The Warrior Heir

Cindy Williams Chema 2006. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. 448 pages. ISBN 0-7868-3917-1

Plot Summary: Forgetting one morning to take his medicine, Jack discovers by accident that without it he has amazing physical powers. Rather than heart-surgery, he finds out that he has been implanted with a magical warier stone at birth. His family is from a long line of magical wizards, warriors and enchanters involved in an ages-old feud where warriors fight to the death for family supremacy. Jack tries through a series of adventures to avoid this fate but will he be able to? Along the way he learns the art of wizardry and to wield a magical sword.

Critical Evaluation: A rather disappointing book, The Warrior Heir straddles both the real and fantasy world as the Jack and his friends and family come to have one foot in each. Unfortunately, the magical world that Chema creates does not hang together well, even for the eager-to-be-pleased reader, and the writing is often plodding. The ending does have a surprising twist, however, and Jack is a likeable hero.

Reader’s Annotation: Jack is just an ordinary high school boy, despite the scar on his chest and the medicine he must take daily. But then he finds out an amazing fact about himself and his family and life is changed.

About the author: Cindy William Chema is the author of six books for children. The Warrior Heir is the first of a trilogy, including The Dragon Heir, and The Wizard Heir. Chima says she began writing romance novels in high school, that were often confiscated by the teacher. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. She was a teacher before she began writing full time in 2008. Visit her website at http://www.cindachima.com/.

Genre: Fantasy

Curriculum ties N/A

Booktalking ideas: What would it be like to discover you have magical powers, and then learn that there are many that want you dead?

Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 8-11.

Challenge Issues: N/A

Why chosen: I chose this book because it made the VOYA Perfect 10 Bookshelf for 2006.