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Ursa
This alternate history coming-of-age YA is the Winner of the 2018 Storylines Tessa Duder Award.
There are two peoples living in the city of the Cerels and the Travesters. Travesters move freely and enjoy a fine quality of life. Cerel men are kept in wild camps and the women are no longer allowed to have children. The Director presides over all with an iron fist.
Fifteen-year-old Leho can't remember a time when Cerels lived without fear in Ursa. His parents once tried to organise an uprising - his mother was blinded, and his father was taken away. But now his world is changing. Revolution is coming. People will die.
Will Leho be able to save his family?
There are two peoples living in the city of the Cerels and the Travesters. Travesters move freely and enjoy a fine quality of life. Cerel men are kept in wild camps and the women are no longer allowed to have children. The Director presides over all with an iron fist.
Fifteen-year-old Leho can't remember a time when Cerels lived without fear in Ursa. His parents once tried to organise an uprising - his mother was blinded, and his father was taken away. But now his world is changing. Revolution is coming. People will die.
Will Leho be able to save his family?
322 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2020
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 10, 2019
You know you how you get a really great idea but you just need a little more planning to set that idea into motion?
That was this book. There were a lot of great ideas and great aspects of this book but it dragged on a little too long.
Ursa is ruled by Directors, people of power, and who have power of life and death. In Ursa, the poor and the rich are divided, with the poor not in favour of the Directors. The world building was really well set out, with the descriptions adding value to the story.
Leho, our main character, struggles with making his way in the harsh reality of being poor. Getting close to age, he would be able to work to soon but he craves to work with the rebellion.
I liked Shaw’s style of writing, her words were smooth and her work was sewn together wonderfully. The characters were wonderfully written, the world building, again, was fantastic.
There was only two things that really brought the book down for me, and yes it might be because I am fussy but I can’t help it.
The first was there really wasn’t much a plot, weird right? The story flowed but it was kinda like we were hovering and watching a week in Leho’s eyes but there really wasn’t any plot to drive the story, or a lack of a story. I kept predicting massive rebellions, bombings and the masses taking over the city but it didn’t really happen.
Another point that wasn’t a plus, was that I found the pace of the book was slow, I needed it to be faster and engaging.
Overall there were great aspects of the book, but then there weren’t. I might be fussy in saying this but it was honestly an okay book. Didn’t hate it but also didn’t love it.
That was this book. There were a lot of great ideas and great aspects of this book but it dragged on a little too long.
Ursa is ruled by Directors, people of power, and who have power of life and death. In Ursa, the poor and the rich are divided, with the poor not in favour of the Directors. The world building was really well set out, with the descriptions adding value to the story.
Leho, our main character, struggles with making his way in the harsh reality of being poor. Getting close to age, he would be able to work to soon but he craves to work with the rebellion.
I liked Shaw’s style of writing, her words were smooth and her work was sewn together wonderfully. The characters were wonderfully written, the world building, again, was fantastic.
There was only two things that really brought the book down for me, and yes it might be because I am fussy but I can’t help it.
The first was there really wasn’t much a plot, weird right? The story flowed but it was kinda like we were hovering and watching a week in Leho’s eyes but there really wasn’t any plot to drive the story, or a lack of a story. I kept predicting massive rebellions, bombings and the masses taking over the city but it didn’t really happen.
Another point that wasn’t a plus, was that I found the pace of the book was slow, I needed it to be faster and engaging.
Overall there were great aspects of the book, but then there weren’t. I might be fussy in saying this but it was honestly an okay book. Didn’t hate it but also didn’t love it.
July 16, 2019
Firstly, I want to thank Walker Books for sending me a review copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it.
If you like 'us' vs 'them', dark, twisty, Holocaust connotations, and slight civil war, than this book is for you.
I had some issue with it, mainly with the lack of action until the last 30 pages and the lack of information provided. But the premise is great. Please be aware that there are quite a lof of triggers surrounding abuse both physical and psychological, negelect and starvation.
This was a 3-star read for me. It had its moments of wonderful writing and snippets of information that really lifted the plot, but I just think that there were too many things missing for it to be truly enjoyable. I think we needed more back story, more information on the Government and on Leho’s parents. If there had been more information provided, instead of following Leho around the countryside (for most of the book), I think it would have taken this book to another level. A good read, just something was missing for me.
If you have read this book and want to see my full spoiler-filled review, pop over to my blog www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com
If you like 'us' vs 'them', dark, twisty, Holocaust connotations, and slight civil war, than this book is for you.
I had some issue with it, mainly with the lack of action until the last 30 pages and the lack of information provided. But the premise is great. Please be aware that there are quite a lof of triggers surrounding abuse both physical and psychological, negelect and starvation.
This was a 3-star read for me. It had its moments of wonderful writing and snippets of information that really lifted the plot, but I just think that there were too many things missing for it to be truly enjoyable. I think we needed more back story, more information on the Government and on Leho’s parents. If there had been more information provided, instead of following Leho around the countryside (for most of the book), I think it would have taken this book to another level. A good read, just something was missing for me.
If you have read this book and want to see my full spoiler-filled review, pop over to my blog www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com
November 27, 2021
I feel like I would have enjoyed this much more if I had read it a few years younger
March 31, 2019
3.5 stars - Compelling reading.
Ursa is a city divided between the haves (The Travesters) and the have nots (The Cerels).
15 year Leho lives in Ursa with his Cerel family, constantly struggling for enough to eat and in fear of the Travester guards, the Black Marks. It hasn’t always been like this. His Nanna tells them of a time when everyone was equal, and the colour of your hair and who your family was didn’t matter.
Now, with their father gone, Leho’s older brother Jorzy is the man of the family. Jorzy is a great story teller and musician, lifting their spirits in the evenings after another meagre meal, but he also has his serious side. Leho knows Jorzy is planning something, and he is frustrated and angry at not being included.
Years before, their parents fought the regime of ‘The Director’ as he rose to power. Their rebellion left Mum blind and Dad imprisoned in a Wild Camp, like so many Cerel men. When an opportunity arrives for Leho to fight back at their oppressors, he begins making his own plans.
The Director makes an announcement that excites many Cerels. Leho’s family are among many others who don’t trust him. Ursa soon becomes a bubbling pot that suddenly boils over, pouring revolution into the streets and washing Leho and his family along with it.
Ursa may remind me of a real time in history, but Leho’s trials and troubles were all his own. He has to face many things – his rebellious brother, his own restlessness pushing him out onto the dark, quiet streets at night, a girl that both infuriated and infatuated him, and the threat of an even worse fate for his people.
Ursa is the winner of the 2018 Walker Books Storylines Tessa Duder Award by NZ Author Tina Shaw. A compelling read.
Ursa is a city divided between the haves (The Travesters) and the have nots (The Cerels).
15 year Leho lives in Ursa with his Cerel family, constantly struggling for enough to eat and in fear of the Travester guards, the Black Marks. It hasn’t always been like this. His Nanna tells them of a time when everyone was equal, and the colour of your hair and who your family was didn’t matter.
Now, with their father gone, Leho’s older brother Jorzy is the man of the family. Jorzy is a great story teller and musician, lifting their spirits in the evenings after another meagre meal, but he also has his serious side. Leho knows Jorzy is planning something, and he is frustrated and angry at not being included.
Years before, their parents fought the regime of ‘The Director’ as he rose to power. Their rebellion left Mum blind and Dad imprisoned in a Wild Camp, like so many Cerel men. When an opportunity arrives for Leho to fight back at their oppressors, he begins making his own plans.
The Director makes an announcement that excites many Cerels. Leho’s family are among many others who don’t trust him. Ursa soon becomes a bubbling pot that suddenly boils over, pouring revolution into the streets and washing Leho and his family along with it.
Ursa may remind me of a real time in history, but Leho’s trials and troubles were all his own. He has to face many things – his rebellious brother, his own restlessness pushing him out onto the dark, quiet streets at night, a girl that both infuriated and infatuated him, and the threat of an even worse fate for his people.
Ursa is the winner of the 2018 Walker Books Storylines Tessa Duder Award by NZ Author Tina Shaw. A compelling read.
April 1, 2024
This book was recommended to me by a student at school and given that that is a rarity I thought I would give it a go to see what they saw in it.
Immediately I recognised the appeal and appreciated some good writing, which painted a picture of a society ruled by a dictator and a young man struggling to find his peace in that world as a lower class citizen. The main character, Leho, and his family were characterised well and the author created a grim but not too grisly (for the intended audience) account of life in such an oppressive environment.
From there however, the book kind of meanders, focusing on an unlikely relationship that forms between the main character and a rich girl he encounters. Personally I felt that this theme and premise did provide much intrigue and deviated from what interested me about the book initially.
The other subplot, about the possibility of overthrow and revolution is teased and foreshadowed, only to culminate in a rushed and unsatisfying ending crammed into 20 or so pages. I feel two options would have been better suited: 1. Remove some of the build up (which dragged a little) and flesh out the revolution or 2. Write a second book to give (arguably the best part of) the book more breathing room. I do wonder if a second book was part of the original plan.
