Sacred Scars

Gr 7 Up—Sacred Scars (2009) continues the compelling dark fantasy world first introduced in Kathleen Duey's National Book Award Finalist, Skin Hunger (2007, both Atheneum). The story unfolds in two narratives, separated by several generations. Sadima, once a farm girl who left her home, is serving a cruel and sadistic scholar named Somiss who is obsessed with bringing magic back to the world. Generations later, Hahp is a student at the magic academy run by Somiss, forced to learn unintelligible and archaic songs along with his fellow pupils or risk punishment by starvation. Andy Paris solidly narrates the second volume in this trilogy, moving seamlessly between the two narratives. He is especially adept in voicing the first-person narration of Hahp, who struggles with the abuse, isolation, and starvation he experiences at the school and is driven by the hope that if the boys join together, they can destroy the school and the wizards. Paris makes Hahp's desperation and determination even more real as he balances it with the descriptions of the magic Hahp witnesses and the horrors he faces daily. The urgency and tension in both narratives is palpable as the timelines grow closer. Listeners will eagerly anticipate the finale of this gripping series.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL