Guinevere's Gift

Title : Guinevere's gift

Author : Nancy McKenzie

Citation : McKenzie, Nancy. Guinevere's gift. New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.

Thirteen years have passed after a prophecy foretelling that Guinevere would one day be highest lady in the land and married to a great king. The fact now, Guinevere is an orphan living with her aunt and uncle, the king and queen of Gwynedd. Nobody takes the prophecy seriously, not even Gwen who is tomboy, awkward and no great beauty. Then, one day she meets a young man in the forest who claims to be part of ancient tribe whose mission is to guard and be her protector. She, then, stumbles across a sinister plot and fearlessly helps rescue her cousin from kidnappers who are plotting to overthrow the king. Gwen's true gift is to inspire love and admiration in people. Therefore, the author has succeeded in detailing everyday royal life with all of its conflicts. With subtle details of Arthurian legends are woven into the story, the author seems to allow each character to rise to surprising heroism. Her female characters are strong such as Gwen and Queen Alyse who are strong and fearful and take responsibilities while the mean are not around. This appealing factor makes this a good "girl power" story.

Un lun dun

Title : Un lun dun

Author : China Mieville

Citation : Mieville, China. Un lun dun. New York : Del Rey, 2007.

A twelve-year-old heroine Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret door leading out of London and into a strange city, Un Lun Dun. It is a city awaiting its hero whose coming was predicted long time ago and happened to be set down for all time in the pages of a talking book. In the setting, the city is a place where words are alive; a jungle exists unobserved behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes walk stiffly down the streets and a dark cloud dreams about burning the world. In short, through the looking glass, Un Lun Dun is an urban Wonderland of uncanny delights where all the lost and broking thing of London end up, including Brokkenbroll, a boss of the broken umbrellas; and Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is a gigantic pin-cushion and Curdle. The compelling style and the fantasy journey of this book are combination of unexpected opportunities for heroism and magic. The unexpected twist will make readers to keep turning the pages until they have reached the end.