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Formats
Hardcover Book Details
  • 04/2023
  • 1958051020 1958051020
  • 208 pages
  • $24.99 hardback
Maxine Schur
Author
The Word Dancer
At a banquet for the royal court of Wisland, Wynnfrith, a 12-year old orphan whose father was advisor to King Goodliwink, sits silently mourning his recent death. Now, in the care of the wicked new advisor, Lord Ugsome, Wynnfrith perks up her ears when she hears King Goodliwink announce the arrival of the Word Dancer. The Word Dancer is a mysterious young who communicates by dance. Each time his dance is completed, he conjures up a single but significant word. The recipient of the word needs to use both head and heart to interpret its true meaning. When he appears before the court, the Word Dancer performs a wild dance then presents the king with one cryptic word of warning. But no sooner is this word given than King Goodliwink is overthrown in a coup by Lord Ugsome. In the terrifying mayhem, Wynnfrith grabs the five-year old crown prince and escapes with him. Wynnfrith has little confidence in herself and is ashamed of her fearfulness. She is a young girl fighting not only for her life but that of the child who is set to be the next king. If she fails, the entire country will live and die under the tyranny of Ugsome’s evil power. On her flight, Wynnfrith uses her wits to survive against all odds. At times, she encounters The Word Dancer who, through a variety of secret methods, provides a word as guidance. She must be decipher the hidden meaning of the word then rally her courage to carry out the task before her—to save the crown prince. Through the trials she faces, Wynnfrith matures and gradually sheds her self-doubts to become a true heroine. Will Wynnfrith’s growing courage allow her to succeed in what appears to be an impossible feat: overthrow the evil Ugsome army and restore King Goodliwink to the throne? If she does, she will gain not only a new confidence, but a new family. With fresh dialogue and original verse, this suspenseful tale is laced with humor, wit and wordplay for The Word Dancer is, at heart, a celebration of the power and beauty of words.

Quarter Finalist

Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10
Originality: 10 out of 10
Prose: 10 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 9.75 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Schur's fantasy is masterfully plotted, depicting the tale of 12-year-old Wynnfrith in the court of King Goodliwink. The setting is glittering with intrigue and mystique, and readers will be enthralled by Wynnfrith's transformation.

Prose: The prose shimmers, and Schur deftly fences with wordplay and imagery that perfectly match the story's tone.

Originality: The Word Dancer is lyrical and propulsive, brimming with amusing and innovative ideas.

Character/Execution: Though the characters somewhat adhere to archetypes, Wynnfrith glistens with relatable unrest and a deep desire to uncover her hidden strength. At times, her charisma is eclipsed by the Word Dancer—an enigmatic, fascinating character spinning across the pages.

Date Submitted: April 26, 2023

Reviews
Schur takes young readers on a fantasy adventure through the Kingdom of Wisland and beyond as twelve-year old orphan Wynnfrith, in a time of war, must keep five-year-old Prince Oliver safe from the king’s enemies. At the story’s heart is the fascinating figure of The Word Dancer, a magical man who always sees the truth within turbulent situations and bestows upon individual citizens a single word of importance. It is up to each to interpret the word’s meaning in their life. As Wynnfrith and Oliver journey through the kingdom, meeting a variety of friends, foes, and even the Word Dancer, they discover the importance of language and the power of words.

The main characters’ quest moves quickly on the page and will captivate young readers and ignite their sense of adventure. Schur creates whimsical characters such as maternal healer Mistress Plummety Peache, who quickly embraces Wynnfrith and Oliver, and Glutt the prison guard, a creature with “a misshapen head like a puzzle piece” that banters with Peache through fun alliterations (“Greasy Grubber,” Mistress Peache cried. “Grimy. Grinning. Grotesque. Grasper.” “Gross and greedy too” the creature howled…). The importance of language becomes paramount to Wynnfrith’s journey, as Schur crafts the story to emphasize the great influence that words can have on how we perceive and are perceived.

As the children face their trials, including moral lessons sprinkled throughout, Schur weaves into the plot strong themes of inner-strength and righteousness, universal ideals that play pivotal roles in Wynnfrith’s personal growth and offer encouragement to readers. Knowledge and respect for the written word also is presented as something of a power. A map of the Kingdom of Wisland is conveniently provided for young readers to help visualize the vast land. Middle-grade readers looking for a bit of whimsy and adventure will enjoy this fantasy that presents reading itself as as part of a hero’s growth.

Takeaway: This quick-paced fantasy centers on the power of words.

Comparable Titles: Chris Colfer, Jessica Day George Tuesdays at the Castle series.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Formats
Hardcover Book Details
  • 04/2023
  • 1958051020 1958051020
  • 208 pages
  • $24.99 hardback
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