...still a winner 30 years on!
The Hero and the Crown (Damar #1) by Robin McKinley A timely re-release of a classic fantasy and winner of the 1985 Newbery Medal. I must confess though that The Blue Sword holds a dearer place in my reading heart. And don't even get me started on Deerskin! About the same time Tamora Pierce's Allana was being told for the first time, so was McKinley's story about Aerin, the princess who was different. Aerin carries the burden of negative public opinion, being seen as less than adequate. What do these two have in common? Both are strong female leads who fights the odds and win through. Both move forward at great personal cost against seemingly hopeless situations, armed only with sheer grit and determination, and a lot of tears shed in quiet places. In this tale of discovering one's abilities, Aerin is the princess who didn't inherit the family magical gifts. So to many there's obviously some fault within her. In fact magic done anywhere near Aerin...