 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo ISBN: 978-1627792127 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Copyright Date: 2015 Reading Age: 12-18 Reading Level: Grades 7-12 Awards: Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award, Lincoln Award Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Subgenre: Supernatural Thriller Plot Summary Set in the Grishaverse of the popular Shadow and Bone series, Six of Crows, and its sequel Crooked Kingdom, explore the seedy underbelly of the world run by Small Science. While only one member of the crew can manipulate matter in the way of the majority of the characters in Shadow and Bone, they have other talents. Kaz, the leader of the team, is a thief with a mysterious past. Inej, known as the Wraith, uses her experience as an acrobat to slip in and out of places unseen. Jesper is a sharpshooter with a gambling problem. Star-crossed lovers Nina and Matthias are dealing with the aftermath of betrayal. If they can all work together to steal from an impenetrable stronghold, they may just change all of their fates to the better. Critical Evaluation While the Grishaverse of the Shadow and Bone series showed good and evil in a more stark black and white setting, Six of Crows, and its sequel Crooked Kingdom, explore the realm of the gray parts of morality. Kaz is a thief and will not hesitate to hurt others if that is the action he thinks is needed. Inej is the Wraith partly because of her acrobatic training but also because she was unseen when she was victimized, kidnapped, and sold to a brothel. Jesper has a gambling addiction, craving the release from his feelings of guilt and shame. Nina betrayed the man she loves in order to save his life, but by doing so condemned him to an imprisoned existence. Matthias, dealing with the aftermath of betrayal, is also coping with issues of rage and his trustworthiness is in question. If they can all work together to steal from an impenetrable stronghold, they may just change all of their fates to the better, but the only way to make their lives better is to work together to commit a crime. Six of Crows is a compelling fantasy that is also a fun heist tale. It is also a tightly-written story with a diverse cast of characters who all bring their unique traumas to the story. Teens will enjoy the characters, their sense of humor and camaraderie, and will enjoy the unfolding of the mysteries embedded within the novel. Readers of all ages will appreciate the examination of the reasons behind a life of crime and will find themselves rooting for the characters even when their own moral compasses are pointing far away from the path this gang of thieves chooses. Reader’s Annotation Six people in the crew—a convict, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, a Heartrender, and a thief. If they can pull off this heist, it will mean a new way of life for each of them.  About the Author Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars—with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Ninth House (Goodreads Choice Winner for Best Fantasy 2019) which is being developed for television by Amazon Studios. She lives in Los Angeles. (Author information and photo can be found here.) Booktalking Ideas Six of Crows is not just a fantasy novel, it's also a heist novel. Discuss some of the most common heist tales. Speak to the conflict between morality and amorality found in both books of the Six of Crows Duology and why readers might identify with the amoral leanings of the characters. Challenge issues: LGBTQIA+, violence
Challenge Issue Resources: Nevada County Library Selection Policy Selection of materials is based upon a number of criteria that include:
The Library selects materials in accordance with the guidelines stated by the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read Statement and Freedom to View Statements. The Library supports diversity of expression and views in its collection in an attempt to provide patrons with a foundation for making informed decisions and formulating personal opinions. The Library does not exclude items because of the race, nationality, social, political, or religious views of the authors. The presence of controversial materials in the collection does not represent the Library’s endorsement of the opinions expressed therein. Although some materials selected may contain language and/or illustrations that may be offensive to some patrons, the Library cannot undertake the task of pleasing all individuals by censoring such items. Active Listening Skills Staff should listen calmly to the patron’s concerns without judgement or commentary. They should acknowledge the public’s right to challenge materials and help the patron find an alternative item that will fit their needs. Nevada County Library Reconsideration form Any citizen may challenge materials. If the citizen chooses to submit a written Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials, Library staff will collect reviews and accumulate data on how the material conforms to the selection policy. An ad hoc review committee consisting of the Library Director, Branch Manager, one other librarian, and a citizen appointed at the discretion of the Library Director will review the material, judge whether it conforms to the Selection Policy and submit its report in writing to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. Concerned parties will be notified of the final decision in writing. ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. Why Included Six of Crows is a compelling fantasy that is also a fun heist tale. It is also a tightly-written story with a diverse cast of characters who all bring their unique trauma to the motivations for being in a gang of crooks and thieves. Teens will enjoy the characters, their sense of humor and camaraderie, and will enjoy the unfolding of the mysteries embedded within the novel. Comments are closed.
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