Voice of Youth Advocates
(December 1, 2003; 0-439-40557-2)
Soren, a sweet little barn owl who is not quite ready to fly, is booted out of his nest by his evil older brother, Kludd, while his parents are out hunting. Left on the ground to either hide or be eaten, Soren is swept up by an alarmingly large great horned owl and carried off to the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. At the Academy, his name is replaced with a number, he is told to ask no questions, and put to work as a picker, pulling apart owl pellets to look for mysterious flecks. Kept alert by his questioning mind and the steadfast friendship of Gylfie, a likewise kidnapped elf owl, Soren sets out to solve the riddle posed by St. Aggie's and ultimately to escape and help save his owl world from the domination of those running the orphanage. Characterization is merely adequate, but the setting is well realized with enough background to give the owl world depth and history. The plotting, although predictable, is swift and involving, making this first installment in a projected series a compelling read. It will appeal to readers of animal fantasies such as the Redwall series or Avi's Poppy (Orchard, 1995/VOYA June 1996).-Ann Welton.
School Library Journal
(October 1, 2003; 0-439-40557-2)
Gr 4-8-At the beginning of this new series, a young Barn Owl named Soren lives peacefully with his family, participating in rituals like the First Meat ceremony, and enjoying legends about the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, knightly owls "who would rise each night into the blackness and perform noble deeds." After he falls from his nest, his idyllic world transforms into one of confusion and danger, as he is captured by evil chick-snatching owls and taken to the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. Soren and his new friend Gylfie work to develop strategies for withstanding "moon blinking" (brainwashing), while secretly striving to learn how to fly. The legends of Ga'Hoole help them to survive, and they are able to escape to find their families and warn the world about the dangers of St. Aegolius. While the owls have human characteristics, such as Soren's determination and Gylfie's creative ideas, their actions and culture reflect Lasky's research into owl behaviors and species. The story's fast pace, menacing bad guys, and flashes of humor make this a good choice for reluctant readers, while the underlying message about the power of legends provides a unifying element and gives strong appeal for fantasy fans.-Beth L. Meister, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Flushing, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Booklist
(September 15, 2003; 0-439-40557-2)
Gr. 5-8. Soren, a barn owl still weeks away from fledging, is knocked from his otherwise loving family's nest by his nasty older brother. He is swooped up from the forest floor by a pair of nefarious owls who hold him--along with many other owlets of diverse species--captive in a kind of owl social reformatory. Lasky portrays an owl world that has more in common with George Orwell than with Brianacques, offering readers big questions about human social psychology and politics along with real owl science. Broad themes related to the nature of personal choice, the need for fellowship based on love and trust, and sharing knowledge with one's peers are presented compellingly and with swift grafting to the animal adventure story. Developmentally linked celebrations (such as First Fur and First Meat ), methods devised for brain-washing (including the regimental marching of sleepy owls by moonlight), and the diverse landscapes in which owls makes their homes come to life here as Soren rebels against his captors, makes a friend, and executes the first stage of his planned liberation and family reconciliation. Readers will look forward to upcoming installments. --Francisca Goldsmith Copyright 2003 Booklist
Publishers We
The Barnes & Noble Review
Author Kathryn Lasky lays the groundwork for an owlish tale of good versus evil in this first adventurous installment of Guardians of Ga'Hoole.
After little Soren, a barn owl, finds himself pushed out of Mum and Da's nest, he's captured by two ruthless hench-birds and taken to the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. Now a mere owl slave to rulers seeking domination over all owl kingdoms, Soren is given a number and finds himself working in the Pelletorium, where brainwashed ("moon blinked") owls sort through stones for "flecks." Fortunately, Soren has an elf owl friend to help him get by, and the two begin clandestine flying lessons in the lair's library. Luckily, they narrowly escape a bloody battle, and with help from two more owl pals, Soren and Gylfie realize their mission to find the Great Tree of Ga'Hoole, warn its guardians of St. Aggie's plans, and "become part of this ancient kingdom of knights on silent wings that rose in the blackness to perform deeds of greatness."
With all the right elements -- a hero that's destined for greatness and the struggle between light and darkness -- Lasky's Guardians debut is a high-flying hoot. Soren's tale is suspenseful and riveting, and by the book's end, readers will even be impressed with how much they've learned about owls. Reminiscent of Brian Jacques's Redwall and Robin Jarvis's Deptford Mice, The Capture is bound to catch fantasy fans in its talons.
