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The Grassland Trilogy #1
Escape the Mask
Courage and loyalty win out over brute power as Coriko and Pippa save themselves and other enslaved children from the oppression of the wearers of the Mask. Forced to mine the sands of Grassland under the glare of dark-masked Spears, all the Diggers want is to escape - but even saying that word can bring a beating... or worse. Yet six friends secretly vow to run away from slavery and find the freedom that was stolen from them long ago.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
David Ward
226 books21 followersDavid Ward was born in Montreal and grew up in Vancouver. He was an elementary school teacher for eleven years before completing his master's degree. He is the author of the Grassland trilogy and is a writer and university instructor in children's literature. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 6, 2019
This was one of the first series I ever really loved. My mom taught with David Ward at VCS before I was born, so that's why I have a signed copy of each book. :)
I picked it up off our bookshelf when I was seven or eight. I loved it. And I read it over and over again, probably about sixteen times altogether.
Because I'm so intimate with this book, it's hard for me to look at its literary merit. The only thing I can tell you is that it's pretty violent and dark, and there is some mildly suggestive content but that suits the environment that the characters live in.
All I can say is that seven-year-old me absolutely loved it! But, with my maturity levels averaging at about three years ahead of my current age, wait until about ten or eleven for children of standard mental development.
I picked it up off our bookshelf when I was seven or eight. I loved it. And I read it over and over again, probably about sixteen times altogether.
Because I'm so intimate with this book, it's hard for me to look at its literary merit. The only thing I can tell you is that it's pretty violent and dark, and there is some mildly suggestive content but that suits the environment that the characters live in.
All I can say is that seven-year-old me absolutely loved it! But, with my maturity levels averaging at about three years ahead of my current age, wait until about ten or eleven for children of standard mental development.
March 1, 2025
Found an old copy and fell into its new unique world.
June 29, 2008
Read & Reviewed for http://www.Armchairinterviews.com
Coriko and his partner Pippa are slaves to the Spears. The children are Twosies, who have lived in the grasslands, and worked at finding the shards that the Spears want mined from the sands for many years. Coriko – who doesn’t remember a life outside of captivity relies on Pippa for friendship and support as they struggle through each day trying to meet the gather quotas and keep from angering the Spear guards and the punishment that comes afterwards.
However, they find their life changing slowly when two newcomers are captured and brought to the grasslands who speak the same language as Pippa and Coriko. They bring news of unrest in the outside world, and the possibility of war. When the Spears suddenly start changing their gathering totals for the day, and are attacked by enemy archers inside the grasslands, the four friends team together with two other slave children to try and survive. The violence towards the Spears increases and the children find themselves looking for ways to free the other slaves, escape from the cave complex that they are kept in, and get past both the Spears and the attacking soldiers.
Escape the mask is the first book in The Grasslands Trilogy. The story explores the idea of freedom. Coriko and his friends find themselves free from the torture and cruelty of their captors, and faced with freedom from the slavery that was the life they were accustomed to. After they find freedom, each child has the opportunity to discover more about themselves, and who they are. They grow from slaves with no identity to individuals with very distinct strengths and weaknesses. I found the story engaging. I enjoyed watching the six children grow as they found strength together to break free from imprisonment and discover who each person is.
This is a great introduction to a new series, and I am looking forward to reading the next book when it is published.
Coriko and his partner Pippa are slaves to the Spears. The children are Twosies, who have lived in the grasslands, and worked at finding the shards that the Spears want mined from the sands for many years. Coriko – who doesn’t remember a life outside of captivity relies on Pippa for friendship and support as they struggle through each day trying to meet the gather quotas and keep from angering the Spear guards and the punishment that comes afterwards.
However, they find their life changing slowly when two newcomers are captured and brought to the grasslands who speak the same language as Pippa and Coriko. They bring news of unrest in the outside world, and the possibility of war. When the Spears suddenly start changing their gathering totals for the day, and are attacked by enemy archers inside the grasslands, the four friends team together with two other slave children to try and survive. The violence towards the Spears increases and the children find themselves looking for ways to free the other slaves, escape from the cave complex that they are kept in, and get past both the Spears and the attacking soldiers.
Escape the mask is the first book in The Grasslands Trilogy. The story explores the idea of freedom. Coriko and his friends find themselves free from the torture and cruelty of their captors, and faced with freedom from the slavery that was the life they were accustomed to. After they find freedom, each child has the opportunity to discover more about themselves, and who they are. They grow from slaves with no identity to individuals with very distinct strengths and weaknesses. I found the story engaging. I enjoyed watching the six children grow as they found strength together to break free from imprisonment and discover who each person is.
