The+Blue+Sword

= //The Blue Sword// by Robin McKinley = Plot: //The Blue Sword // by Robin McKinley tells the story of Angharad, Harry for short. Recently orphaned and sent to live with her brother at Istan, the furthest outpost of her people’s, the Homelanders’ empire, Harry longs for escape from her unfulfilling and restricted existence. Escape comes in the form of Corlath, the golden-eyed king of the neighboring Hillfolk.

Corlath has come to Istan to warn the Homelanders of an impending invasion from the Northern demon tribes. When they refuse to offer their support against the Northerners, Corlath, compelled by his //kelar//, a magical sixth-sense unique to his people, kidnaps Harry and takes her back to his desert homeland, Damar.

Harry thrives among the Hillfolk, learning their language and customs with curious ease. She trains to be a Damarian warrior and becomes so skilled that Corlath gifts her with Gonturan or the Blue Sword. Gonturan is an enchanted sword once carried by an ancient Damarian heroine. With it, Harry leads a battle against impossible odds to save both the Homelanders and the Hillfolk from the demon invasion, winning the heart and hand of Corlath in the process.

Personal Reflections: I first read //The Blue Sword// when I was in junior high and was swept away by the adventure and romance of McKinley’s story. Harry was one of the first heroines I’d ever encountered who could both wield a sword and enchant a prince. It was a winning combination then and remains so now. Rereading this book, I was as carried away as the first time. I could not put it down and was up until 3am finishing it. It’s funny, when I was twelve, I had to finish this book by flashlight because it was past my bedtime and I didn’t want my parents to know I was still awake. I once again was finishing this book by flashlight; this time because I share a room with my infant daughter and didn’t want to wake her up. Times change but this book is timeless.

McKinley, like the best fantasy authors, has a talent for convincing world building. Damar is fantastic yet we immediately enter it, accepting and reveling in its extraordinary elements, and wonderful color and texture. Harry, though, is what makes this novel. She is an engaging character and McKinley does a marvelous job evoking her yearning for adventure, independence and to find a place where she belongs. These are all desires that tweens can relate to and embrace. Harry is also a wonderfully empowering role model for young tweens girls.

This is a highly recommended fantasy novel for tweens who enjoy adventure and hero/heroine tales. It will appeal to the more mature end of the tween spectrum.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Hero/Heroine Tale

Reading Level: Ages 10-14

Series Information: McKinley wrote a prequel to the //The Blue Sword//, called //The Hero and the Crown//, which was published in 1984. It won the Newberry Medal in 1985.

Awards: Newbery Honor Book, 1983 ALA Notable Children’s Book ALA Best Book for Young Adults <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Links of Interest <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Robin McKinley's website

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Citation <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">﻿McKinley, R. (1982). //The blue sword.// New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.