1. Bibliography
Stiefvater, Maggie. 2011. The
Scorpio Races. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780545224901
- Plot Summary
Last fall Puck (Kate) Connolly and her
two brothers were suddenly orphaned when their parents were killed by
the wild Capaill Uisce water horses during a fishing trip. The
orphaned siblings have been struggling to make ends meet ever since.
Puck has never gone to the Scorpio Races, but this year she joins them.
She must win the race to save her home, keep what is left of her
family together, and ensure her place on the wild and unforgiving
island she loves.
Sean Kendrick was orphaned when his
father was killed by the deadly water horses during a
Scorpio Race. Since that fateful race Sean has ridden in the
Scorpio Races on his stunning Capaill Uisce, Corr, because he can't image doing anything else. This time, however, is
different. This year he races for the right to own his beloved horse
and gain his independence from the manipulative Mr. Malvern. As Sean and Puck both race for survival they
learn the true meaning of home, family and love.
- Critical Analysis
Set in a world that is both strange and
familiar, Stiefvater sets her timeless story of courage, perseverance, and
claiming one's own destiny in an alternate reality. Stiefvater weaves the familiar with the
magical as she tells a tale of a dangerous race held since before remembered history, the Scorpio Races. Each Fall the inhabitants of Thisby must
capture and subdue the dangerous aquatic predators known as
Capaill Uisce, and race them. Stiefvater uses these horses and the races they inspire
as the catalyst for her compelling tale of one young man finding the
strength to give up everything he knows in order to have the
opportunity to have everything he dreams for, and of one young
woman's desperate attempt to hold her family together against all
odds. Readers will identify with this story of growing up and
finding a place in the world. This is a wonderful book for those
who enjoy horse stories, love stories, fantasy stories, and stories of human triumph.
- Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Finalist
*Horn Book Best Books
*School Library Journal's Best
Books of the Year
*Michael L. Printz Award Honor
*NCTE/CLA Notable Children's Book in
the English Language Arts
*Westchester Fiction Award
*Starred review in Kirkus: “[A]
taut, chilling, romantic adventure....Masterful. Like nothing else
out there now.”
*Starred review in The Horn Book:
“Stiefvater masterfully combines an intimate voice (think I
Capture the Castle) with a fully evoked island setting with
sensory-rich language (think Margo Lanagan) with a wealth of horse
detail with a plot full of danger, intrigue, and romance. ...
Stiefvater sets not one foot wrong as she takes readers on an
intoxicating ride of their own. ... Stiefvater’s novel begins
rivetingly and gets better and better…all the way, in fact, to
best.”
*Starred review in Booklist: “A
book appealing to lovers of fantasy, horse stories, romance, and
action-adventure alike, this seems to have a shot at being a YA
blockbuster.”
- Connections
*Puck loves her horse, Dove, and spends
a great deal of time caring for her. Take a page from Puck's book and learn
more about horses. Find out about the different breads and what it
takes to care for a horse. You can start your research by checking
out several books about horses from your local library.
*Sean Kendrick comes from a long line
of Capaill Uisce racing experts. It seems to be a multi-generational
family trait. Find out about your own family and see if there are
any special qualities or traits which seem to follow down with each
generation. Celebrate this quality by creating a piece of artwork or
by writing a poem about it. Share it with your family.
*The Connolly children have to work
very hard to support themselves after the deaths of their parents.
To better understand their struggle learn about what it takes to
financially run a household. You can ask
your parents or another respected guide to show you how they manage
finances. You might even try coming up with a personal budget to
practice managing your own money better.
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