Young Adult Book Fun

Title: Guardian of the Dead

Author: Karen Healey

Publication: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 1, 2010)

ISBN: 978-0316044301

Grade Level: 9-12

Awards: n/a

Summary: Eleanor Spencer is a little different from the other kids at her boarding school in New Zealand. When she has a chance encounter (or embarrassing, klutzy collision) with one the most beautiful and mysterious guys at school things begin to happen-supernatural things.

Comments: Steeped in Maori myth, legend and folklore, Guardian of the Dead is a welcome departure from traditional fantasy stories based on the Anglo-European Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson Tales.

With Homer still being the reigning champion of Greek story tellers there aren’t many new takes on Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses at work in the modern day. Much like American Born Chinese by Gene Lee Yang, Guardian of the Dead breaks down that ancient border and presents us with a world in which Gods and Goddesses still rule and roam and interact with mere mortals and the results are rich, complicated and great, adventurous fun.

Those who don’t have an existing knowledge of Maori myth will need to read some passages a few times to be able to follow the story and the pacing may make the story difficult for younger or struggling readers.

Georgia Performance Standards:

ELA9RC1 The student reads a minimum of 25 grade-level appropriate books or book equivalents (approximately 1,000,000 words) per year from a variety of subject disciplines. The student reads both informational and fictional texts in a variety of genres and modes of discourse, including technical texts related to various subject areas.

ELAMLRL1 -The student demonstrates comprehension by identifying evidence (i.e., examples of diction, imagery, point of view, figurative language, symbolism, plot events, main ideas, and cultural characteristics) in a variety of texts representative of different genres (i.e., poetry, prose [short story, novel, essay, editorial, biography], and drama) and using this evidence as the basis for interpretation.

Analyzes the influence of allusions (i.e., cultural myths, folklore, traditional mythology, religious literature).

Extensions:

• Have students write an epilogue for Eleanor. Does she come into her power or abandon it?
• Have students write a journal entry for Mark after his transformation?
• Have students discuss how myth and religion are intertwined in the novel. How does Ellie’s personal beliefs or lack thereof effect what she sees and how she shapes her world?