Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 14: Exile
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Exile is the fourteenth book in the children's series Guardians of Ga'hoole by author Kathryn Lasky [1]. On amazon.com, it was said to have been released on February 1 [2], however in some bookstores it was available earlier. The series will be continued with book 15, Guardians of Ga'hoole: The War of the Ember[3]. This fantasy centers on owls living in the future which have developed a society in which they have minimal technology, such as the ability to forge metals and write [1]. This society is centered in a gigantic tree called the Great Ga'hoole Tree [1].
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[edit] Plot summary
This book focuses on when an owl from a foreign kingdom in which all owls have blue feathers travels to the Great Ga'hoole Tree[1]. This bird, called Striga or "The Striga," had apparently been forced to live in a place where all owls were extremely lazy and selfish, letting their feathers grow out so much that the weight of them made it impossible for the owls to fly [4]. Disgusted by these owls' greed and attachment to possessions, The Striga flees [4]. Upon arriving at the Great Ga'hoole Tree, he sees how some owls there are attached to their beautiful possessions like the owls in his past [1]. Disgusted, he takes it upon himself to get rid of all the greedy feelings owls might feel for these things by forcing them to give them up, then burning them in great bonfires [1]. Normally, the residents in the Great Ga'hoole Tree would never have stood for this. However, by praising the king of the Ga'hoole Tree, Coryn, The Striga began to manipulate him into supporting his reforms. With the support of the king, Striga broke into the living spaces of many residents, stealing and burning their adornments, toys, and books of stories [1]. He also managed to persuade a group of owlets, called the Blue Brigade as Striga is a blue owl, to join him in stealing and burning owl's possessions. He argued that loving possessions would just lead to love for oneself, and that the only way not to be "vain" was to live simply. Meanwhile, a Striga sent a few of the king's trusted advisers on a "mission", worried that if they were present in the Ga'hoole Tree Coryn would be persuaded that Striga's reasoning was not valid [1]. While they were away, he pinned them as being traitors and told owls they had been seen practicing witchcraft [1]. Later, these banished owls find out what Striga has been doing at the Great Ga'hoole Tree. Enraged, they return in disguise, just as Striga is about to burn several owls who have refused to part with precious toys and storybooks alive [1]. As they journey back, the king of the Great Tree, who has finally realized how horrible Striga's policies are, meets with them and agrees to help in battling the Striga and his followers [1]. A battle ensues, in which many loyal followers of Striga are killed or driven off, although The Striga himself flees unharmed [1].
[edit] Characters
n.b. details from [1]
Striga, "The Striga": Blue owl with the belief that owning possessions used for pleasure, such as toys, adornments, or storybooks, make their owners prideful and greedy. Burned many possessions and started a following called "The Blue Brigade".
Coryn: The king of the Great Ga'hoole Tree, at first companion and ally to the Striga, later his enemy; radified many of The Striga's policies about possession burning.
Coryn: An burrowing owl named after King Coryn. After his father was killed and his mother attempted to be killed by The Striga's followers when they wouldn't surrender their books of legends, he went to the Great Tree. His presence caused King Coryn to realize what a mistake he had made in supporting Striga.
Soren, Gylfie, Twilight and Digger: Sent by Striga on a "scientific mission" outside the Great Tree because they would oppose his burning of luxuries; later returned to vanquish Striga and his followers from the Great Tree.
Bell: A young owlet persuaded to follow The Striga; has given up many of her most precious toys and tried to convince her siblings to as well.
Blythe: Bell's sister, believes that The Striga is insane and that there's no reason for owls to give up their toys.
Web-reading rabbit(deceased) : A rabbit who can see the future in spider webs; died in the battle with Striga while trying to protect Coryn.
[edit] References
- Lasky, Kathryn (2007). Guardians of Ga'hoole: Exile, 1st ed., Scholastic.
- Kathryn Lasky Official site
- Lasky, Kathryn (2007). Guardians of Ga'hoole: The River of Wind, 1st ed., Scholastic.
[edit] Footnotes
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