Saturday, March 31, 2012

Sullivan, Laura L. Guardian of the Green Hill.


Sullivan, Laura L.  Guardian of the Green Hill.  Henry Holt/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, 2011.  292p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-8050-8985-1 ms/hs VG-BN Fantasy    
      This is the sequel to Under the Green Hill.  Meg realizes that she is to be the next Guardian, and her contradictory desires do battle with each other.  There are plenty of familiar mythical and made-up beings to delight the fantasy lover.  It is a few days after the end of the previous book.  Meg is conflicted about going home or becoming the new Guardian.  Gwidion, a relative,  is trying to claim the leadership role for himself.  All he needs to do is to paint a picture of a weak Phyllida to control her actions.  Meg is forced into action when little brother James is stolen.  There are many new fantastic creatures, and more fairies are introduced.  There are suspense, action, tricks and treachery, and a satisfying conclusion.
     Sullivan paints a clear word picture of the many fantastical creatures and the habits of fairies.  She also does well at describing emotions and motivations.  It is a wonderful world she has created in the English countryside.
     I wish that more of a review of the events in the first book had been provided, either in the beginning of chapter 1 or in an introduction.  Having had a year elapse since reading the first book, it took a while before I remembered all the characters and events in it, and a review would have helped in making sense of the story.
Joan Theal


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