Article Title
Keywords
Dependable, Young Adult, Victoria Aveyard, Romance, Dystopian World, Family, Rebellion, Superhuman Abilities
Document Type
Book Review
Abstract
Mare is a Red in a world where silver-colored blood marks citizens of Norta with superhuman abilities (controlling fire, water, minds, etc.) and red blood marks the ungifted, lower class. Mare tries to rob a young man named Cal after learning that her best friend is going to be conscripted unless they find money to pay off a group of Red rebels called the Scarlet Guard. Cal catches her, but takes pity on Mare and secures a job for her in the palace. While she is serving the Silver nobility, she falls into an arena’s electric shield. Instead of being electrocuted, she demonstrates her own impossible ability: she can control electricity. The royal family—including, surprisingly, Cal—try to pass her off as a Silver, raised by Reds and now returned to Silver society. She is betrothed to Maven, Cal’s younger brother, and begins her training. She discovers that Maven is working with the rebels and that he wants to use Cal to overthrow the government and put the Scarlet Guard in control. When Cal chooses his father over Mare, Maven’s mother forces Cal to behead his own father using mind control. Maven then betrays both Cal and Mare and sentence them to die for their crimes. But Mare shows her ability and bleeds red for all the world to see and they escape.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Packard, Abigail
(2017)
"Red Queen,"
Children's Book and Media Review: Vol. 38:
Iss.
9, Article 6.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol38/iss9/6