Song for a Scarlet Runner

Gr 4–8—Nine-year-old Peat has spent her whole life tending the cows with only her sister for company. When a stranger passes through, Peat is fascinated by his tales of distant places. But the stranger also brings sickness to the village, and Peat is blamed for it and must outrun an irate crowd. Fleeing toward the marshes, she meets up with a strange little animal, which she calls a sleek, who sometimes helps and sometimes hinders her progress. As Peat's adventure progresses, she is apprenticed to a storytelling Marsh Auntie and then caught up in one of the stories. There, Peat must escape the mysterious Siltman with only the help of a 900-year-old boy and his ghost dog. Throughout her adventures, Peat has only one goal: to find a way to return to her sister. This book's vivid, unique setting is only one of its many strengths. Peat is a strong, dynamic character, and the vibrant cast of secondary characters is just as complex and interesting. Add to that a solid plot with good pacing, and young readers are sure to find this quest fantasy a rich and satisfying offering.