This is a great introduction to a new series, and I am looking forward to reading the next book when it is published.
April 27, 2024
So...yes. Not really sure what to make of this book. I feel like I jumped into the middle of a series, honestly. Don't get me wrong, the 'what in the world is going on here, I'm completely lost!' feeling can be cool as a way to start a book, but typically this gives way to some semblance of a understandable story later, as the details are filled in and the background is slowly revealed. I never seem to get to that second part in this book. I started out not knowing what was happening, and I ended not knowing what was happening. We got no information about why Corkio and Pippa were slaves, what Onsies, Twosies, and Threesies were, who the Spears were and what they were doing, or anything really. The only thing we learned was about the shards and the 'outside people' and not even very much at that. I don't mind waiting for plot details as a story unfolds (particularly if there's more than one book), but I literally left this story feeling no more informed than when I began! It seemed a rather pointless read in that respect.
That was my big rut, but I might have even been able to accept that had the slim story been very interesting. It seemed to have an promising premise, but it just didn't turn out to be that intriguing while I was reading it. Coriko showed some interesting (not necessarily good, but interesting) traits for a MC, but all the characters seemed rather bland to me. I didn't get a sense of desperation or trouble or panic from them at all. Coriko and Pippa's relationship was JUST tip-toeing the line between 'we've known each other from forever and we're a team' and just plain creepy. Not sure why.
Not a very satisfying read, if I'm to be honest, but it was incredibly short, so I can't say I wasted very much time with it. Just not my cup of tea, I guess. It was chosen in one of those moments where I just wanted to grab 'one more book' from the library shelf. Turned out to be just 'meh'. I don't think I'll read the next book.
That was my big rut, but I might have even been able to accept that had the slim story been very interesting. It seemed to have an promising premise, but it just didn't turn out to be that intriguing while I was reading it. Coriko showed some interesting (not necessarily good, but interesting) traits for a MC, but all the characters seemed rather bland to me. I didn't get a sense of desperation or trouble or panic from them at all. Coriko and Pippa's relationship was JUST tip-toeing the line between 'we've known each other from forever and we're a team' and just plain creepy. Not sure why.
Not a very satisfying read, if I'm to be honest, but it was incredibly short, so I can't say I wasted very much time with it. Just not my cup of tea, I guess. It was chosen in one of those moments where I just wanted to grab 'one more book' from the library shelf. Turned out to be just 'meh'. I don't think I'll read the next book.
January 20, 2010
Book One of The Grassland Trilogy
Corki and his cellmate Pippa have been held captive for years by the Spears. Corki remembers nothing of his past and relies on Pippa to tell him about things like trees. All he knows is that every day, as Diggers, they must collect shards, and if they don't meet their quota, they'll get sent belowcaves for a Cleansing. In fact, do anything wrong and you'll have to endure a rush of ocean water in a closed cell, which is where the story opens: Corki is in a barred cell deep in the mountain because he kept a work-cloth. This is where he meets Tia and Bran, who later help both he and Pippa understand the war that is approaching and plant the idea of escape.
This is a gripping tale that begs to be read in one or two sittings. Readers will want to know what happens to each of the characters as events unfold and will root for the Diggers to escape the Spears. Ward has set up a fascinating world with complicated relationships and an intriguing plotline that leaves you wishing the next book were published already. A lot of things are left unexplained (what exactly are the shards?) that could either be left to the imagination or will be explained in forthcoming books. My only gripe is the map at the start of the book is misleading; otherwise, this is a great adventure story that could be set in the past or the future.
Corki and his cellmate Pippa have been held captive for years by the Spears. Corki remembers nothing of his past and relies on Pippa to tell him about things like trees. All he knows is that every day, as Diggers, they must collect shards, and if they don't meet their quota, they'll get sent belowcaves for a Cleansing. In fact, do anything wrong and you'll have to endure a rush of ocean water in a closed cell, which is where the story opens: Corki is in a barred cell deep in the mountain because he kept a work-cloth. This is where he meets Tia and Bran, who later help both he and Pippa understand the war that is approaching and plant the idea of escape.
This is a gripping tale that begs to be read in one or two sittings. Readers will want to know what happens to each of the characters as events unfold and will root for the Diggers to escape the Spears. Ward has set up a fascinating world with complicated relationships and an intriguing plotline that leaves you wishing the next book were published already. A lot of things are left unexplained (what exactly are the shards?) that could either be left to the imagination or will be explained in forthcoming books. My only gripe is the map at the start of the book is misleading; otherwise, this is a great adventure story that could be set in the past or the future.
