| Soren, a Barn Owl (Tyto alba), is a young owlet who lives in a fir tree in the Tyto Forest with his mother, father, older brother (Kludd), and younger sister (Eglantine). One night when his parents are off hunting, his jealous brother, Kludd, shoves him off the nest. Soren falls to the ground reasonably unhurt but is completely helpless because he cannot fly. The blind snake, Mrs. Plithiver, the nestmaid who watches over the children and cleans the nest, attempts to rescue Soren but cannot.
Soren, helpless and confused, dreads the coming of dawn. Dawn means that the raccoons will be out and raccoons often go after helpless owlets. When Soren feels a draft of wind, he cries out, believing that his mother or father have come to rescue him. However, the wind was not caused by his parents. An owl patrol snatches Soren away and rudely speaks to him. Soren meets a female Elf Owl named Gylfie. The owls who have snatched them along with other owlets fly to the canyonlands, where St. Aggie's Academy is located. Soren and Gylfie find out that St. Aggie's Academy was basically a prison. By exposing owlets to the dangerous shine of the moon, the owlets lose their personality and become mindless tools of evil and destruction. Soren and Gylfie realize that the only way to escape the deep canyon floors was to learn how to fly. An infiltrator named Hortense assists them but is caught in the act and brutally pushed off a cliff. Soren and Gylfie turn to the elderly Boreal Owl named Grimble, a somber owl with a sad past. Grimble teaches them to fly and helps them escape the canyons. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - sensitive (sigh....) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Repressive society story Yes Repressive because: Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Descript. of chases or violence - 30 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 % Who's a slave/repressed? - kiddies are repressed Animal Story Yes Kind of animal - bird Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - a kid Main Adversary Identity: - animal Age: - long-lived adults How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Dumb Setting Terrain Earth setting: - general past Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript |
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