Brightly Woven

Reader: Sophie D
Age: 14
Title: Brightly Woven
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pub Date: March 2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: When Sydelle is taken from her home by a mysterious stranger, she is angry and upset. But soon she finds herself in the midst of a war between two kingdoms, and she might just be the one who will determine the outcome.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This book is fantastic. It's got a wonderful story, with the perfect amount of magic and believable and sympathetic characters. The plot keeps you wondering and reading, and the story is exciting but gentle at the same time. Also, because it is told from the point of view of someone who really doesn't know what's going on, the reader is also kept in the dark for most of the book. It almost makes you want to flip to the end and see what happens. Almost.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The characters are amazing. The main character, Sydelle, is a completely non-stereotypical girl who is dragged from her home town and has to realize the terrible truth of who she really is while desperately trying to protect someone she loves. North is also a great character, he starts out mysterious, and I didn't like him to begin with, but by the end, when you understand his story, it made sense why he acted how he did.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: I could not find anything to be disappointed with.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover is very pretty. It fits with the book well, without giving away anything or trying to tell the whole story. The colors are bright and captivating, and they draw your attention to the book.
Age Range: 12-15
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal