Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

When we first meet the witch-women, they're essentially pursuing the same thing as Tristan: their hearts' desire. Initially, of course, Tristan's heart's desire is a flippant thing: he wants the affections of a beautiful girl who doesn't care for him. And of course the witches' desire is no more noble: they want to catch a falling star in order to remain young forever.

What devices does Gaiman employ to make sure we sympathize with the "good" guys? Do you think this book could've been written from a sympathetic witches' point of view?

Could it be youth and old age? The witches are old, they are trying desperately to be young again. They are going against the natural progression of life. It seems evil. On the other hand, Tristan is young and innocent. He sees his heart's desire as getting the popular girl, but it's really just to find true love. In his naivete, he has misinterpreted his heart's desire which is something good.

I think the book could've been written in a sympathetic witches point of view. Isn't that how the book Wicked is written? I always find it interesting to think of things from a villain's point of view. How else would the witches live? It has been a while since I've read this book... but will the witches die if they don't get the star?

Sandi, I like your point about the "going against the natural progression of life." It reminds me of an anthropology professor I had who told us about an African culture where people don't stand in lines to wait their turn. He said we Americans take it for granted that the person who gets in line first gets served first, that that's "fair." But this culture served the people they knew best first. So families got served first, then friends, then strangers -- and to them, that was "fair."

Anyway, long way to say that I think the witches' desire to stay young, especially at the expense of another life, seems "unfair." Like they're cutting in line, or getting back in line again.

And Angie, I love to think of stories from the villains' points of view too! So many of the fairy tales we love could be told with an equally sympathetic protagonist if you just swap the princess to the villain.