XME

A MEDIEVAL TIME

Carson, R. (2011). The girl of fire and thorns. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Princess Elisa's strategic military strengths and general intelligence have gone largely ignored in light of her large size, but she is a Chosen One, as indicated by the Godstone she received as a baby.  Her kidnapping after an arranged marriage makes it necessary for her to use her under-appreciated abilities in battle, to great success, but is that enough to satisfy her desire for acknowledgement and respect?  Carson's emotionally intense writing, along with the world-building presented in the novel, will be a welcome change of pace for Graceling fans. (448 pages)

FIND IT: YA CA

Goldman, W. (1973). The princess bride: S. Morgenstern’s classic tale of true love and high adventure. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 
This romantically-written, witty love story valuing inner strength and loyalty in love is full of humor, adventure and, yes, kissing.  Farm boy Wesley leaves Buttercup behind to seek his fortune so that they may marry, never to return (or does he?), while she is kidnapped as part an intricate plan to start a war with a neighboring country. This story-within-a-story is a light-hearted, humorous alternative to the imaginary kingdom presented in Graceling, showing readers the variety of fiction existing within similar settings. (308 pages print; 2 hrs, 33 min audio)

FIND IT: DIGITAL COLLECTION

 

Maas, S. J. (2012). Throne of glass. New York: Bloomsbury.

Celaena, a dangerous female assassin, has been imprisoned for her crimes for over a year, and is unlikely to leave until she is given a deal: either enter a brutal, murderous competition to become a contracted assassin for the royal king, or face the rest of her life laboring away in the mines.  Her interest in actually serving the king does not matter--it's the chance of freedom that does.  Those who perhaps want more of the Grace that Katsa had honed in Graceling, but in the form of a girl who is apparently very comfortable with her line of work, may enjoy this compelling first in a series. (416 pages)

FIND IT: YA MA

Marchetta, M. (2010). Finnikin of the rock. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

After the Lumatere royal family was murdered, a curse was placed upon the land: a curse preventing anyone from entering (or escaping) the doomed kingdom.  Finnikin promises to restore the Lumateran throne and seeks Prince Balthazar, who is rumored to have survived the slaughter.  Marchetta's exquisitely detailed world, compelling writing style, and honorable characters make for gripping tale. (399 pages)

FIND IT:YA MA

STRONG FEMALE LEAD

LaFevers, R. (2012). Grave mercy. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Ismae, hailed as the "daughter of Death," has been graced with a violent gift for killing, and becomes trained as an assassin.  Her abilities grow and strengthen, and she is assigned to watch Duval, a man who may be a traitor, in order to protect the Duchess of Brittany.  However, her job becomes exponentially more difficult when she falls in love with him. Written in a romantic tone to match that of Graceling, readers will enjoy reading a setting taken out of real life (15th century Brittany, France), and seeing how history plays into fantasy.  (416 pages)

FIND IT: YA LA

Rutkoski, M. (2014). The winner’s curse. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

·     The Valorians are a conquering people, as shown by their many enslavements of other races, like the Herrani. When Lady Kestrel, the daughter of a powerful general, buys a Herrani slave at an auction without real motive, she does not expect to fall for him.  Their romance is impossible, of course, due to their rigid class relationship, but nonetheless present and painful.  Lady Kestrel, who does not wish to marry or join the Valorian army, despite her father's wishes, reflects Lady Katsa’s distaste for traditional marriage, and her resentment of being her uncle’s thug.  Readers who liked Katsa's independent mindset will appreciate Rutkoski's first installment in the exciting Winner's trilogy. (368 pages)

FIND IT: YA RU

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (audiobook)

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Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Harcourt, 2008. 471 p. $17.00. 978-0152063962.

     Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

     When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.          [summary from Amazon]

Let me start by saying that audiobooks have really grown on me in the last year or so.  I do a lot more driving now than I used to, and it is hard to find time to read for pleasure.  Audiobooks have proven to be a fantastic way for me to keep up on my reading (both for fun and for class), and are quite refreshing--it's nice to be read to every once in a while, as an adult!

THE STORY:
I have a little bit of a fascination with eyes in the fictional world, so Graceling was a pleasant surprise.  I went into it blind (pun not intended), and enjoyed the world-building Cashore presented through the description of the Graced.  This type of physical attribute made me label the book as another dystopian, but despite the book market being completely saturated with dystopian young adult novels, but not in the way I've become used to.  This novel does not scream "SCI-FI FUTURISTIC REBELLION" like most of its contemporaries do (I'm looking at you, Hunger Games).  Cashore's depiction of the Graced is well-rounded and, frankly, quite interesting.  The idea of bearing a special skill (some more "useful" than others) due to having two different eye colors is an innovative and unique idea.  There is no crazy government experiment or particular technology that makes this happen.  I appreciated that in its simplicity.

What endeared me most to Graceling was the development of the relationship between Katsa and Prince Po.  What starts out as a reluctant friendship turns into one of great trust and respect, which is ultimately tested by the revelation of an enormous secret regarding Po's Grace.  Katsa has gone through so much inner turmoil regarding her own Grace--making their mutual understanding more difficult to attain, and making it infinitely more valuable.

Finally, I greatly appreciated Cashore's depiction of romantic relationships, which she does without patronizing young readers.  There is a certain responsibility we must take in deciding what steps to take in a romantic partnership, and we have to choose what feels right for ourselves.  Cashore's non-didactic approach to sex, marriage, and romance is liberating and supportive of individual right.

THE AUDIO:
The audio version of Graceling was produced by Full Cast Audio, in a total of eleven 70-75 minute CDs.  Before this title, I had never listened to an audiobook narrated by a full cast.  Although it took some getting used to, I loved it.

This audiobook had my attention from the very beginning, and I found myself shouting out loud in excitement and anguish in response to the events of the story.  I have never been so participatory with an audiobook before Graceling.  I'm no expert, but that has to say something!

Katsa's voice grew on me over the course of the novel.  In the beginning she is harsh and serious, but her affectionate moments and instances of strong emotion make for a spectacular performance.  Po's thoughtful and joking personality shines through in Zachary Exton's portrayal of the Lenid prince.  His warm, passionate voice made for an easy favorite!  Overall, the casting was very well done--what an entertaining and talented cast.

FINAL NOTES:
For some bizarre reason, I could not help but think of The Princess Bride while listening to this.  I'm not saying this because Katsa, Po, or any other character particularly reminded me of anyone from William Goldman's fabulous fantasy, but the "medieval" setting and kingdoms galore helped me make that connection.  That being said, The Princess Bride is one of my favorite books (and movies), and this little thought made me appreciate Cashore's story a little bit more.

Highly recommended, both for the story and for the audiobook's production.  I will absolutely be listening to the sequel, Fire, as soon as I am able!  I am hooked.

Recommended for:
Those who sit in the car for several hours a week, those interested in a more medieval setting (including those wanting a break from all the high-tech dystopian futures), and those with an openness exploring the origins of unusual talent.