Home

by Shayna Krishnasamy

Shallah keeps to herself. Blinded at a young age, and orphaned soon after, she learned early that being alone is better than being a burden. Instead of hiding afraid in her cottage, she spends her nights exploring the deep forest that surrounds the village of Trallee. Shallah’s life is one of waiting—in darkness and in silence—until the day comes when she finds what she’s been waiting for.One morning, a mute little boy appears on the village green. Shallah is aghast when the villagers, already a fearful lot, turn on the child with dark skin and golden eyes. When they cast him out of Trallee into the deep dark wood from which none return, Shallah volunteers to go with him. To guide him home.The blind girl and the mute boy venture into the woods, following the path north. Little do they know that the trees have eyes, the prophecies have already been set in motion, and someone or something is on their trail, and getting closer…

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Ebooks, Paranormal, Fiction

266 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Shayna Krishnasamy was born and raised in Montreal. She is a writer of literary and young adult fiction and her works have appeared in Geist and The Fiddlehead. Home is her first novel.

Shayna also writes under the pen name Lola Rooney.

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shayna-...

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Shayna-Krishnas...

Reviews

[Ana]

This book was okay, but I didn’t have strong feelings about it either way. I wasn’t bored, but more apathetic.

[Charlene Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Home" tackles the issues and challenges associated to ostracism quite well. I was impressed with how Krishnasamy told this tale because it's a sensitive subject, especially for teens growing up. The touch of fantasy between this novel's pages was also interesting. And while some may say this book left them asking one too many questions, I think that's exactly the beauty of it. This book left me with several things to ponder about and personal experiences to reflect on. Quite a good read, I look forward to reading more of Krishnasamy's work!

[Jennybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Sickroom, I thought I’d give this novel a try. I really enjoyed it! It’s a teen novel with a touch of fantasy, which isn’t usually my thing. The story is a little old-fashioned. It reminded me of the novels I read when I was a kid. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

[MizzyRed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story reminded me a bit of The Village. It has a town hidden deep in the woods, cut off from everything else. The villagers fear the light, all except for Shallah who had been blinded several years ago when she climbed too high in a tree. Then just as things are failing, a mysterious boy with strange eyes shows up in the village and the main part of the story begins.

This book is mostly about the journey through the forest to get Liam home. There are some cool fairytale like parts, including scary trees, wolves and a prophecy. I do think there could have been more and the ending was a bit anticlimatic. I think but there were some good bits and it ended happily if a bit not what I expected since it through the magic parts away. I believe there should have been more to the prophecy.

It was a pretty easy read and was not bad.

[MizzyRed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story reminded me a bit of The Village. It has a town hidden deep in the woods, cut off from everything else. The villagers fear the light, all except for Shallah who had been blinded several years ago when she climbed too high in a tree. Then just as things are failing, a mysterious boy with strange eyes shows up in the village and the main part of the story begins.

This book is mostly about the journey through the forest to get Liam home. There are some cool fairytale like parts, including scary trees, wolves and a prophecy. I do think there could have been more and the ending was a bit anticlimatic. I think but there were some good bits and it ended happily if a bit not what I expected since it through the magic parts away. I believe there should have been more to the prophecy.

It was a pretty easy read and was not bad.

[Hellcat Mental · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book as it was a random purchase on the Kobo store. I really liked the characters and plot, with my only criticism being it spent so much time developing a story that the end felt a little rushed and too cleaned up. Very much a happy ever after which I felt kind of took away from the rest of the story.

[Lydia Timpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant fantasy story. Shallah was blinded at a young age and left to fend for herself within her village of sun-fearing busy-bodies. But when a dark-skinned child enters into the village they want him thrown out for being a bad omen and only Shallah is willing to brave the forest to save him.
Excellent characters and a wonderful sense of imagery. Highly recommended

[Kayleigh Hope · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so so sorry but I DNF’d this book at 14%

This just wasn’t for me.

*ARC provided for an honest review- many thanks for allowing me into your world*

Please note that these are only my personal opinions and are not a reflection on the author or anyone who loves this book.

[Mihaela · Rating 2 out of 5]

~ ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

Well that was... interesting. Or weird. I feel that there is some simbolism in here but I can't put my finger on it.
The ending left me unsatisffied, I would have liked a better explanation.

2 stars

[Melitchko · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Connie Donnelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book on my kobo and it was ok. To me it was an old fadhioned fairytale. The story of an alone blind girl who takes on the task of helping a lost child find his way home.

[• Sara Rhodes · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75

This book was beautifully written, and the story was beautiful too, but it's so slow it became boring pretty fast.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley. This story kept me reading. I’m hoping there will be a continuation of it. I want to know what happens next.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I could give this book a 2.5 I would but alas I can not, so it gets a 3. It is great to read an emerging Canadian authoress. I found the book decent the story flowed along at a good pace, and hints were left to intrigue the reader on the journey that lay ahead of the characters. I personally feel that I would have enjoyed the book more and given it a 4 had the ending been better. I was left wanting a better resolution to the three main characters, I felt there was some resolution for the adults, but I guess I felt that the three had become a bit of a family and to have some random uncle show up at the end, all nonchalant like and it felt like he took him back, had I been the main characters I would have been devastated to have had this charge taken from them, after all they had been through. But this is the authoress's choice but it left me wanting a better resolution. As I got very attached these three characters and their relationship interactions.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this book as it was a free kobo download from the monthly book club.

Very interesting but confusing. At first I thought this was a native american story by the way the realism and fantasy were interwoven but now I am not sure.

If I forget my questions of setting, timeframe etc. I find that it is an enjoyable read BUT, find myself still wanting for the background of the people and a bit more about the setting itself (russia, canada, US, fantasy world ...????)

[Eszter Szika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home got my attention with the quiet interesting plot as it’s a rare choice for a teen book. The story was old fashioned with some fantasy elements. Shallah, the blind girl, decides that she will be the one to help the lost boy find his way back home. The author picked a really heavy topic for a teen book with lots of feelings and sadness behind Shallah’s and Liam’s story. In my opinion it was a good read.

Thank you NetGalley for the free copy.

[Karl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried but I'm sorry, I really couldn't finish the book. The story at times appear to drag unnecessarily. Maybe it was just not my kind of book. And I rarely do not finish a book once I started reading.

[Jillybeads81 Hall-Parris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is OK. Not what I was thinking it was going to be and not really "my kind of book", but It was ok.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in parts, but I kept finding myself asking too many questions about the whole basis for the story.

[Renate · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok but I didn't like the ending

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay, a little strange but alright I wouldn't read it again though

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had the potential to be really great but it felt like the pace went a little too quickly to really invest any emotion. There's also a few too many unanswered questions.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book. very different from anything I have ever read before.