My discovery of Wabi was a happy accident, as I came upon it while prowling the shelves looking for something different.  The thing I’ve noticed about myself, when I go prowling in this way, is I’m harder to please once I pick a book up because I’m too restless to settle down with most stories.  Wabi, on the other hand, immediately caught my attention and held it–rather like an owl with a mouse in its talons, I imagine.

I think this was in part because Wabi is the best told animal pov I’ve ever read.  And, given that my own middle grade has an animal pov and I’ve made something of a hobby of reading them, that’s saying a lot.  Joseph Bruchac‘s solid use of pov was the first thing to hook me in, and the voice which accompanied it was the sinker which settled the issue.  However, given I was prowling restlessly, those traits would have only made me take the book home.  By themselves they wouldn’t have made me settle in for a night of reading when I’d decided maybe I wasn’t in the mood.

The second element that made me keep reading was the blending of a true hero’s journey–the kind we authors study–and an old fashioned fireside story.  Not a fairy tale as we think of them now, more a fantastic folktale.  Anyway, it was this mixture of epic adventure and rooted fireside story that soothed my soul and kept me reading.  The plot from there proceeded as you might guess from that beginning.  Not a lot of unexpected twists, though is was far from pedantic.  Instead, each page fell into place like a puzzle piece.  You knew its shape and general content, but you probably couldn’t visualize it and only really saw it once it slipped into its spot.  And after the puzzle is all put together–or in this case, the book is closed–each piece strengthens every other piece and blends together to make a cohesive whole.

But, perhaps I’m rhapsing too metaphorical.  The story is about a young owl that is unique even amongst great horned owls for his courage and stature.  Under the tutelage of his great grandmother he watches over a village of humans, and takes an interest in their games and behavior.  But, as he grows older, a terrible thing happens–he falls in love with a human girl.  What follows is of course the epic adventure half, and it was really neat to watch Wabi grow and transform, and the girl and her fellow villagers grow, too.

I loved it, and will recommend it to the other readers I know, both young and old.  I suspect it’s the kind of story that some will love, and others won’t find modern and exciting enough.  But, the ones who give it a try will be the lucky ones, because for a brief time they will feel they have truly lived as an owl!

Let’s hear what Apricot-kitty thought of it:

“Do your really need to ask?  It wasn’t enough that you read (and loved!) that Ulysses-squirrel story, now you want my opinion on an owl’s book?  Need I remind you that while I may eat squirrels, great horned owls do not hesitate to eat cats?  And yet you ask me what I think.  Well, I can tell you–it’s that you have a lot of nerve!”

Hmm, guess that wasn’t her thing?  I really thought she might like it–after all, I’ve heard great horned owls described as the tigers of the sky.  So, that ought to make for common ground, shouldn’t it?  I suppose not.

I occurrs to me that this story is, in a way, a shapeshifting story and despite their fascination, I rarely see those nowadays.  Am I just drawing a blank?  Have you read any lately?

Check out Shannon‘s blog for more Marvelous Middle Grade Monday spotlights, reviews, interviews and giveaways, and happy reading!

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