Book Cover
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Stiefvater, M. (2011). The scorpio races. New York, USA: Scholastic.
PAGES
416
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Sean Kendrick is also an orphan. He works and lives in Mr. Malvern's stablesl. Sean has a special connection to horses, especially the capaill usice-predatory and legendary horses that live in the ocean.Puck's parents were killed by the capaill usice. They were drug down into the ocean and drowned by them when they went out on the fishing boat one night.
The Scorpio Races are an annual event at the beginning of November preceded by a major festival. The riders catch and ride capaill usice in the race, and that is what makes it so dangerous. Someone always dies the in the days leading up to and during the race. They are killed by the water horses. The winner walks away with a large sum of money and the title of champion. Sean has won the races four times, and is the returning champion from the previous year.
Puck Connolly decides to enter the race against the will of her brothers. She is the first woman to enter the Scorpio Races. Instead of finding a water horse to ride she chooses to rider own horse, Dove, how is a regular land horse. Her refusal to ride a water horse is based on her parents' death by them. She faces major opposition from most of the other island residents. Many try to dissuade her saying she and her horse are guaranteed to be killed.
Puck and Sean become unlikely allies. Sean helps Puck prepare for the race. This friendship eventually turns romantic and Sean finds himself conflicted. On the day of the race, he helps to protect Puck and Dove from other racers and horses intent of hurting or even killing Puck and Dove. In the end this results in him and his water horse, Corr, who is his best friend, losing the race and Puck, against all odds, winning.
MY REVIEW
Although, I love horses, I have never been a fan of books about horses. I find them too predictable and all the same just in different time periods and locations with different names for the same type of characters. This book was no different from the other horse-based books I've read except one major twist; the horses are based on the mythological water horese, or capaill usice. These bloodthirsty horses who live in the ocean add a whole new level of what it means to break and ride a horse. However and unfortunately, this is the only difference. Puck, Sean, and all the other characters are stereotypical, and ending is predictable, and the reader is left with a feeling of, "That's it?"
ANNOTATION
Puck is the first girl to compete in the deadly Scorpio races. Will she survive?
SUMMARY *Spoiler Alert*
The Island of Thisby is a small, rough-and-tumble island located somewhere in the British Isles. Puck Connolly, whos real name is Kate, is a recently orphaned seventeen year old girl who lives with her brothers, Gabe and Finn. Her prized possession and best friend is her horse, Dove. Their parents' house belongs to Mr. Malvern, the riches man on the island, and he is going to kick them out, because they can't make payments on it.
The Scorpio Races are an annual event at the beginning of November preceded by a major festival. The riders catch and ride capaill usice in the race, and that is what makes it so dangerous. Someone always dies the in the days leading up to and during the race. They are killed by the water horses. The winner walks away with a large sum of money and the title of champion. Sean has won the races four times, and is the returning champion from the previous year.
Puck Connolly decides to enter the race against the will of her brothers. She is the first woman to enter the Scorpio Races. Instead of finding a water horse to ride she chooses to rider own horse, Dove, how is a regular land horse. Her refusal to ride a water horse is based on her parents' death by them. She faces major opposition from most of the other island residents. Many try to dissuade her saying she and her horse are guaranteed to be killed.
Puck and Sean become unlikely allies. Sean helps Puck prepare for the race. This friendship eventually turns romantic and Sean finds himself conflicted. On the day of the race, he helps to protect Puck and Dove from other racers and horses intent of hurting or even killing Puck and Dove. In the end this results in him and his water horse, Corr, who is his best friend, losing the race and Puck, against all odds, winning.
MY REVIEW
RATING
Quality Rating: Bronze
Popularity Rating: Sapphire
Quality Rating: Bronze
Popularity Rating: Sapphire
GENRE & SUB GENRES
Fantasy Fiction
Romance
Mythology
BOOKTALKING
In the very first chapter you see that family is very important to Puck. Throughout the book we see that her brothers are the only people who truly care about her.
Gender inequalities are addressed throughout this book. Puck is a very strong female character who doesn't let anything stop her.
The value of loyalty is an important part of this story. Finn goes with Puck to sign up for the races, not because he thinks it is a good decision, but because he wants to be there to support her. Sean shows us that loyalty does not have to be a matter of blood relations. Out of loyalty, he watches over Mutt even though Mutt really doesn't deserve it.
DISCUSSION POINTS
When does this book take place? Why do you think that?
Would you ride a Capaill Uisce?
What is Gabe's motivation and does it compare to Kate's? If so, how?
Is there a difference between religion and spirituality in this book? What is the difference?
Sean loves Corr even though he doesn't trust him. Is this possible? Why or why not?
How do you feel about Mr. Malvern's son being named Mutt taking into his profession as a breeder? Do you have any idea who Mutt's mother is?
Do you think Benjamin Malvern has any redeeming qualities? Can a person be purely bad?
Why does Puck want to work for Mr. Malvern?
Do you think the Scorpio Races are a good tradition because they preserve culture, or do you think the danger outweighs any good?
With the races over, where do you think life will take Puck and Sean?
Romance
Mythology
APPEAL FACTORS
This book is based on the mythology of water horses in the British Isles. It portrays strong female characters is a male-centric culture.
In the very first chapter you see that family is very important to Puck. Throughout the book we see that her brothers are the only people who truly care about her.
Gender inequalities are addressed throughout this book. Puck is a very strong female character who doesn't let anything stop her.
The value of loyalty is an important part of this story. Finn goes with Puck to sign up for the races, not because he thinks it is a good decision, but because he wants to be there to support her. Sean shows us that loyalty does not have to be a matter of blood relations. Out of loyalty, he watches over Mutt even though Mutt really doesn't deserve it.
DISCUSSION POINTS
When does this book take place? Why do you think that?
Would you ride a Capaill Uisce?
What is Gabe's motivation and does it compare to Kate's? If so, how?
Is there a difference between religion and spirituality in this book? What is the difference?
Sean loves Corr even though he doesn't trust him. Is this possible? Why or why not?
How do you feel about Mr. Malvern's son being named Mutt taking into his profession as a breeder? Do you have any idea who Mutt's mother is?
Do you think Benjamin Malvern has any redeeming qualities? Can a person be purely bad?
Why does Puck want to work for Mr. Malvern?
Do you think the Scorpio Races are a good tradition because they preserve culture, or do you think the danger outweighs any good?
With the races over, where do you think life will take Puck and Sean?
WHY THIS BOOK?
The book club I attend at work chose this book as the first book we would read as group. It so happened that this was happening at the same time that the semester started and I as assigned to read 35 novels. I decided that this would be a good book to make one of those books.
THE AUTHOR
REVIEWS
goodreads
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
SIMILAR TITLES/AUTHORS
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
The Returning by Christine Hinwood
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
AWARDS
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Children's Literature (2012)
Odyssey Award Nominee (2012)
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Young Adult Literature (2011)
Michael L. Printz Award Nominee (2012)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2013)
The Inky Awards Nominee for Silver Inky (2012)
Carnegie Medal Nominee (2013)
Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas for Mejor novela extranjera independiente (2013)
POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Water horse mythology from British Isles
- Races where men are eaten by bloodthirsty horses
- Puck Connolly and Katniss Everdeen are similar in personality
- Puck defies genre and societal norms
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