West

Gr 7 Up—At the close of East, Rose and her new husband, formerly enchanted as a white bear, are reunited. Now, they are torn apart again by the Troll Queen, with the added complications of the couple's new baby and a young foster daughter, Estelle. Readers follow the saga through multiple narrators as Rose, the white bear, Rose's brother Neddy, their mother, and Estelle become scattered by the magic of the wind and the evil of the Troll Queen. The protagonists fight back as individuals—with the aid of Neddy's love Sib—and in teams of two or three. Pattou artistically spins the broad and long tale without making the details feel burdensome and always keeps the pace from lagging. The variety of adventures and challenges that the characters face require mental and physical toughness and willingness to try rather than give up in defeat, although very realistic injuries and illness do occur. Details from European history, including the ravaging plague, superstitions, and even crafts, appear without intruding. Readers unfamiliar with the prequel should start there in order to develop a clear understanding of Rose's devotion to her white bear.