Traitor's Son

Gr 6–10—In this companion to Trickster's Girl (Houghton Harcourt, 2011), Raven works with a different human to try to fix the world's ecosystem. Bioterrorists have poisoned trees, causing a ripple effect throughout this technologically advanced world, and now beings like Raven, the Otter Woman, and Bear are fighting over how best to save the planet. If Raven is able to prove that humans can repair part of the damaged magical ley lines that keep everything balanced, then she and the others will be able to step in and finish restoring the Earth. Otter Woman, however, wants nothing more than to see Raven and her pet human, Jase, fail. By invading his dreams, and then holding his grandmother hostage in the spirit world, she hopes to scare Jase into giving up the magical dust that will help him heal the world. If Jase has any hope of succeeding, he must embrace his Native Alaskan tribal heritage, previously denied to him, and repair not only the rifts on the planet, but also within his own family. With a strong, but not overwhelming environmental message, Bell blends an advanced technological society with a traditional tribal one. The juxtaposition of magic with science is fascinating, and the waking dreams into the spirit world will keep readers riveted. It does help to have read Trickster's Girl first.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT