A Hunger of Thorns

Gr 7 Up–Maude’s house, school, village, and country are completely steeped in magic—the harmless and mild witchcraft of her grandmother Nan, the thrilling and terrifying powers that led to her mother’s imprisonment and death, the tricks and spells that keep her in the good graces of her daredevil friend Odette. Then, one day in her early adolescence, Maude’s magical gifts disappear, prompting her only friend to reject and abandon her. A few years later, Odette runs away from home and vanishes herself, and Maude feels that she’s the only one who can save her. Her search will lead her to a cursed and abandoned power plant and to the recesses of her own memories. Along the way, she will encounter imaginary playmates come to life, a prince imprisoned in an enchanted tower, the character of real friendship, and the truth about her mother, herself, and everyone that she loves. The search for Odette and for the truth at the heart of her world will lead Maude to question everything about her life—her school, her family, her past, and her future. In this girl-power quest narrative that draws heavily on Celtic folklore, Wilkinson juxtaposes themes of love and betrayal, trauma and healing, and corporate greed and collective resistance.