Gussy

September 27, 2021
A young ritualist with an outsize sense of duty attempts to hold her own in Cajoleas’s (Minor Prophets) rambling frontier fantasy. For the residents of an unnamed desert outpost within Darkling Valley, all that keeps them safe from lurking supernatural force The Great Doom are Grandpa Widow and orphaned protégée Gustavina Mithridates Pearl—Gussy—two protectors tasked with performing granular daily Rites meant to ward off infection. When Grandpa Widow is summoned by the powerful Council of Protectors, Gussy is charged with shielding the town on her own, a task that becomes exponentially more precarious after she in a sympathetic moment that directly violates a Rite—opens the town gates after dark, welcoming a lone girl in during a terrible desert storm. Gussy’s belief structure and colloquial narration dominate the novel’s languid first act. Though secondary characters lack the detail of Gussy’s daily rituals, Cajoleas gracefully builds to a rousing climax, portrayed alongside a refreshingly positive message of grit, gumption, and community. All characters are cued as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jessica Regel, Foundry Media.

October 1, 2021
A girl must protect her town from threats both external and within. Gussy, short for Gustavina, has been raised by Grandpa Widow to take up his mantle of Protector of their desert village. This means being able to precisely perform all of the Rites that keep the Great Doom that lurks outside the village at bay. When Grandpa Widow is summoned away, Gussy's left to be sole Protector. The first night, she breaks the most important rule, opening the gate at night to save the life of a strange girl trapped in a storm. Gussy has to keep mysterious Angeline a secret while also holding her town together and trying to live up to the responsibility with which she's been burdened. Worse, it seems like someone is sabotaging the Rites, increasing the risk from the Great Doom that is always waiting for a chance to slip in. Gussy must figure out who to team up with and who isn't trustworthy if she's to defend the town. The threats get increasingly dangerous until all players show their cards and there's a full reckoning of old lies and debts coming due. The magical, Old West-flavored setting stands out, and Gussy's folksy voice matches it well. A few surnames imply diverse ethnicities; most primary characters seem to default to White. Offers a distinctive setting, a creepy magical threat, and a whole lot of heart. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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November 1, 2021

Gr 4-7-Part fantasy, part dystopian tale, this is a unique, genre-bending story of friendship, trust, and found families. Gussy is a determined, independent girl who is in training as the protector of her village out in the desert. The Great Doom has been fought off by her Grandpa Widow for many years, so when he suddenly gets called away, Gussy is left to defend the town against this dark and magical force. The biggest rule of them all is not to open the gate after dark, so when Gussy does (to save a life), she has to face the repercussions. Gussy's strong personality and unwavering commitment to her grandfather, against common sense, may turn off some readers. There are also points in the story where the characters become possessed by the Great Doom, which switches this story from fantasy and dystopian to pure horror, with humans crawling on top of the ceiling and hissing. Even with repetitive plot points, the story moves along quicker in the second half, and there is a happily ever after for all the characters that will leave readers satisfied. VERDICT Fans of fantasy and horror may enjoy this unique tale, but some shortcomings may cause it to fall flat for others.-Erin Decker, Discovery Intermediate School, Altamonte Springs, FL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2021
Grades 4-7 Fiddle pressed firmly to neck, Gussy walks behind Grandpa Widow with pride and purpose. As Protectors, they circle the wall surrounding their desert town performing Rites, age-old songs and rituals, to keep out the Great Doom, which creeps ever closer to their gate and threatens death and destruction. On this particular evening, Grandpa Widow receives a summons from the Council of Protectors, which means Gussy will have to carry out the Rites alone during his absence. Though Gussy has been training for this ever since Grandpa Widow found her abandoned as an infant, challenges mount as certain rules no longer feel clear-cut and someone begins sabotaging the protective charms. Gussy narrates with a down-home storytelling flare that, along with her candid attitude, makes her a real pleasure to spend time with. Cajoleas threads interesting ideas about religion and respecting nature through the narrative. While the contained quality of the story (geographically and through Gussy's repetitive duties) may put off readers who prefer action-based fantasies, readers interested in character and world building will find Gussy's town well worth visiting.

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