Ultimately, the premise and the writing were good, but the book lacked a sturdy plot. When it did finally emerge I was so close to the end that I felt disappointed before I finished because I doubted that the ending could wrap everything up satisfactorily. This proves true and sadly the ending lacks the power it could have had if the conclusion was more well rounded.
Maybe the author will revisit this one day to improve on the great foundations she laid in the first place.
Immediately I recognised the appeal and appreciated some good writing, which painted a picture of a society ruled by a dictator and a young man struggling to find his peace in that world as a lower class citizen. The main character, Leho, and his family were characterised well and the author created a grim but not too grisly (for the intended audience) account of life in such an oppressive environment.
From there however, the book kind of meanders, focusing on an unlikely relationship that forms between the main character and a rich girl he encounters. Personally I felt that this theme and premise did provide much intrigue and deviated from what interested me about the book initially.
The other subplot, about the possibility of overthrow and revolution is teased and foreshadowed, only to culminate in a rushed and unsatisfying ending crammed into 20 or so pages. I feel two options would have been better suited: 1. Remove some of the build up (which dragged a little) and flesh out the revolution or 2. Write a second book to give (arguably the best part of) the book more breathing room. I do wonder if a second book was part of the original plan.
Ultimately, the premise and the writing were good, but the book lacked a sturdy plot. When it did finally emerge I was so close to the end that I felt disappointed before I finished because I doubted that the ending could wrap everything up satisfactorily. This proves true and sadly the ending lacks the power it could have had if the conclusion was more well rounded.
Maybe the author will revisit this one day to improve on the great foundations she laid in the first place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2020
15-year-old Leho and his family are being subjected to ethnic cleansing. They and their people are seen as ‘less-than’ and live in slums, while the other half of the population live in luxury and are free to come and go as they please. The women in Leho’s clan must have injections to prevent pregnancy, and their men have been rounded up and sent into ‘camps’. Over them all presides the ‘Director’, the one who ‘saved’ the city during a drought, and who is issuing increasingly restrictive decrees that lead to a ‘resettlement’ programme for the undesirables. Leho and his older brother know the truth though, the resettlement is to a barren place where there is no food, clothing or shelter for their people. Will it be enough to spark a revolution? Leho knows what his future holds if nothing changes, will he follow through on his dreams of killing the Director and freeing his people. This book starts with a scene of book burning which always grabs a librarians attention! Well-written and compelling, this is a really good read, especially for teens studying how this has happened, and keeps happening, throughout the world. I would be interested in a follow-up book telling the story of Leho’s parents, how his mother was blinded for speaking up, and how his father has spent the last few years in one of the ‘camps’. Well done.
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt).
Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt).
September 25, 2021
This had a lot of promise but fell short (for me). This is the story of 15 year old Leho who is a downtrodden Crele trying to survive (with his family) in a dictatorship where edicts are made to make life for Creles increasingly hard and dangerous The other part of the population, the Travisters, live a life of comfort and freedom. It has parallels with what happened to the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Rebellion is brewing and Leho and his family are directly involved.
Up until the rebellion actually starts I was quite invested in the story but with only a small portion of the book to go I thought it would either end with much action still to take place (in a sequel) or it would be disappointing.... disappointing it was. It was all wrapped up too fast without enough detail or explanation. I do acknowledge that when writing a young adult book for the average young teen, you don't want to make it too long or they simply won't even pick it up, so you need to "abbreviate" but there needs to be a balance so there is no "let down". Maybe most kids won't feel the end was weak... I aim to monitor their reaction at our secondary school library.
Up until the rebellion actually starts I was quite invested in the story but with only a small portion of the book to go I thought it would either end with much action still to take place (in a sequel) or it would be disappointing.... disappointing it was. It was all wrapped up too fast without enough detail or explanation. I do acknowledge that when writing a young adult book for the average young teen, you don't want to make it too long or they simply won't even pick it up, so you need to "abbreviate" but there needs to be a balance so there is no "let down". Maybe most kids won't feel the end was weak... I aim to monitor their reaction at our secondary school library.
May 9, 2019
I had quite high expectations for this novel. And, reader, they were met. I fell in love with the world, the writing, and especially sweet baby boy Leho from about page five. Before I'd even finished the first chapter, I knew I would protect our main character with my life.
