Review Detail

Praise to J. Anderson Coats for another amazing historical fantasy novel for ages 14 and up.

This author is an auto-buy for me. She has a unique way of combining elements into creative out-of-the-box plots with her historical research. This novel spirals from the narration of one character lost after a shipwreck, then to two, then into a complex society of perpetual war. It makes us feel a panoply of emotions.

The Burying Ground sinks in neutral waters with the delegations of two nations with different regimes: one ruled by a monarchy, and another by a parliament. There are at least two survivors: our protagonists. One from the Duran society, trained since childhood for war, and another from the Ariminthian who served her princess well. They have different skills and different upbringings. According to tradition, they are enemies, but soon they realize that there's more in common than they think. They are the same and the most important commonality is that they both want peace.

Before they can trust each other and learn to see their reality through another's eyes, they will cease fire to survive the island, then the pirates hunting them on the island, and after, the only chance they'll have to make sure the war will end.

If a book could translate how our current society and world make me feel overwhelmed, this would be it. The feeling of wanting to act but seeing all paths corrupted and pointless, understanding that the leaders prefer to rule with lies and blame to keep profitable wars going. But... these characters also give us the courage to stick to our beliefs, to do the right thing, and never give up. I believe in the path of fighting back and activism that is not based on violence and retaliation. Instead, I prefer to think that education, knowledge, communication, and acceptance of diversity can win more battles, as these characters do.

It is an amazing read that will start many discussions in the classroom or just keep us thinking for a while, not only regarding the leadership of nations, types of government, and the meaning of war/peace but what are we doing about the wrong things. Do we prefer to stay hidden on a desert island, or face the truth?

Thank you author and publisher for the advance reader copy.

Illustration : cover artwork 3.5