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Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The UnderneathApril 16, 2009
Judge Tamora Pierce's Statement Before I begin, I should issue a general caveat: I read Graceling last year, when it was in manuscript form, and liked it so much that I recommended it to fans on my live journal, as well as to librarians and other writers at conferences. I did inform School Library Journal of this, but I was positive I could read The Underneath with an open mind. I never have just one favorite at a time, or ever, as people who have asked me for my favorite book quickly learn! I was certain that I could be fair. I even re-read Graceling to have the book fresh in my mind. The Underneath is the story of a bad man, ordinary animals, a swamp, and animals who are gods, in a way—the Alligator King and Old Mother, a goddess among snakes. The writing is lyrical and literary, linking several stories, changing point of view with each chapter. The ordinary animals are pitted against the abusive man, a drunkard whose greatest wish is to kill the Alligator King by using one of them as bait. Linked with this story is the tale of Old Mother, her family, and her capture. Her soon-to-come escape from her prison hovers over the book, leading the reader to think she is even a great peril than the man. Graceling is a more direct fantasy story, also with its roots in abuse. Katsa is Graced; that is, she possesses magic, revealed by her odd-colored eyes. All such children are raised by their kings until they show whether their skills are useful. All her life Katsa has been told she is a savage killer, no better than a dog. The king, who is her uncle, sends her out to kill for him. The story is wrapped around the idea of a girl, trained only to cruelty and abuse, discovering her own humanity and ability to care for those who have befriended her and those for whom she comes to feel pity. She is active in her redemption; it is her choices which dictate the story, and her growing humanity that helps her to face threats to everything she comes to value. The Underneath is a beautiful book in terms of description—I could see and hear and smell the bayous, their creatures, and their flowers—but it went on too long, meandering too much and losing a great deal of the dramatic tension in the main and secondary stories. Also, the violence and alcoholism are more suited to a YA than a middle grade book, while the characters are definitely middle grade. Graceling is pared-to-the-bone. With very little there that is not essential to the plot. Katsa is active throughout, and she grows and changes. The other characters are three-dimensional, and the power of idealism is strong in the book without being hokey. The descriptions vie with Appelt’s for their ability to evoke exactly what the author describes in my mind. Like The Underneath this is a book about abuse, but this is a film, rather than a snapshot, with the characters fighting it rather than enduring. I choose Graceling to move on.
 Hey! This is not fair! Tammy shouldn’t be allowed to judge her own book! Oh, wait. She didn’t write Graceling? Sure fooled me. My 16-year-old self was cheering for the high fantasy again—surprise, surprise—so you’ll get no complaints here. I’m convinced this is one of the more competitive matches in the first round. I loved the mesmerizing repetitive cadence of The Underneath, and while the prose in Graceling is not at the same level, I found it the more captivating story nevertheless. I can’t fault those who lean the other way, however. It probably comes down to whether you value plot or language more. But are you sure that Kristin Cashore is not a pseudonym for Tamora Pierce? Has anyone seen these authors in the same room? The birth of a conspiracy theory, eh? Hmmm. Posted by Battle Commander on April 16, 2009 | Comments (9)
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath GHouse commented: I've just bought Graceling and Bloodhound, so I'll keep my eyes open for suspicious similarities.
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath Peni Griffin commented: You are both whacked. Underneath is more original, more primal, more well-written, and more human than Graceling. I made myself read Graceling to vote intelligently on the Andre Norton Award, and it took a third of the book to become anything more than "stuff I've seen before." The Underneath - Wow. My inner eight-year-old was bawling in that good Old-Yeller-Little-Women-Charlotte's Web way.
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath anon commented: I've met Kristin Cashore. She and Tamora are definitely different people! Yay Graceling! Although, I do love Kathi's book too. Seems like apple and oranges to me.
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath Erin commented: I'm so happy "Graceling" won! My friend recommended it to me and promised I would love it. Well, "love it" is a bit of an understatement--I adore it with a passion. I completely disagree with Peni Griffin: "Graceling" was one of the most original novels I've read in a while. And Katsa is a rare character indeed. In most stories, fantasy or note, girls are never the vicious, untamed character--that's a realm strictly reserved for men. Hester Shaw (from Philip Reeve's Hungry City Chronicles) is the only other female character I've seen that completely inverts your expectations of what a woman can be. Perhaps these kinds of characters are rare because it disturbs people to read of a girl who has no empathy or maternal instinct? In any case, I found Katsa's journey towards humanity to be riveting--I literally could not put the book down until I finished it. You can win the whole thing, Graceling!
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath annonymous commented: Underneath definitely suffers from self-consciousness and over-writing and I can't imagine giving the book to a 2nd or 3rd grader and expect them to be able to make sense, process, and not be quite startled and distressed by the events in the story. But, of course, these books are not exactly the same flavor -- but who wants to see two apples being compared? (Cashore's writing definitely needs some sharpening but the plotting and the inter-character relationships won me over, too.)
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath Summer commented: YAY! I loved Graceling. I do have to say that I have a hard time believing that these two books stood a fair chance against each other, as Tamora Pierce's work is so similar to Graceling in what they attempt to achieve, that it should be clear what Tamora values more in a book. Next round though... Lincolns v Graceling? Now that's definitely an Apples to Oranges fight.
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath Library Lady commented: Graceling hooked me from page 1--and I am a very dedicated, very cranky (!) fantasy reader. If this one took the title, I'd be thrilled
April 16, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath Anonim... commented: I just want to see Graceling and Hunger Games in the finals. Two wonderful books.
April 17, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath anonymous2 commented: I totally agree with anonymous #1. "The Underneath" is really more of a kids book for adults who like to read kids books. Anyone who thinks it's appropriate for elementary school aged children, hasn't worked with them in a while! It might work as a read aloud, but it's so violent and difficult, I can see kids not enjoying it in that way, either, despite what some claim otherwise. The constant repetition would have worked had it not been so constant and the story really is more appropriate for a YA audience, but they wouldn't go for it because of the cute animal factor. I personally think people are getting way too caught up in Appelt's overly poetic attempt at good writing to see anything else. "The Graveyard Book" was definitely the better choice for the Newbery and "Graceling" was definitely the better choice here!
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