Leho lives in Ursa as a Cerel--a tribe of people suppressed by the ruling Director and his people the Travesters. What's interesting about this story is that there doesn't appear to be a definable plot. It reads as a series of events with a rebellion brewing. But don't let this put you off because the writing keeps the story compelling and kept me turning the page. I could never quite tell where the story was going to go--was I going to laugh or cry in the next scene? I just couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
The characters are the driving force of this novel. Leho's family were a beautiful bunch of people who were all very different and driven by different motivations, but I loved seeing their dynamic together, telling stories over a measly meal. But my favourite relationship was definitely between Leho and Emee, a Travester girl. It was fascinating to watch her slowly realise the horrible truth of what was happening under her very nose. Their scenes together were my favourite. They were just SO CUTE.
Leho is an addicting character to read. He seems like a realistic 14-year-old boy to me, who doesn't quite realise the seriousness of war, just that he wants to do something about it. He's cheeky, amusing, excitable, and a little bit broody at times. It didn't take long for him to enter my heart and I know he'll be there for a long time. However, seeing the world through his eyes meant that sometimes information was quite restricted. It's a little bit frustrating not knowing certain aspects of the world, but I understand that we can't know everything through Leho. I really, really hope Tina Shaw writes more of Ursa!
Leho lives in Ursa as a Cerel--a tribe of people suppressed by the ruling Director and his people the Travesters. What's interesting about this story is that there doesn't appear to be a definable plot. It reads as a series of events with a rebellion brewing. But don't let this put you off because the writing keeps the story compelling and kept me turning the page. I could never quite tell where the story was going to go--was I going to laugh or cry in the next scene? I just couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
The characters are the driving force of this novel. Leho's family were a beautiful bunch of people who were all very different and driven by different motivations, but I loved seeing their dynamic together, telling stories over a measly meal. But my favourite relationship was definitely between Leho and Emee, a Travester girl. It was fascinating to watch her slowly realise the horrible truth of what was happening under her very nose. Their scenes together were my favourite. They were just SO CUTE.
Leho is an addicting character to read. He seems like a realistic 14-year-old boy to me, who doesn't quite realise the seriousness of war, just that he wants to do something about it. He's cheeky, amusing, excitable, and a little bit broody at times. It didn't take long for him to enter my heart and I know he'll be there for a long time. However, seeing the world through his eyes meant that sometimes information was quite restricted. It's a little bit frustrating not knowing certain aspects of the world, but I understand that we can't know everything through Leho. I really, really hope Tina Shaw writes more of Ursa!
August 4, 2019
My 3 stars are not a real reflection of the way I enjoyed this book, but I can't give it any more as there were too many things I wished were different. It is: a little too long so I skim read it and kept up easily with the plot;, it is a little too light - avoiding the gritty detail of life under a dictatorship; and I can't talk about the ending without the danger of plot spoilers.
Recommended to our students who don't want the 'harder stuff', but still want to be able to tackle dystopia.
Recommended to our students who don't want the 'harder stuff', but still want to be able to tackle dystopia.
November 26, 2019
The idea behind this story was good and with a bit of work I think the plot could have been good too, however this does not excuse the writing, which was not good at all, I'm very disappointed in this novel as I was really expecting a good story and was quite excited to read it. Always check the ratings or read the first chapter before you buy a book.
December 11, 2021
This is such a good book. A great tale about power and propaganda in a dictatorship, and how division in society is so destructive for both sides. Also about how despite propaganda people can hold space for integrity and honest within themselves.
I loved how the book showed each individual was part of the collective whole.
Interesting, very sad, very grim at times and thought-provoking.
I loved how the book showed each individual was part of the collective whole.
Interesting, very sad, very grim at times and thought-provoking.
January 2, 2020
This book revolves around the city of Ursa and its inhabitants - the haves and the have nots. It is a reasonably good read albeit a rather depressing one. If you're interested in alternative histories then you're likely to enjoy this book
May 2, 2019
2.5 stars
May 30, 2019
Strong echoes of Nazi Germany in this new dystopian YA novel.
The setting was fully realised, the pace excellent and characters enjoyable
Sending it to my teenage niece
The setting was fully realised, the pace excellent and characters enjoyable
Sending it to my teenage niece
May 5, 2020
Welcome to the world of the haves and the have-nots. Where fear rules but where it may take just one small spark to ignite a revolution. Wonderful storytelling.
May 13, 2020
Heavily involved with war and beatings. Overall a very detailed and Heavy book. For older readers.
August 18, 2020
Review to come!
January 25, 2024
unoriginal plot, poor character development (if any), disappointing ending. waste of time, do not read
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews