Rebecca Freeman

Forest Born
Shannon Hale
Fantasy Fiction
Holiday
307

1) Right now Rin escaped from the cell and, while looking for Tusken, got locked in a room. Soon Selia entered with Isi. Rin did not hide quickly enough so she was caught and handcuffed by Selia's soldiers. Selia is trying to use her people speaking to convince Isi to sign the papers that would give Selia Bayern's eastern provinces. Selia also threatens Isi with Tusken's and Rin's life. She said that for every spark Isi creates Tusken will lose a finger and Tusken will lose a limb for every person Isi hurts. Rin tries to use her people speaking to convince Selia not to make Isi sign the papers but, since Rin spent her life trying to hide her gift (or is it a curse?) instead of growing it like Selia, Selia soon frees herself of the power of Rin's words and makes her soldier hurt her. Isi asks Selia to tell her how she avoided being killed to help delay time and discovers that Selia started the war with Tira that took place in Enna Burning.

2) I am really enjoying this book. Since it is a holiday book, I can read it quickly and easily, so I can really enjoy the plot without tripping over unknown words. Also, it is very fast-paced and there is never a boring moment. This doesn't mean that there are constant battles but something interesting is always happening- and when there isn't, Shannon Hale fills the gaps with facts and thoughts that never bore me. However, I don't like that the main character hates herself and always says that she wants to run away from herself. I don't like people who have no self-respect or, if they don't like who they are, don't try to change themselves.

3) A theme that I noticed a lot in this book is about facing your fears. At the beginning of the book, Rin is scared to leave home. She feels as though she is a rotten and a horrible person and must leave home to escape from that feeling. When she is leaving she becomes terrified of leaving the only place she ever knew. However, she knows that she couldn't stand living with her 'Ma' if she was a bad person. So, Rin faces her fears and goes anyway. Another example of Rin facing her fears is when Razo says that he will go into the castle to try to rescue Dasha, Isi and Enna. Rin suspects that Razo has a broken rib and, although she has never been more scared of anything in her life, insists that she goes instead of him. Although she almost backed out of it twice, Rin faces her fear so that she can try to save her brother.

4) My favorite character is Enna. She is my favorite because she is deadly and powerful, but she is never able to kill a person one-on-one, she feels to bad. Although she always acts (and is) tough and pessimistic. She is actually a really nice person and a very loyal friend. She always helps Isi and comforts her when she needs it. Also, if she wants something, she does everything possible to get it.

5) My least favorite character is Selia. I don't like her because she gets too consumed by the idea of power and she always wants more, more, more. She is extremely greedy and insensitive. She uses her people speaking to a) lure people to their deaths and b) make people fall in love with her and then she doesn't pay them any attention or help them. Her only focus is becoming as powerful as possible. Being queen of one kingdom isn't enough. No, she has to beat Isi by killing her and taking the Eastern provinces (her plan then would probably to kill the king and the prince, then she could convince everyone to give the kingdom to her).

6) I think that Razo and Tusken are actually safe and Selia was just lying about Razo's death and Tusken's capture. I think that Rin will realize that with her people- speaking skills and tell Isi. Then Isi will fight and somehow Rin will help too- maybe she will hurt Selia. In the end, Selia will die- for real-, they will find Razo and Tusken and then Rin will realize that she can fall in love without hurting that person. When Rin realizes that I think that she will start to date Conrad.