Title: Walk on Earth a Stranger
Author: Rae Carson
First published September 22, 2015
436 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780062242914 (ISBN10: 0062242911)
Rating: 3.93
Overview
In a world where magic is feared and hunted, Lucinda “Lucy” Stone has a secret. She can communicate with animals, a power that has kept her and her family safe from harm.
But when tragedy strikes, Lucy is forced to flee from her home and embark on a dangerous journey across the American frontier. With danger lurking at every turn, Lucy must use her gift to survive, even if it means putting herself in harm’s way.
As she travels west to California, where a new kind of magic has just been discovered, Lucy must navigate treacherous landscapes and outsmart ruthless enemies who will stop at nothing to control her power. The first book in a thrilling new trilogy from bestselling author Rae Carson, Walk on Earth a Stranger will leave you breathless until the very last page.
About the Author
Rae Carson, a California native, discovered her love for storytelling at a young age. After completing her studies in social sciences, she pursued various professions before finally realizing her passion for writing.
Her debut novel, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, showcases her unique ability to craft stories about courageous teens. Her books are known for their thrilling adventures, sprinkling of magic, and romantic elements.
Carson’s protagonists are smart girls who make sensible decisions, and her writing is particularly captivating because she explores questions she doesn’t have answers to.
Editoral Review
“Walk on Earth a Stranger” by Rae Carson is an engrossing work of historical fiction that explores the American gold rush era through the eyes of a compelling young protagonist. Carson, who is best known for her popular “Fire and Thorns” trilogy, has proven herself a master of world-building and character development yet again in this first book of her Gold Seer trilogy.
With its vivid descriptions, layered plot, and relevant themes, “Walk on Earth a Stranger” effortlessly transports its readers to the wild and unforgiving terrain of mid-19th century America. The novel is set in the year 1849, during the height of the gold rush in California.
We follow the story of sixteen-year-old Leah Westfall, who possesses a rare gift of sensing gold in the earth. After her parents are killed, Leah decides to flee her home in Georgia and head west to California, disguising herself as a boy to avoid detection.
Along the way, she encounters a host of colorful characters, including a gold-hungry outlaw, a kindly fur trapper, and a fierce Comanche warrior. As she struggles to stay alive and evade her pursuers, Leah must rely on her wits and her ability to sense gold, all while grappling with the harsh realities of frontier life.
One of the strengths of “Walk on Earth a Stranger” lies in its attention to historical detail. Carson has clearly done her research, and she expertly weaves real-life events and people into the fabric of her story.
Through Leah’s eyes, we see the challenges faced by women, Native Americans, and African Americans during this tumultuous time in American history. The stark contrast between the lush greenery of Georgia and the barren landscapes of the west underscores the brutal reality of the journey that Leah and her fellow travelers must undertake.
Even as Carson crafts a gripping adventure story, she never loses sight of the historical context in which it is set. Another strength of the novel is its intricate character development.
Leah is a complex and sympathetic protagonist, with a strong sense of justice and a fierce determination to survive no matter what. The other characters she encounters over the course of the story are equally well-drawn, from the charismatic outlaw Jefferson Early to the enigmatic trapper Amos.
Carson has a gift for creating vivid, memorable characters, and readers are sure to find themselves invested in their fates. One potential weakness of the novel is its slow pacing in the early chapters.
The first few chapters, which establish Leah’s backstory and set up the circumstances that lead her on her journey, may feel slow to some readers. However, the novel quickly picks up steam once Leah sets out on her own, and the tension and excitement never let up from there.
Overall, “Walk on Earth a Stranger” is a superbly crafted novel that will transport readers to an unforgettable time and place. Carson’s writing is richly descriptive and emotionally resonant, and her characters are deeply engaging.
Fans of historical fiction, adventure stories, and coming-of-age tales will find much to love in this first installment of the Gold Seer trilogy. Highly recommended.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
