Sky Song

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I must echo what several other reviewers have said; if you’re a fan of the Little House books, this is a must-read! It also reminded me of the American Girl books about Kirsten, an immigrant child from Sweden.

She raked her nails across the keys. The chords clashed, the voices stopped, and the baubles dimmed. Then the Ice Queen snatched up her staff and strode toward the arches, her sequined gown swishing behind her.The Ice Queen has cast a spell on Erkenwald, separating the Fur and Feather Tribes and making the third – the Tusk Tribe – the enemy of both. Eager to secure her position by gaining eternal life, the Ice Queen is consuming the voices of the Erkenwald people. There seems little anyone can do until three children – Eska, Flint and Blu – come together. With help from 'the wild', they set off on a quest to find the legendary 'Frost Horn' and the magical 'Sky Song' that will free Erkenwald from the Ice Queen's control. Pioneering at that time and place was very difficult, especially for immigrants who would struggle to cross both cultural and linguistic barriers to set up a permanent home in the West. It is important that we tell stories about individuals growing up in unusually hard settings (as this story did). But the reader was never offered the resolution that hope brings. Not only is this unsatisfying, it is also inaccurate. The pioneer spirit was a very real, powerful thing that transformed the mostly empty wilderness of midwestern America into a prosperous farmland. Immigrants were especially poignant displays of such spirit and determination. The depressed spirit of Shoshanna, who consistently complains about the difficulties of her old home while also mourning the challenges she faces in America, is in sharp contrast to unbeatable optimism of those in her generation. At first, I found Flint very unlikable. He was awful to Eska! He didn't want to help her escape, he didn't want to teach her how to survive and - when she grew capable - he didn't want to admit to her that she was doing a good job! He's from a tribe that is basically 'Toxic Masculinity Central' where their only thoughts are to kill rivals with weapons, never show weakness or emotion and never allow yourself to think outside the box. (His tribe and brother hate that Flint is an inventor and won't allow him to use any sort of magic, despite how this could massively help them in a fight). Throughout the book, Eska has to undo this to make Flint a better person. I ended up sympathising with him; the way he was raised had obviously impacted him and he was far more likeable by the end. Yet personally I would rather read about a progressive male character rather than one who needs someone pointing out how troubling his thoughts and actions are. Filled with wonderful characters and stunning settings, Abi immediately transports her reader effortlessly to the harsh, wild landscape of Erkenwald where an evil Ice Queen is gradually stealing voices. A Queen intent on driving division between tribes, dissolving all trust and compassion until all are pitted against each other.

First broadcast online by BBC Cymru in March 2021 at GŴYL 2021 with guest vocalist Nadine Shah, Paraorchestra’s Death Songbook premiered live at Wales Millennium Centre with guest vocalist Gwenno as part of Llais on Saturday 29 October 2022. What I love is how the story takes on a version of The Long Winter, by Laura Ingles Wilder, which also happened in the Dekota territory, and uses it to tell Shashana’s story. The Wilder book too place in 1880. This story is taking place in 1905, but blizzards can be just as deadly no matter when they are happening. The second I saw the cover, The Little House on the Prairie popped into my head...and that wasn't wrong. The first chapters take place in the Ukraine, opening with the persecution Shoshana and her family face. While the family boards the ship, sails to America, and then, takes a train until they finally arrive in North Dakota, the reader has a chance to get a glimpse at Shoshana and several of her family member's personalities, hopes, and concerns. From there, life on the northern plains with all of its difficulties, wonders, and dreams unfolds...and this in a way, which offers nods toward the still-loved novels of Laura Ingalls Wilder. There's the father's fiddle, a mother's beloved belongings, a lofty shop-owner's daughter and so on. Even the pacing and direction reminds of the above novel. And yet, this book takes on a life of its own. Shoshanna and her family have to flee their homeland of Ukraine because of the Russian pogroms against Jews. Her father and older brother went to North Dakota a few years earlier to prepare a new home for the family and to raise money to bring the remaining five members to their new country. The story of their ship journey, Ellis Island, and the train ride to North Dakota are all similarly well-described.The Ice Queen turned the key and, as it wound three turns to the left then half a turn right, music began. It was different from the melody that came from the trees; this was a gentle, almost magical tinkling, like tiny bells chiming or dozens of stars falling to Earth. A melody rippled out from the silver trees lining the hall. Their roots sprawled over the ice floor, and from their bony branches, hundreds of glass baubles hung, each one filled with a golden glow. This was where the melody was coming from, because inside each ornament was a voice. And as the chords grew louder, the baubles shimmered and the voices of the Fur and Feather men and women singing a wordless anthem joined with the organ’s steady pulse. A perfect alternative to the Little House series, this novel offers a unique window into history. I loved Shoshi’s resilience and feisty spirit--she learns to play violin, even though it's a difficult instrument to master; she learns to stand up for herself, even when it isn't easy; and she smuggles a cat all the way to North Dakota without her mother knowing.

A land of ice and magic ruled by an evil Ice Queen is in many ways reminiscent of C S Lewis's now classic Chronicles of Narnia. A chosen child bonded with an eagle is also similar to the bond between Lyra and her daemon in Philip Pullman's hugely successful The Dark Materials series. Add to this a fast moving plot and a dusting of an almost forgotten magic and Sky Song has all the elements required for a fantasy adventure that will enthral and entrance middle grade readers. It couldn’t be more 2021 if it tried…Indie anthems were given a classical twist; Echo and the Bunnymen’s Killing Moon and David Bowie’s My Death were delivered with heart-wrenching beauty. Anderson’s own The Next Life (written about the death of his mother) was as haunting as they come, while Suede B-side He’s Dead was delivered with Britpop swagger. Anderson leaned into the mic like he was at a sold-out Knebworth, rather than an empty theatre” Flint is searching for his place in the world too. His brother is the chief of their tribe and Flint wants to do all he can to impress him. Even if that includes crazy schemes to break into the Palace to free their Ma! When he does break in he sees Eska who begs him to help her escape and his kind heart doesn't know how to say no. Chords drifted through the palace—up and down the snow-strewn staircases, into the towers surrounding the palace domes, across the bridge connecting the iceberg to the mainland, and then out over the miles of frozen tundra beyond. The chords were solemn, like the groaning of a faraway glacier, and as they swelled and throbbed, Eska winced. The Ice Queen was getting ready to feed on her stolen voices.

But that's only what powers a rip-roaring, fast-paced adventure with characters you can't help but root for. Eska is a strong heroine but faces doubts about her abilities, while Flint struggles to overcome his upbringing and learn to accept others (and himself). Once an adventure digs its claws in, there is not an awful lot you can do about it. Especially when magic is involved . . .’ A magical wintry story filled with adventure, wonder and edge-of-your-seat excitement, this is the perfect read for fans of Michelle Harrison, Piers Torday and Emma Carroll. I find the writing outstanding which expresses coming of age and trauma with sensitivity. My heart got broken but also my heart got healed then and there because of the amazing writing. I have some news that may interest you.” Slither smirked. “The contraption I have been working on these last few months is almost finished.”