Monday, October 11, 2021

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: HOLLY BLACK


This week's blog post is all about Holly Black.  She is a New York Times bestselling author of novels for children and teens.  She has also co-authored books with Cassandra Clare and Tony DiTerlizzi.  Black has created over 30 works, so this post will feature just a few of her titles.

The Spiderwick Chronicles 
The Field Guide is the first book in the series co-written with Tony DiTerlizzi.  Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace discover a handmade field guide in the attic of the home they have just moved into.  Through the guide, they discover that there is a magical world, parallel to their own.  This other world is the world of faerie. A movie based off the series was released in 2008 starring Freddie Highmore.

Doll Bones
In this story, three friends have one last adventure ahead of them.  Poppy, Zach, and Alice have been friends forever, and their games have included a queen that would curse those who displease her.  This queen is a doll.  Now that they are in middle school, they stopped playing these games.  However, Poppy begins to have dreams about the queen and the ghost of a girl who cannot rest until the doll is buried in her empty grave.  This book is a Newbery Honor winner.

The Modern Faerie Tales
Tithe is the first book in the series.  In Tithe, the reader meets Kaye.  Kaye has been visited by faeries ever since she was a child.  One day, she discovers that she herself is a magical faerie creature with a special destiny.

The Folk of the Air Series 
The Cruel Prince is the first book in the series.  In The Cruel Prince, the reader encounters Jude.  Jude was a young child when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were taken to live in the High Court of Faerie.  Years later, Jude wants to belong in Faerie even though she is mortal and many of the fey dislike humans.  Prince Cardan seems to dislike her in particular.  In order to win a place at court, Jude must defy the prince and face the consequences.

Magisterium 
The Iron Trial is the first book in the series co-written with Cassandra Clare.  In the first book, the reader meets Callum.  Unlike most kids, Callum wants to fail the Iron Trial.  He has always been warned away from magic, so he hopes to avoid admittance into the Magisterium.  However, Callum fails at failing and must enter the Magisterium.  The Iron Trial was just the beginning, what does he have still to come?

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