Matt Warner
Lasky's (The Man Who Made Time Travel) Guardians of Ga'Hoole series opens with this unevenly paced tale centering on Soren, an owlet whose nasty older brother pushes him out of the family nest. A large owl snatches Soren up and carries him to a deep, dark canyon, the location of the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. Its nefarious nature is apparent from the start: Soren and other new arrivals are given numbers to replace their names, they are forbidden to ask questions and are required to sleep with their beaks "tipped to the moon" and to walk, herd-like, during the night when a full moon is shining. This "sleep march" leaves the young owls "moon blinked," after which, in the words of Soren's friend Gylfie, "You no longer know what is for sure and what is not. What is truth and what are lies." Soren and Gylfie discover a means of resisting the sleep marches and vow to escape the canyon by learning to fly, a feat they accomplish with the help of a sympathetic elder owl. Though much of the narrative is encumbered by excessive detail about the rituals of the repressive regime, the story moves at a quick clip once Soren and Gylfie find freedom and embark on a quest with two other orphaned owls. The likable characters may well entice fantasy fans to accompany them as they fly on to The Journey, due in September. Ages 8-12. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
This is the first book in the "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series. Soren has a happy home with his parents and siblings. He dreams of flying, of the various ceremonies that he will experience as he grows. Then, suddenly, all of these things that are so dear to him are snatched away, or rather he is snatched away from them. The little barn owlet finds himself in a place of nightmare, a place full of baby owls like himself who have numbers instead of names. Luckily, Soren soon finds himself a friend, a small elf owl called Gylfie. Together these two youngsters develop the skills it takes to survive their captivity and yet keep their individuality and their will to be free. Kathryn Lasky has created a remarkable owl world full of legends, owl words and owl dreams. It is as real and as warm to the reader as any human world could be. With her usual skill, Lasky pulls us into a story where the characters find out more about themselves and each other than they thought was possible. Guided by fear, hope, and loss, the little owls work towards finding answers and gaining their freedom. They endear themselves to us very quickly. We fear for their safety and feel the horror of the place that they find themselves in. When they make their first flight we are there with them, led there by the skill of this consummate storyteller. Book Two, The Journey, will continue the story of Soren and Gylfie and their quest. 2003, Scholastic Inc,
— Marya Jansen-Gruber
First in a budding series, The Capture introduces Soren, a young barn owl who, shortly after hatching, finds himself being pushed out of the safety of his family's nest by his mean older brother. Alone in the world and unable to fly, Soren is snatched up by a group of mysterious owls and carried off to St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. While it fronts as a home for unfortunate owls, St. Aggie's is actually a brainwashing and training facility to raise an army. While there, Soren meets an elf owl named Gylfie and together they endeavor to survive and avoid being "moon blinked" (brainwashed). They must try to solve the mystery of St. Aggie's and find a way to escape at the same time. Both owls learn that the strength they need lies in themselves and that sometimes friendship is a powerful weapon. Lasky uses her interest in owls to expose the reader to this interesting world, employing a combination of scientific and creative vocabulary to educate readers. A sometimes-dark story, this book begins what could be an epic adventure and leaves the reader wondering what will happen next. Fans of animal fantasy will appreciate this, especially those who enjoy the Redwall series. The Capture would be a good language arts complement to the study of owls in a science unit. (Book One, Guardians of Ga'Hoole). KLIATT Codes: J; Recommended for junior high school students. 2003, Scholastic, 220p.,
— Erin Lukens Darr
Gr 4-8-At the beginning of this new series, a young Barn Owl named Soren lives peacefully with his family, participating in rituals like the First Meat ceremony, and enjoying legends about the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, knightly owls "who would rise each night into the blackness and perform noble deeds." After he falls from his nest, his idyllic world transforms into one of confusion and danger, as he is captured by evil chick-snatching owls and taken to the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. Soren and his new friend Gylfie work to develop strategies for withstanding "moon blinking" (brainwashing), while secretly striving to learn how to fly. The legends of Ga'Hoole help them to survive, and they are able to escape to find their families and warn the world about the dangers of St. Aegolius. While the owls have human characteristics, such as Soren's determination and Gylfie's creative ideas, their actions and culture reflect Lasky's research into owl behaviors and species. The story's fast pace, menacing bad guys, and flashes of humor make this a good choice for reluctant readers, while the underlying message about the power of legends provides a unifying element and gives strong appeal for fantasy fans.-Beth L. Meister, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Flushing, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
