Review: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
Publisher/ Date: Greenwillow Books/ September 22nd, 2015
Word Rating: Solid history-based goodness.
Purchase: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble
Source: Borrowed ARC
The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.
Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.
Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.
I loved, loved, loved this book.
If anyone else remembers them, Walk on Earth a Stranger reminded me a bit of the Dear America books for children. I loved those books for their strong roots in history, and for making their historical setting come to life with a kickass female protagonist.
The worldbuilding in this novel is strong, and I really felt like I was fully immersed in the world of 1850s America and the struggles and hardships of the Oregon Trail.
We have a female protagonist who has her priorities straight and sorted, and I would argue that there really isn't romance in this first novel, which was a nice change because it allows you to get invested in Lee and her individual story.
The Mulan-esque thrill of when/if/how Lee will be caught, a twisted family plotline, and the fantasy element (which I was a bit worried about, initially, but was executed very well) felt like icing on the cake.
Definitely one of my favorites of this year so far, and now I'm further solidified in my mindset of buying/reading/throwing my money at anything Rae Carson writes!
(Full review to come closer to the release date.)
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