Graceling

First I must say I fell in love with this book in about the first 3 pages. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down and to my utter disappointment the book was finished before I'd had enough of Katsa and Po.

Katsa is our main character and her story begins as she is sneaking through a dungeon in the effort of rescuing someone. Katsa isn't like most girls, in fact she's not like most people. Katsa is a graceling. Gracelings are people who have special gifts or "graces" that set them apart from other people. The graces are almost like super-natural powers. Some of these graces are fighting, mind reading, being able to tell what the weather will be like; the grace, could be anything and the person with that grace will eventually grow into their grace. Katsa hasn't fully grown into her grace yet, but as a young woman she knows that she is graced with being able to kill. Because of her grace, her uncle, King Randa, has taken her to be his own personal strong-arm. Sending her to punish those that go against his will. As a graceling, Katsa is also set apart from other people because she has two different colored eyes, an attribute that sets gracelings apart. At the beginning of the book Katsa is nearing a time when she has to decide what she is going to do with her life, and the decision she makes will alter it forever. With an unexpected friend,who's also a graceling, the two set out on and adventure that not only changes them but how they deal with life and their graces.

A thrilling adventure that leads to a wonderful end that makes you want to pick up the next book. I loved this book and thought it was wonderfully written, taking into account the need for adventure, romance, friendship and self discovery.

I would probably recommend this book to a student who was struggling to read because it is an enthralling book that just is begging to be read, and the story goes by so quickly.

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• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Graphia; Reprint edition (September 7, 2009)