]): A whimsical story with the most beautifully written prose you’ll find in a middle grade novel.
Feature image credit: Allen & Unwin
With children/preteens as protagonists, a title with the youthful term “runaways,” and a sweetly illustrated cover, you could easily be tricked into thinking that The Raven’s Eye Runaways is a story only for children. However, if you avoided this book with that misconception, you would miss out on some of the most beautifully layered prose you’ll ever come across in a book aimed at any age group.
Getwin works as a bookbinder with her mother, slaving from dawn ‘til dusk on books they are not permitted to read. Lea is a scribe, set to work with hundreds of others to copy manuscripts until her fingers bleed. Buckle is Getwin’s loyal friend. When Getwin’s mother disappears, stolen away by powerful people trying to keep powerful secrets, Getwin and Buckle are determined to get her back. They stumble across Lea, who has managed to escape her prison-like life and the drugged tea that keeps the scribes malleable. Together they discover dangers and secrets that change the very structure of their world.
The story itself has an air of whimsy, from the style of magic (called “strangeness”) that appears in various ways, to the intriguing secondary characters (such as the mystical Lolly Wolfe and her plant-filled house), to the words used for things that manage to be both mundane and magical (such as “Specialtea,” the brew that drugged Lea). Claire Mabey has a unique flair for metaphor, with descriptions that are vivid but not overly wordy.
The action moves quite quickly, as is typical of a middle grade adventure. It does get a little dark at times, and doesn’t shy away from the topic of death, but these are approached in a lighter, less hard-hitting tone as appropriate for the target audience. However, the undertones of what is happening, particularly when you read between the lines regarding the treatment of the scribes, are certainly weighty and meaningful without becoming overly graphic. It’s moments like these where a younger reader might take the moment at face value, but an adult will see all the extra layers of societal and political structure and appreciate it in a different way.
With a gorgeous turn of phrase, unique characters and an exciting plot, The Raven’s Eye Runaways is worth a read no matter your age.
Reviewed by Kristin Stefanoff
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Allen & Unwin
Released: July 2024
RRP: $19.99
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