Graceling

by Kristen Cashore

Summary: In Katsa's world, children born with two different colored eyes are both feared and revered. The condition is called a "Grace," and its affected are "Gracelings." Katsa has the Grace of killing. No person has ever been able to best her in a fight, so the king uses her as his personal guard and weapon. When Katsa meets Po, a Graceling from a neighboring kingdom, she has almost met her match, since he is Graced as a fighter. His grandfather has been kidnapped, and as he and Katsa set out to try to rescue him, they learn exciting secrets about their own (and each other's) Graces along the way.

My thoughts: This is a difficult book to summarize because there are many exciting plotlines going on! Cashore is a new author, but is so skilled that she keeps the reader interested in them all without causing confusion. The tension between Katsa and Po is enough to keep every girl reading, but is so NOT sappy that boys will keep reading, too. This is one of my favorite books of the year! Katsa is a strong female character. Sometimes authors pair strong girls in books with stupid boys (a trend that really bugs me), but Po has his own mind and is a strong male character in his own right. This is his story, too. Watching Katsa and Po grow up together is very cool!