White Cat

Gr 9 Up—Cassel, 17, has always felt apart from his family. Not only does he believe that he is the only "non-worker" in it, he lives with a horrible secret. Gradually, as the boy's gritty world is revealed through his narration so, too, is his growing awareness that he is a singular type of curse worker. The sometimes grisly, plot-driven story builds a world in which curse working is illegal and controlled by organized crime. In this gloved society, workers (really magicians) can manipulate emotions, create dreams, deal death, and more, all with the touch of a bare hand. It's a world in which curse working has become a political issue. Cassel struggles to be normal, but ultimately realizes that it can never be because he enjoys being an effective con-artist and is loyal to his disloyal and dysfunctional family. Voiced by Jesse Eisenberg, Cassel comes to life as does his emerging understanding of who he is, where he fits into his family and society, and what he hopes to become. Fans of horror and fantasy may become hooked on this first volume (S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks., 2010) in Holly Black's series.—Maria Salvadore, formerly Washington DC Public Library