Sonderbooks Book Review of The Hollow Kingdom

Reviewed March 8, 2004.
Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2003. 230 pages.
Winner of the 2004 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
Available at Sembach Library (JF DUN)
Sonderbooks Stand-out 2004,#5, Fantasy for Young Adults

I bumped this book to the front of my list of books to read when I heard that the author would be speaking at Ramstein Middle School. If she also comes to Sembach, I wanted to have read her book. (She’s another American living in Germany.)

At the beginning of the first chapter of this book, I didn’t think I was going to like it. The point of view jumps around a little bit so it wasn’t completely clear who the main character would be. Lots of background information came at me quickly.

After only another chapter or so, though, I was completely and irrevocably hooked by the story. The author powerfully builds up a strong feeling of impending doom, and it’s not the sort of book that’s easy to put down.

Kate and her little sister Emily have come to Hallow Hall, which they have inherited from their mother but never visited before. There are sinister tales about the area. The common people never allow young girls to go outside at night, but Kate and Emily’s guardian has no such qualms.

When Kate learns that the Goblin King wants her for his bride, I expected something along the lines of The Perilous Gard or the old legend of Tam Lin. However, Kate has no young handsome man to save her and must rely completely on herself.

I’d like to say much more about the great writing that went into this magnificent book. Part of the greatness is in the way she keeps the plot unexpected, yet absolutely right. So I don’t dare sayanything about it, for fear of giving some of it away. The story is alarming at many points, but always nice and clean, and it has a good, classic theme told in an entirely compelling way. I hope many of you read it so I can then talk with you about the many excellent details!

Reviews of other books by Clare B. Dunkle:
Close Kin (Book 2)
In the Coils of the Snake (Book 3)
By These Ten Bones
The Sky Inside
The House of Dead Maids
Hope and Other Luxuries
Elena Vanishing

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

******The Hollow Kingdom*

by Clare B. Dunkle