Sonderbooks Book Review of The Foretelling

Reviewed October 6, 2005.
Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2005. 167 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (J MCN F HOF).
Sonderbooks Stand-out 2005 (#1, Young Adult Historical Fiction)

The Foretelling is a powerful story with the flavor of myth. I had trouble deciding how to categorize it, since it feels like fantasy, but there isn’t really any magic except that of prophecies. Alice Hoffman based her book on the many legends of Amazons, combined with archeological evidence that such warrior women may have lived on the steppes of Russia and the Ukraine. I decided to call it a historical novel, since it gives a history that might have been.

Rain is the daughter of the Queen, but the Queen never even looks at her. Some day, Rain will need to lead her people, women warriors. However, she has been brought up by the priestess, who teaches her about prophecy and a destiny different from that of her foremothers.

Rain learns to ride like no one has ever done before. Her people have ruled their land for generations because of their relationship with their sister horses. One day, Rain discovers a baby bear and brings it up as if it is another horse. This bear will be involved in changing Rain’s destiny.

I love Rain’s voice, which tells the story. We feel as if we’re hearing the heart of an actual Amazon of centuries past. This book will stay in your heart and your imagination.

Reviews of other books by Alice Hoffman:
The Story Sisters
The Probable Future
Blackbird House

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

******The Foretelling*

by Alice Hoffman