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"Raven Speak" by Diane Lee Wilson

Author:

Diane Lee Wilson

Publisher:

Margaret K. McElderry

Wilson, Diane Lee. Raven Speak Margaret K. McElderry Books, New York, 2010.

A vividly descriptive work of historical fiction, Raven Speak takes place in a small Viking settlement on the coast of Norway, telling the story of 14 year old Asa Coppermane, proud daughter of the village chieftan.  The winter has been long and hard, seeming to last forever. Most of the men, including the chieftan, have sailed off in hopes of catching some fish for the starving clan members.  At home, Asa’s mother is now the leader of the clan, but she is weak from the hunger and disease which is plaguing their entire community.  Among the desperate survivors is the village skald, Jorgan, a storyteller, a wiseman.  Jorgan has long thirsted after a position of power in the village.  Preying upon the peoples’ desparation, he tells a story to strengthen his authority, encouraging the people to sacrifice one of the three remaining horses (an act which has been forbidden by Asa’s father) to satisfy the gods in order to bring an end to the winter. 

In the middle of the night, Asa senses Jorgan slipping away from the group.  When she follows him she finds him with a hoard of food.  In a struggle involving Asa’s precious horse, Asa injures Jorgan, and narrowly escapes, herself and her horse also hurt.  After a traveling for many hours, Asa meets a strange old woman, named Wenda, who has one eye and a pair of ravens. Although they have never met before, the old woman can speak to the ravens and seems to know about Asa’s life and her village. Wenda promises to lead Asa to a beached whale which will provide the village with ample food as well as oil and tools.  Very weak and hungry, Asa accepts Wenda’s food, but always wary, she never knows whether or not she can trust Wenda.  Eventually, Asa learns Wenda’s story, her relationship with Jorgan, and recognizes she has no choice but to face Jorgan and return to her village.  As the hunger of her community becomes the primary motivating factor, Asa must make an extremely painful, bloody sacrifice to secure the survival of her clan. 

Thoroughly researching the Vikings, Diane Lee Wilson weaves Norse history and traditions together with her strong background with horses to reveal a number of themes including community responsibility, personal integrity and respect for both human and animal life.  Her expressive language brings the reader directly into the time and place of the Vikings with smells, sounds and feelings which, although far from our modern experience, evoke a real understanding the characters’ motives and the importance of their faith and traditions.  The harsh realities revealed through visceral language and desperate famine and disease within this Viking community contrasts with the stereotypical view of marauding Vikings.  Both Asa and Wenda’s characters develop throughout the book as Asa accepts her growing responsibilities and secrets of Wenda’s past and motives for the present are revealed.  Although some vocabulary will be unfamiliar to young American students, most meanings can be discerned from context.  Readers who love horses and history will enjoy this book; others will be enticed by the provocative cover featuring a photograph of a young woman with striking blue eye, ginger hair, knife, shadow of a horse and a raven. Recommended for readers in grade 5 and older.

Kristine Wildner, Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, WI

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