Ellis, Leanne Statland. The Ugly One.

Ellis, Leanne Statland.  The Ugly One.    Houghton Mifflin/Clarion  2013  245p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-547-64023-5  jr/sr      Multicultural  E-BN    

Although Micay can not remember how she got the scar on her face, the memory that is locked in her mind can only set her free once she remembers.  In the meantime she must find her place among her people, but how do you get people to accept you when they are afraid of you and the scar on your face?  The road she must travel is a hard one, but at the end of this journey she will be able to uncover her true self and accept her own fate within her tribe in the mountains of Machu Picchu.

A strange mystical walk through a land that is unknown to us, and a journey to find oneself in a world that does not accept one, The Ugly One is a story of discovering who you are, where you fit in, and for what purpose.  The story depicts a time of making human sacrifices for the gods so that the rain would be plentiful for the harvest of grains to feed the people.  In this culture, the power of dreams could lead one to the path of one’s future destiny.

This is a story beautifully told.  The author’s bond to Machu Picchu in Peru has inspired her to write this lovely story as if she heard the words in the wind. Her story will transport you to a time and place that is full of wonder, strong spirits and beautiful images.  The author is a powerful storyteller.

Summary: Micay has a deep scar on her face that causes people to dislike her.  They are afraid of her.  She cannot remember how she got the scar, but her wish is to be able to find her own happiness in this world of beautiful people.

Disfigurement-Fiction, Self-esteem-Fiction, Indians of South America-Fiction                                                                    --Magna Diaz