Graceling
Graceling
Kristin Cashore
The orphaned Lady Katsa become the most feared child in the kingdom when at the age of eight it is revealed she has the grace of killing. Without hardly thinking about it, she can take down any attacker. Her uncle, the king uses this to his advantage, sending her out to bully anyone who acts contrary to his wishes. But as Katsa gets older it pains her to do this dirty work and she yearns to bring justice rather than retribution. Then she meets Po, a prince from a nearby land who is also gifted with mysterious and powerful graces. In him she finds a true friend, and possibly more. Together they set of on a quest to solve the mystery of why Po's grandfather was kidnapped, and discover a dark power that threatens life as they know it.
A enthralling fantasy with one of the most kick-ass feminist heroes ever. Graceling does not shy away from the consequences of violent actions, nor does it mask the growing intimacy of its lead protagonists. Teen girls will find this especially empowering, both in its explorations of power and gender rolls, but also its frank depiction of budding female desire. School libraries may wish to shy away from it for the same reason. Highly recommended for grades 9 and up.