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Water Shaper

Alia Waking

Illustration © 2003
by Deborah Lanino

Water Shaper
By Laura Williams McCaffrey
For ages 10 and up
Published by Clarion Books
Reader Guide for Water Shaper

-- Honors --

2007 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list.

-- Reviews --

"This enchanting book for Middle Grade readers draws on Celtic folklore and fairy tale motifs, stirring them up into an original story about an outcast princess with a magical affinity to water. McCaffrey deos a lovely job at evoking the plight of a lonely young woman caught between conflicting cultures, longing for a place to feel at home. Princess Margot is a memorable heroine and her story tugs at your heartstrings." -- T. Windling, Endicott Studio.

-- Starred Review -- "Margot is a vulnerable, stubborn, sympathetic heroine, and readers will find themselves caught up in the memorably unsettling story of her first love and her disillusionment with the three convincing, well-realized kingdoms she encounters, each one more original and magical than the last...With political undertones as well as riveting personal drama, this fantasy will leave many readers looking for a sequel." -- by Carolyn Phelan. Booklist, May 15 2006.

"Older girls are sure to be captivated by this seamless fantasy that incorporates a hauntingly beautiful world, a strong-minded princess, and secrets of the sea, seal-people, and what it means to be alive." -- by syndicated columnist Kendal Rautzhan. "Books to Borrow...Books to Buy," June 19, 2006.

"McCaffrey shows good insight into characters here: taunted and bullied as children, both Margot and Orrin hide behind self-protective armor even while they long for acceptance, and they are unrelenting when hurt. Bird, the storyteller, edges into the story sideways, introducing doubt into the reader's perception of Orrin...and the ending is thoughtful, lending readers to question if safety is worth the loss of personal freedoms." -- by KC. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, June 2006.

Evocative descriptions and elements of Celtic folklore add much to this tale of a young woman's search for a place that feels like home...The real strength of this book is the descriptive language, which evokes the settings quite clearly and beautifully. Margot's struggle to make a place for herself is well realized." -- by Cheri Dobbs. School Library Journal, July 2006.

"In McCaffrey's debut fantasy, Alia Waking, her heroine had a mystical connection to trees; here, in another fast-paced tale, the heroine has a similar connection to water...Readers will likely be caught up as Margot comes to terms with her magical powers and her mother's unfortunate secret." -- Publishers Weekly, May 2006.

"A scorned princess yearns to find her place in the world in this intriguing adventure-fantasy...McCaffrey painstakingly constructs a complicated, imaginative universe, made up of vastly different kingdoms infused with good, bad and questionable magic that flows through holy men, demon spirits, storytellers, minstrels and herbalists. Veering off into almost a purely romantic realm, until Margot is abruptly brought up short by a shocking betrayal, this suspenseful tale sparked by Celtic folklore (and selkie lore) tackles questions of identity, women's basic rights and even censorship versus safety. Harrowing, disillusioning experiences lead Margot to make discoveries about her ancestral past, special power and future choices. Though perhaps lacking the depth and resonance of Franny Billingsley's The Folk Keeper (1999), the evocative settings, intricate plot and resourceful heroine make for an engrossing read." -- Kirkus, April 15, 2006.

-- Summary --

Margot is a princess, but she is not beloved. Her mother died when Margot was very young, leaving her with an undesirable legacy -- pale skin, dark hair, and a deep love of water -- traits considered strange and suspicious in her father's landlocked kingdom. Her mother also left Margot a mysterious book, passed down from mother to daughter through many generations, that smells of saltwater and hides itself from those who seek it.

When Margot meets Orrin, a foreign king from the coast who respects, even reveres, her affinity for water, she flees with him, hoping to at last find her place in the world. But all is not as she expected in Orrin's land, and when mysterious lights draw her into the Sea, Margot knows her search is just beginning.

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Published in The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Bulletin, May-June 2004 - A Children's Writer's Short Resource Guide to the World of Sf/F.

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Now Available: Alia Waking
By Laura Williams McCaffrey
For ages 9-14
Published by Clarion Books

-- Honors --

An International Reading Association Notable Book.

Teens chose Alia Waking as one of 35 nominees for Teens' Top Ten Books of 2003.

Alia Waking was on Holly Black's favorites for 2003 list on Green Man Review.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher List 2004-2005.

-- Reviews --

Online at Endicott Studio, Stone Soup, and Lyre.

"The story offers a nuanced view of conflict and an intiguing speaking-to-trees magic from first-time author McCaffrey." -- by ALB. The Horn Book Guide January-June 2003.

"This stirring coming-of-age novel reads with page-turning excitement, yet its message speaks deeply to the soul about the importance of choosing your own rightful place in your world. Resonant, beautiful and softly spoken, its message will live long in readers' hearts." Chinaberry Catalog

"The rich characters, vivid descriptions, and suspenseful storytelling are well blended in this novel about war, enemies, and finding oneself." -- by Linda L. Plevak. School Libary Journal, June 2003.

"This is McCaffrey's first novel, and both its setting and characterization are convincing. The story is also a solid blend of heartwarming coming-of-age tale and compelling adventure." -- by Sally Estes. Booklist, March 1, 2003.

"In an insightful debut fantasy, a mystical connection to trees helps the 12-year-old heroine discover that warriors don't have to use a weapon or draw blood to win a battle...the novel succeeds in its realistic depiction of a girl's coming of age. Alia's struggle to accept (or deny) her natural talents in order to preserve a childhood friendship will resonate with readers." -- Publishers Weekly.

-- Summary --

Winter is nearing, and soon the keentens will choose girls to join their number. Alia wants desperately to be part of this sisterhood of warrior women but worries that her best friend, Kay, will be chosen and she will not. When the girls discover two young enemies of their people hiding in the wood near their village and succeed in capturing them, Alia is triumphant. At last she has proved herself worthy of the sisterhood.

But then everything starts to go strangely wrong, forcing her to question all that has always been certain in her life...and she begins to feel the call of a rare and ancient magic that is hard to ignore.

At once a stirring adventure and a moving, beautifully wrought coming-of-age story, Alia Waking will resonate long after the final page is turned.