April 7, 2011
This book is Escape the mask and is the first of the 3 part trilogy.It is written by David Ward.In the Beginning the spears commands slaves to collect shards.That is how it has always been until the outsiders came and started a war.The main characters try to escape.
My favourite thing about the book was that it had a good amount of action for only around 200 pages. Something I didn't like was that it at times was hard to follow.Another thing I liked was how he described people like the spears and slaves lives and clothes.Another thing I disliked was the description of the settings and landscapes of the area and the travel path of the characters. I also liked the relations of the characters.
I liked the relation between characters because they were well described. They are also used and brought out a lot through out the book. A character relation was between Corki and Pippa .They are cell mates but really like each other and are best friends. If you read this and want the second it is called Beneath The Mask.
My favourite thing about the book was that it had a good amount of action for only around 200 pages. Something I didn't like was that it at times was hard to follow.Another thing I liked was how he described people like the spears and slaves lives and clothes.Another thing I disliked was the description of the settings and landscapes of the area and the travel path of the characters. I also liked the relations of the characters.
I liked the relation between characters because they were well described. They are also used and brought out a lot through out the book. A character relation was between Corki and Pippa .They are cell mates but really like each other and are best friends. If you read this and want the second it is called Beneath The Mask.
March 22, 2009
This is a good read for boys and reluctant readers in the YR/intermediate range, nice and skinny! ;-) Girls will like it, too--the girls here are strong and thoughtful, supplying the gentler side without losing their ability to stand up for themselves.
Cori and his cellmate Pippa are slaves for the Spears, who force them to dig for the shards that cling to the roots of the grass, and subject them to punishment and death for the slightest infraction. They're slaves without free time, always on the edge of starvation, never knowing if they will be separated, with their cellmate being their only real friend. That's the way things have been for years, until Cori befriends two newcomers, Tia and Bran, and the Spears begin to act strangely. War has come, and somehow these slaves have to learn to think for themselves and survive.
I'm off to get the next book, which is out already. If it's as good as this one, I'll be looking for the third, which comes out this fall.
Cori and his cellmate Pippa are slaves for the Spears, who force them to dig for the shards that cling to the roots of the grass, and subject them to punishment and death for the slightest infraction. They're slaves without free time, always on the edge of starvation, never knowing if they will be separated, with their cellmate being their only real friend. That's the way things have been for years, until Cori befriends two newcomers, Tia and Bran, and the Spears begin to act strangely. War has come, and somehow these slaves have to learn to think for themselves and survive.
I'm off to get the next book, which is out already. If it's as good as this one, I'll be looking for the third, which comes out this fall.
September 8, 2013
The plot focuses on Corki and his friends escaping captivity, but it's a bit unsatisfying because this happens coincidentally and rather easily. They don't hatch a plot or take many risks; rather, they escape when their captors, Spears, are attacked by... someone.
That's another weakness of the book, the amount of things that are not explained. This is unfortunately true of much of the vernacular, the meaning of which is left to the reader to assume.
That said, the writing is clear and very readable, and the story is engaging enough that I finished reading it. I wouldn't recommend this book strongly, but it's not bad. It's like a draft more than anything else.
That's another weakness of the book, the amount of things that are not explained. This is unfortunately true of much of the vernacular, the meaning of which is left to the reader to assume.
That said, the writing is clear and very readable, and the story is engaging enough that I finished reading it. I wouldn't recommend this book strongly, but it's not bad. It's like a draft more than anything else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2008
Awsome book! Its really one of the only books ive ever read. I'm gonna start the second one of the trilogy soon. the most sad part was when they were in the burning village and they found the dead mother on the floor with her babys blanket in her hand. my personal favorite part is when Coriko and Pippa kissed. i just think its so cool how they can fit a romantic scene in a story that is so , er, dramatic and somewhat violent. It's really hard to describe what kind of book it is. I think it's created a new genre, AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2009
Was going through my ridiculous "to read" list and saw this one. Cover's pretty distinctive (creepy, more like it) and remembered I already read it ... and a while back at that. Just forgot to list it here.
I remember thinking it was a pretty good story. Don't know when I'll get to Book 2 (I'm guessing it's out? I should go look) but it would be worth checking out.
Dystopia seems to be more like a future place we don't want to be. This one seems more like a place back in time we don't want to be.
I remember thinking it was a pretty good story. Don't know when I'll get to Book 2 (I'm guessing it's out? I should go look) but it would be worth checking out.
Dystopia seems to be more like a future place we don't want to be. This one seems more like a place back in time we don't want to be.
