Heron's Path

by Alethea Eason

Alethea Eason's newest book, The Heron's Path, has the grace of the river Talum that flows through its pages. Step into the world of Katy and her delicate sister Celeste where native ways are threatened by "civilization," and the Old Ones haunt the forest with their longing to return to their true home. Will Celeste finally understand her wanderings and visions? Will Katy and aged Olena keep her from the clutches of the evil wei-ni-la? Follow them "north to the true wilderness, dark with ancient trees, where the Nanchuti struggle to keep their sacred songs from vanishing." Enter into a magical world and be swept into adventure as the two sisters travel the Heron's Path.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Alethea Eason is the author of the fantasy novel HERON´S PATH and the middle grade sciene fiction novel HUNGRY. STARVED, the sequel to HUNGRY,
can be found at
starvedthenovel.wordpress.com.

Alethea has taught all levels in both public and private schools. She worked at St. Margaret´s British School for Girls in Concon, Chile as a literacy specialist and English teacher. She currently works at Minnie Cannon Elementary School, Middletown, California as an EL teacher and reading specialist.

Reviews

[Nicole Galloway-Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas is coming and if you have a little girl to buy for, consider purchasing “Heron’s Path”by Alethea Eason, a beautifully written fantasy about two sisters struggling to come to terms with growing up. The premise and plot were exceptional and the messages of the story are pertinent to young girls on the cusp of womanhood. Eason’s novel is an excellent example of how to draw from life and write an unforgettable and inspiring children’s book.

“Heron’s Path” borrows elements from Native American folklore and fairy tales. This combination works well when supported by the figurative and visual language in Eason’s prose.

Eason utilized these techniques in order to bring her alternate universe to life. Some of my favorite phrases include “the trees looked like fingers sprinkling stars in the sky,” “the heat pushed on my skin like I was a piece of cloth it was ironing” and “my heart was pulpy and raw with shame” (pg. 16, 25, 70). If you are a writer struggling to come up with creative descriptions that create strong visual images in the minds of the reader, I suggest you pick up a copy of “Heron’s Path” for inspiration.

The abundance of strong female characters in “Heron’s Path” illustrates the thought and planning that went into the novel. Eason wrote this book with her intended audience firmly in mind. “Heron’s Path” embodies the idea that fiction can be used to teach important life lessons. Losing sight of the overall message of the novel you are writing can be an easy thing to do, but Eason stayed true to her goals. She used characterization and beautiful prose to reinforce the thematic elements and send a message of acceptance to the readers.

To read the rest of the review, visit my blog at http://nrgalloway24.wordpress.com/201....

[Anthea Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story this one was! I will definitely be checking out Alethea Eason's other books. First of all, she's an excellent writer. Her language flows flawlessly as she tells the story of Katy and her strange sister Celeste, who live near the Nanchuti. I was so intrigued with the Nanchuti people that I tried to google them during the reading of Heron's Path, to find only references to Eason's book. Apparently these aren't a real people; they are Eason's creation. However they seemed to so real, their history so detailed and the geography so much like Northern California that I knew they must have been inspired by some real tribe. Sure enough, when I got to the epilogue I discovered who had inspired Eason to create the Nanchuti. Now I'm happily researching this Native American tribe on my own, eager to discover more about this enchanting people. The story of the two sisters also reminded me of a fairy tale and sure enough, it was inspired by one, and I will be pursuing this too, to learn more about the background of this fascinating, magical tale. I highly recommend this well written, vividly colorful story of the Nanchuti people and the two sisters who were so important to them.

[Sandra]

DNF.

Very well written middle-grade coming of age novel about two young sisters who are growing up and growing apart, amid Native American magic and beliefs. Well researched, with a nice, crisp writing style.

Unfortunately, I am well past the target group for this book. This is a book that should be read by middle schoolers, as it nicely portrays the time frame in which it takes place and the differences between Native Americans and their white counterparts.

[Ileana Araguti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heron’s Path is a beautifully written story about two sisters, Katy and Celeste and about the enchanting tales of the Nanchuti. The current of the river, the mystery of dreams, the meaning of life and growing up all come to life through Alethea’s magnificent writing, which gently guides the reader to the end through a path of courage and love. This lovely read is ultimately about the gift of sisterhood and the thrilling mysteries of life.

[Candy Korman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming coming of age book in a magical setting. The pioneer/settlers and the indigenous people are so real I kept thinking that Alethea Eason was writing about a historical setting complete with a fully realized mythology. But this is entirely a work of her imagination and it is well worth reading.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, with very descriptive phrases. Fascinating story-line. I highly recommend it.

[Jo-Anne Vandermeulen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautifully Told Magical Tale—Enchanting Read!