Dead Upon a Time
Author: Elizabeth Paulson
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2015
Age: 12 up, Young Adult
Pages: 211
Once upon a time there was a young woman named Kate Wood, who took food baskets to Nan (her grandmother) in the woods, fought off wolves, and like Nan, was “uncommon.” Shunned by the Shepherd Grove villagers because of her family’s magical powers, Kate is desperate for help when Nan disappears. Her one clue is the strange tapestry that Nan left behind, with terrible scenes of suffering stitched into the fabric showing children imprisoned in cell blocks.
Children have been disappearing from Shepherd Grove for some time now. Kate goes to her childhood friend Jack (also “uncommon”), who has been hiding in the woods ever since the ‘giant killing’ fiasco. He agrees to help, but they are captured a short time later by Constable Sterling of the village and taken to King Wilhelm for questioning, where they learn that Princess Ella has also disappeared. Kate convinces King Wilhelm that she and Jack can find Ella along with Nan. Privately, she suspects his evil new wife, Queen Cecilia. Adding to her suspicions, Kate finds a tapestry similar to Nan’s in Ella’s belongings, with the words “you’re next” inscribed at the top.
Also, stitched in both tapestries is a trail of vines that leads to a brick fortress, which Kate and Jack find and follow in the forest. Arriving at the fortress, they meet Nan’s evil twin, Catarina. She has been luring Nan and Kate all along and needs “uncommon blood” to maintain her evil state and beauty. Kate offers her life in exchange for Ella, the children, and Jack (also captured), who are then released. To Kate's surprise, Constable Sterling arrives unexpectedly (they had long since ditched him).
An enchantment spell is lifted revealing his true identity, Kate’s long lost father. Catarina is quickly defeated and imprisoned. Kate happily takes up residence with her father and Nan. Jack is content to stay in the woods and most of the children happily live with Ella and the king. Their families and evil Queen Cecilia remain a mystery, but that’s another story. A bit too fairy tale-ish for me, but I'm sure some will love this rather dark tale.
"And this is the story of how the lieutenant lost his arm. When he reached home, his sisters, his mother, his wife, sobbed for a long time at the sight of the flat sleeve. "Oh, well," he said, standing shamefaced amid these tears. " I don't suppose it matters so much as all that." (Published 1895)
I love the classics and plan to alternately share some "CLOSING lines" over the coming months. Comment if you wish, or
read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, or were they really?
Thinking of my family and friends, and others I'll never know, who have served in the U.S. military in the past and serve today, defending democracy and protecting the people of America, the country of my birth.
Thank you!!
To my grandfather Paul (Army) who served during World War I
and World War II.
To my Uncle Mervin (Army), Uncle Jim (Navy), and father Robert (Navy) who served during World War II.
Special thanks to my Uncle Russ (Army), who was captured during World War II and spent the duration in a German prison camp.
To my Uncle Art (Army) who served during the Korean War.
To my husband Vince (Air Force) who served during the
Vietnam War.
To my friend's brother Alan (Army), who served during the Vietnam War and lost his life.
To niece Jammie and husband Kevin, and niece Jessica for your past and present service in the Air Force today. God bless you!
Thank you!!
"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
(Published 1925)
I love the classics and plan to alternately share some "CLOSING lines" over the coming months. Comment if you wish, or
read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, or were they really?
The Insecure Writers Support Group meets online every first Wednesday of the month. Founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh, IWSG was created to support and encourage all writers in every phase of their work, from writing to marketing. Click here to join, and for information, writing tips, and more.
Co-hosts for November are Stephen Tremp, Karen Walker, Denise Covey, and Tyrean Martinson!
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I'm holding steady, awaiting replies on my novel, and darn it, I am getting the standard form letter reject from agents, but not all have been negative. For instance, one was interested in "future projects." Now that's motivation to finish all those projects I've started. I'm currently working on two--one fiction, one nonfiction.
I must say that all replies have been polite, which I appreciate a lot. One benefit of email correspondence is that agents (and publishers) can spend time writing the nicest reject ever. Seriously, I have been impressed. Years back I remember when the standard postcard reply was one of several boxes checked. It was impersonal and discouraging.
So . . . here's another perspective:
A huge distraction to all this has been Fall gardening. With over half an acre, we have a lot of bare land yet to fill. Off the top of my head, I've planted somewhere around 25 shrubs starting in October. I'm going to take credit for doing most of the work too! My husband has had a full plate this past month, but I don't mind. Gardening has always been a creative outlet for me. A garden grows one plant at a time, in much the same way the plot (the soil) and characters (the plants) of a story grow. Some fail and some perform in extraordinary ways. All it takes is water, TLC, fertilizer and time.
"Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife. Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles." (Published 1899)
I love the classics and plan to share some
"opening lines" over the coming months. Comment if you like, or read
for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, but were they
really?
