Swallow’s Dance by Wendy Orr - OPTIONAL

Swallow’s Dance by Wendy Orr, 274 pages.  Pajama Press, 2018.  $20

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

On the day that Leira takes the first steps in her culture’s womanhood rites, a devastating series of earthquakes ruins everything,  Now instead of being an honored member of her island’s hierarchy, she and her mother are refugees - dependant upon the kindness of others.  They travel to another nearby island, but they are not welcomed in open arms; her mother’s injuries are seen as a judgement from the goddess.  They are reduced to the lowest living of all.

I thought this was going to be an extension of the first book of Orr’s I read - Dragonfly Song. Leira is not as sympathetic or interesting character, unfortunately.  She spends way too much of the book whining about what is owed to her. Though she does find a spine and a new path at the end, it doesn’t come early enough to earn empathy.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS