The Scorpio Race

[Jule Watkinson]

Somerace to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience

I went into The Scorpio Races blind. This award-winning novel by Maggie Stiefvater tells the story of a fictional horse race that takes place every year on the island of Thisby, where the mounts involved in this contest are mythical, carnivorous horses from the water that are equal parts dangerous and breathtakingly gorgeous.

The mythological inspiration for The Scorpio Races comes from Scottish folktales of the kelpie, a shapeshifting water spirit that was usually described as adopting the form of a beautiful black horse. The kelpie lived in the lochs of Scotland, preying on any humans it encountered, leading to it often being referred to as some kind of demon.

This is a question that bothers me only because, in the 20/20 of hindsight, it should have been obvious that I was in the mythological wrong. I knew that Maggie Stiefvater had a history with the folklore of the British Isles from her Raven Cycle, which deals with the medieval Welsh king, Owain Glyndŵr; and the theme music for the Scorpio audiobook, composed and performed by Stiefvater, exudes a notably non-Hellenic musical slant.

This is but a single, early example as The Scorpio Races is littered with further examples of the savagery of the uisce, whether it be mutilated sheep carcasses, injuries to people on the island, and even descriptions of the uisce devouring their own. The ferocity of the uisce is part of the thrill and danger of participating in the Scorpio Race.

Pelops is known for many things in Greek myth, but one of his most famous moments came when he traveled to seek the hand of Hippodameia from her father, King Oinomaos. It was a tricky business, however, as Oinomaos feared a prophecy that claimed he would be killed by his son-in-law; as a result, he had actually killed the eighteen previous suitors of Hippodameia after defeating them in a chariot race. Because he was a son of Ares (Ἄρης), the Greek god of war, Oinomaos was not only an expert charioteer, but also possessed mythic horses that were a gift from his father.

So, yes, I completely misinterpreted the mythological origins and inspiration of The Scorpio Races and yet, despite all this, I managed to understand what the mythology brought to the story regardless. The capaill uisce are just an element of magical realism within what is, ultimately, a tale of determination, self-will, and the many forms of bravery.

En route to earning her Sustainable Library Initiative school librarian certification, Ashley Grillo put a greenhouse in her library at Spackenkill (NY) High School and taught students about gardening, composting, and recycling, among other things.

School Library Journal editor in chief Kathy Ishizuka has announced significant changes in the reviews department. Shelley Diaz has been named reviews director and Kimberly Fakih, executive editor, reviews.

Sarah Couri is a librarian at Grace Church School's High School Division, and has served on a number of YALSA committees, including Quick Picks, Great Graphic Novels, and (most pertinently!) the 2011 Printz Committee. Her opinions do not reflect the attitudes or opinions of SLJ, GCS, YALSA, or any other institutions with which she is affiliated. Find her on Twitter @scouri or e-mail her at scouri35 at gmail dot com.

It is a little cliche. Just a little. Not the race that is, but the fact that Sean wanted to release Corr. There are a lot of books where the main character releases his or her beloved pet into the wild to be free. Usually the animal desires it, wanting to become one with his or her native home.

Now in the case of this book, I think it was the perfect ending. Throughout the whole book, we are beat over the head with the idea that these capaill uisce are beautiful, deadly creatures. People can are killed yearly by the horses. The characters have grown up knowing that they are deadly. They sacrifice blood to the island before the race in hopes that less people will die by the hands of the capaill uisce.

Every November on the island of Thisby, tourists flock in for the annual Scorpio Races. This dangerous competition is only for the bravest as riders do not race atop regular horses but rather upon capaill uisce, bloodthirsty mythological horses that come from the sea. Still, the races are a major part of Thisby, and winning can mean everything. For Sean, a favorite in the race, winning again could mean the freedom to live life on his own terms. For Puck, whose parents were killed by capaill uisce, it is the only way to dig herself and her remaining family out of financial ruin.

Sean Kendrick, four time winner of the Scorpio Races, longs to be free of his current employer and owner of most of the island, Benjamin Malvern. Malvern refuses to sell Sean the capaill uisce, Corr, that once belonged to his father. But this year, Malvern has agreed to sell Corr to him if he wins the race.

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Deadly horses emerge from the sea and collide with island inhabitants in a bloody annual race for prize money and the fulfillment of dreams. Rich language portrays characters, action, and setting leading to an intoxicating climax.

When Kate (Puck) Connolly announces that she is going to enter the race, she is at first just thinking of a way to get her older brother, Gabe, to stay on the island a few weeks longer. Puck also refuses to ride a water horse on principle because the water horses killed her parents leaving only Gabe, Puck, and their younger brother Finn. Puck instead decides to ride Dove, her trusty island horse.

Puck is trying to pick up the pieces of everything to somehow keep the house she grew up in. She tries so hard to stay strong for Finn as they are the only family each other will have left when Gabe leaves for the mainland.

Sean Kendrick at nineteen has won the Scorpio Races multiple times. He has a way with the water horses. At first, he is adamant that Puck and Dove have no place on the beach as Puck is not a boy and Dove is not a water horse. Then later he says that Puck has the right to try just like anyone else.

This book was so unlike anything I have ever read. The setting is so very real it seems entirely possible there could be an island called Thisby where, every fall, ravenous water horses emerge from the sea.

I know what you mean about not expecting this novel. It is quite original! ?

My library has the audiobook which is what I have been considering for a reread. I usually listen to quite a few audiobooks due to the time it takes to go to any sort of store in Montana. This weekend, for example, I had a five hour drive to the city one way yesterday and will be driving home tomorrow after visiting my sister. Audiobooks make life so much easier out here.

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This fantasy novel by Maggie Stiefvater is published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., and is written for kids ages 14 and up. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness.

When her mare is in danger because of fierce water horses practicing nearby on the beach, Sean tells her to keep her pony off the beach. Eventually, Sean helps Puck learn to race. As the day of the race approaches, the island comes alive with guests, festivals and intense training rituals. Wealthy mainlanders bargain with Malvern for his capall uisce. Riders make blood pledges to participate in the races. Mutt bullies Sean, and he severely injures a horse, thinking it is Corr. Men in training are injured and killed by the fierce water horses.

The self-interested Malvern owns much of the town and exerts control over people like Sean and Puck. He watches out for his son, Mutt, even though he has little respect for the boy. The men of the town, steeped in their traditions, use fear and threats to try and keep Puck from being the first female rider. Gabe plans to leave his two younger, orphaned siblings to seek his fortune on the mainland.

What this film should be is one on a simple budget as far as location and cast, but beautiful. None of this gloom/drab/boring tone Hollywood set for The Hunger Games, we want an island that looks gorgeous, and we want 90% of the budget to be spent on these mystic horses that emerge from the ocean, and the race scenes to be out of this world. We want a soundtrack that all by itself would make us stand up from our seats in excitement. Give it to us, and we will fill your box office and throw you our money. Fingers crossed.

A combination of impressive sales and critical acclaim put Stiefvater in position to follow J.K. Rowling and Suzanne Collins as the next books-to-film star from publisher Scholastic. Centered on a deadly race involving magical sea horses, "The Scorpio Races" has a "Hunger Games" vibe.

I am a re-reader. If a story captures me, I will return and savor the world within its pages from time to time. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is one of those favorites. It has all the bits and pieces I love in a tale: horses, female hero, horses, a touch of fantasy, horses. I think you get my point.

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