October 2, 2013
I'm wavering between 3 and 4 on this one. I enjoyed the story. The world created here is fascinating and weird--I want to learn more about it, and this book only scratches the surface. It's the first in a trilogy, and you most definitely have to continue reading to get the whole story--this one doesn't really stand alone. The non-resolution ending was a bit frustrating, but this series is aimed at a middle-grade audience, so reading it as an adult, I have to keep that in mind. I'm curious enough about what comes next to go check out the next book at my local library.
January 22, 2015
Escape the Mask was one of those books were your supposed to be taken back by the writing. It wasn't anything like that. It tried too hard to be amazing. If an author chooses to be hippy in his writing with no killing, they have to be smart. Either get rid of killing or avoid putting the age old question in YA novels, to kill or not to kill the evil villain . The protagonist mind was boring, fearful, pathetic, weak in mind and body. This tale was not worth reading.
Though it was bad, give it a try, it has its moments of being okay.
Though it was bad, give it a try, it has its moments of being okay.
June 25, 2008
Summary:
A group of enslaved children find themselves in the middle of a war that eventually leads to their escape. They must find a way to survive on their own and to discover their environment and histories that had been stolen from them.
Strengths:
Super-fast and action-packed. An intriguing premise that should keep readers craving the rest of the series. It's fun to get the sheltered characters' new accounts on everyday things (i.e. chairs, trees, houses).
A group of enslaved children find themselves in the middle of a war that eventually leads to their escape. They must find a way to survive on their own and to discover their environment and histories that had been stolen from them.
Strengths:
Super-fast and action-packed. An intriguing premise that should keep readers craving the rest of the series. It's fun to get the sheltered characters' new accounts on everyday things (i.e. chairs, trees, houses).
February 27, 2011
The book was suprisingly good since i had know clue about the story. I am going to read the rest of the series. A little confusing but other than that it was an entertaining book abouta boy that leaves most of his life in a cell guarded by Spears, jail guards, and a war breaks out. Coriko, the main character leads his batch of friends and many others to freedom. A short book that is for a younger audience.
December 12, 2011
I had mixed feelings about this book. It was mediocre in some areas, but interesting in others. I did like the writing style and mostly enjoyed the storyline. Because it was such a small book, it really was a light read, so worthwhile in the end. I'll confess some of the descriptions were a little confusing to me, but I think the simplicity of them was to make a point about the children and their upbringing. It didn't blow me away, but it was entertaining.
March 20, 2012
i found this book very interesting and very fun because of the plot of the story. the story is about a boy named coriko and his mate pippa trying to survive prison after being taken away by masked men called the spears. after meating a few new friends pippa and coriko have found out that war is eminent and they must escape their prison to survive. i would recommend this book to thibishan because thibishan likes to read adventure books.
May 16, 2008
I felt like the writing was purposely vague and therefore, hard to follow at times. It was difficult to become attached to the main characters at first. By the end of the book, I wanted to know a bit more about what will happen to the "diggers," but don't know if I'm intrigued enough to continue with the series.
October 14, 2010
The setting was kind of interesting, but I was waiting for something exciting to happen. The book felt like it was part of a bigger book because you don't really learn anything, and there really is no climax or conclusion. I'm definitely going to finish the trilogy to see what happens though, because Ward makes it hard to not be attached to the characters.
September 18, 2008
Great first volume in an upcoming trilogy...volume 2 just came out too. I'm a little tired to actually review it, but I did run to my computer and place a hold on the sequel as soon as I had closed the book, if that says anything.
April 5, 2009
This book had a thought-provoking dystopian world and characters that I cared about--the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that I felt like it ended at a point where the story was just beginning.
Endings like that annoy me sometimes--but not all the time so go figure.
Endings like that annoy me sometimes--but not all the time so go figure.
December 14, 2013
This is an awesome book. The characters were awesome and the world was absorbing. Coriko is relatable because of his strengths and his flaws, which are numerous. The book seemed too short and left me wanting much more!
May 7, 2014
Though it got better toward the end, the beginning was too confusing and would bump a lot of tween readers out. There were too many differences in the world of the book to be understood from the beginning.
January 19, 2009
ahh back to the juvenile fiction for the school year. I'll be doing this one with my Grade 6's. Pretty engaging so far...
December 9, 2008
I liked the book, but there were LOTS of things that weren't explained at all. I suppose that's what happens when you read a trilogy, but it means that this book doesn't really stand on its own.
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February 25, 2009Weird book. Not that exciting. Sort of Bland. Maybe the sequel will be better.
March 18, 2009
Interesting YA book (start of a trilogy) with lots of action.
December 10, 2010
It was better than the 2nd but the third was best
February 9, 2012
I love all the adventure in this book. Loved this series.
February 23, 2014
I thought it was a very interesting story.
May 2, 2012
A gripping story full of action, adventure and couragous kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews