Plain Kate 12+

About this book

Erin Bow's acclaimed, award-winning fantasy novel reissued in paperback!

Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. When Kate's village falls on hard times — crops fail, and even Kate's father falls victim to a deadly fever — the townspeople look for someone to blame, and their eyes fall on Kate.

Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: In exchange for her shadow, he'll give Kate the means to escape the town that seems set to burn her, and what's more, he'll grant her heart's wish. It's a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes that she can't live shadowless forever — and that Linay's designs are darker than she ever dreamed.

Reviews

"Plain Kate, [Bow's] first young adult novel, demonstrates a mature, haunting artistry... The plot unfolds with the swiftness and dramatic urgency of an adventure tale, yet each event has a measured gravity.... [An] outstanding novel." -- New York Times
“Bow seamlessly integrates ironic humor and existential distance, keeping readers, like Kate, quietly convinced that where there's life, there's hope…Realistic fiction fans may also be drawn to Kate's grueling, dramatic story, as under the fantasy elements lies an effective and moving coming-of-age novel.” -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
“Bow's pellucid prose illuminates the contest between humanity and superstition, including the fear of witches that blights innocent lives. An ending sure to bring tears to readers' eyes concludes this stunning debut fantasy.” -- Horn Book
"Despite the talking animal (who nearly steals the show) and graceful writing (Kate carries Taggle around her neck, "draped bonelessly, like a fur collar with glittering eyes"), this is a dark and complex tale, full of violence--knives cut a lot more than wood. . . . Kate is undeniably a sympathetic character deserving of happiness." -- Publishers Weekly
"A haunting, chilling (but never gory or graphic) tale with a fantastic girl at its center." --Kirkus Reviews
“In her debut novel, poet Bow writes with an absorbing cadence, creating evocative images that trigger the senses and pierce the heart. With familiar folktale elements, she examines the dark corners of human fear and creates intriguing, well-drawn characters, including Taggle, Kate's talking cat, who adds a welcome lightness. . . . [W]ith this debut, Bow establishes herself as a novelist to watch.” --Booklist
“Kate is a stalwart, engaging heroine and Bow vividly evokes a soggy countryside of birch trees, babbling rivers and colourful Roamers. Magic here has its share of blood and death, its grief and powerful joy. Very satisfying reading.” -- Toronto Star
“[T]he lively presence of Taggle, irrepressible with his feline self-involvement and clever observations, brings elements of fun and friendship to Kate's journey. The novel will appeal to fans of Karen Cushman, with Kate as a strong, individualistic female protagonist, and those of Vivian Vande Velde, who also plays with the unpredictable wildness of magic.” -- VOYA
“[Plain Kate] is gorgeously well written, unafraid of plumbing joy and sorrow, and with a story that you can't bear to stop reading.” -- The Times