LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
What an unusual and powerful novel. The setting is an island in an unspecified fantasy world inhabited by a community of women who live separate from men, dedicating themselves to the worship of the Triple Goddess. Maresi is a young novice, sent there by her family to escape famine, and still wracked by guilt over the death of her little sister. She loves her new life, the women live austere lives but there’s ample time for friendship and study. Their peace is threatened when another girl arrives, on the run from her violent father, and the reader quickly realises that he will never let his daughter escape. The tension before his arrival is palpable, and the violence he brings with him truly shocking. Even so, he’s no match for Maresi. Turtschaninoff creates an original fantasy world, and her parable of sisterhood and bravery will enthral readers. ~ Andrea Reece
Readers might also enjoy Ursula Le Guin’s epic Earthsea series and Margaret Atwood’s science fiction.
A Piece of Passion from Adam Freudenheim, MD and publisher of Pushkin Children’s Books “I was blown away by Maresi, quite simply. Turtschaninoff has written an incredibly original, vivid and gripping story with appeal not only for YA readers but far beyond. And embedded in the story is a passionate feminist voice that will resonate with a wide variety of readers. It is testament to the sheer quality of Maresi that we have chosen it as our first ever YA title, and I’ve no doubt that Maresi and The Red Abbey Chronicles as a whole will become classics of the genre.”
LoveReading4Kids
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About
Maresi Synopsis
Maresi came to the Red Abbey in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe. Then one day Jai - tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back - arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her. Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.
A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound.
A note from the author: “I think that it's rare for a book to focus solely on the female experience, and put it at its heart. That is why Maresi is such an important book for me. I want Maresi to enlighten every reader, normalising that women are powerful, strong, intelligent and most importantly, that they matter.”
Maresi is being published in eight languages and won the Finlandia Junior Prize.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781782690924 |
| Publication date: |
5th January 2017 |
| Author: |
B.B |
| Publisher: |
Pushkin Children's Books |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
253 pages |
| Series: |
The Red Abbey Chronicles |
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Press Reviews
B.B Press Reviews
'Dark, powerful and original... really stands out in a very crowded YA marketplace... Thrilling, suspenseful and gloriously feminist' The Bookseller
'Where YA fantasy can start to feel a little same-y, Maresi dark,occasionally harrowing, yet always readable stands out for its startling originality, and for the frightening plausibility of the dangerous world it creates. Maria Turtschaninoff s deceptively simple, occasionally almost fairy tale-like prose is also a joy: the voice of Maresi (our first person narrator) always feels distinct and believable' Rebecca Hawkes, Telegraph
'A book full of courage. Dark, brave and so gripping you ll read it in one sitting with that instinctive hunch hovering over your shoulder warning you that something terrible is about happen if you turn the page. And then you turn the page...' Laura Dockrill , author
'A tale of sisterhood, survival and fighting against the odds that will capture the hearts of both teen and adult feminists alike and will leave you feeling extremely empowered. I think it s a very special book and one that deserves lots and lots of attention' Lucy Powrie, book blogger
'A poignant, slow-burning fantasy' Taran Matharu, author
'A compelling read... Turtschaninoff weaves in fantasy with feminism, creating a spellbinding read that is completely unputdownable' Guardian Children's Books
'Such a beautiful, haunting tale. Maresi s voice is unlike any other YA voice I ve read; her voice is strong but she shows us so many different emotions. Her relationship with Jai and the other girls felt very real, dealing with all of Jai s problems how a friend would. They were there for each other and it was great to see that. The writing is amazing; it has an almost mythical feel to it. The way it flows made it such an easy and quick read. Obviously there are darker elements to the book but that only adds to the story and the world that has been created. It s good to see these issues being used in books and drawing them to the attention of our next generation' Fiona Hadfield , children's bookseller
'Atmospheric, immersive and definitely original, Maresi has a quiet, urgent magic that makes her story powerful, poignant and memorable' Jane Bradley, Founder & Director of For Books' Sake
'A web of strength, friendship and belief. A beautifully painted, fantastical setting like no other; this story will resonate with me for a long time' Ben Alderson, Benjamin of Tomes
'A few times in a life time, a book comes along that wraps you completely in its world and its characters. Wildly imaginative, vivid and filled with wonders' Casey Daveron, Casey Ann Books
Combines a flavour of The Handmaid's Tale with bursts of excitement reminiscent of Harry Potter's magic duels Observer Turtschaninoff weaves a hypnotic spell... at once contemporary and timeless Guardian
A haunting fable -- Suzy Feay Financial Times
Should appeal to fans of Ursula Le Guin... A lucid, layered, deeply engaging story Metro
This dark, deceptively simple story is a great addition to the growing feminist fantasy genre Scotsman
Author
About B.B
To his lasting fame, BB wrote the greatest book about gnomes in the English language.
Its stature was recognised by the award of the Carnegie Medal in 1942 and it is the very best and the most well known of all his children’s books. It was probably inspired by his own childhood sighting of one of the little people in his bedroom. As ever, the book is full of BB’s superb scraperboard and colour illustrations. The exciting adventure captures the imagination using detailed descriptions of English fields, streams, and woodland which beguile the reader into thinking that under the root of any tree in the dappled shade beside a running brook there might well be a whole other world.
Denys Watkins-Pitchford (aka ‘BB’) 1905-1990
Denys Watkins-Pitchford was born 25th July 1905, the second son of a country clergyman, the Rev’d Walter Maristow Watkins-Pitchford.
Young Denys, along with his twin brother, Roger, was raised in the Northamptonshire village of Lamport in a lovely Queen Anne-style mansion, one of the loveliest rectories in England. He was a sickly child and was educated at home. But there was compensation, for he had plenty of spare time to explore the surrounding countryside with gun, rod and butterfly net.
At the age of four a significant event occurred, which was to colour his whole life. It happened one bright summer evening in the nursery at the top of the house where he incontrovertibly saw a gnome. Never was he to be shaken in his belief in the existence of the ‘little people’. At the age of 36 he wrote the greatest book about gnomes in the English language, the Carnegie award-winning saga The Little Grey Men.
His childlike excitement and wonder never left him, and untinged by adult sentimentality distinguishes his books and pictures; enhanced as they are by a profound sense of history in general and a knowledge of wildlife based on sensual experience.
An innate talent for drawing and painting gained him a place at Northampton School of Art from whence he won a travelling scholarship to Paris, became a post-graduate at the Royal College of Art and ended up as assistant art master at Rugby School, a post he held of 17 years, until he took up as a full-time writer and illustrator.
Although he was to become most famous as ‘BB’ the writer, the paintings and drawings that he did in his own name - ‘Denys Watkins-Pitchford’ were always the mainspring of his activity and style.
More About B.B
