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Alex and Aaron are thirteen year old twins but they couldn't be more unalike. Quill is a hard scrabble, joyless place to live ruthlessly ruled by a High Priest who ensures her continued reign through fear and intimidation. In an effort to create a more perfect (obedient) society, children are sorted at the age of thirteen into one of three groups; the wanteds, the necessaries, and the unwanteds. Infractions earned in childhood by showing any creativity or mirth doom you to the ranks of the . U ...more
The cover of this had the quote "Hunger Games meets Harry Potter." Hunger Games...not really. Harry Potter...a bit. In Quill, strength and logical intelligence is valued and creativity is scorned. When kids reach the age of thirteen, they are sorted into categories--either destined for greatness as a Wanted, kept around as a Necessary, or deemed a weak Unwanted, condemned to immediate elimination. Twins Aaron and Alex are forced to separate fates when rational Aaron is declared Wanted and artist
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Once they reach the age of thirteen, the children of Quill are sorted into groups: the Wanteds go on to become leaders and shapers of their society, and the Unwanteds are sent off to die. What makes this especially poignant is the case of twins. Alex and Aaron Stowe, for instance, are sorted into two different groups. But the fate that awaits Alex is not actually death. Instead, he and the other teens join others in a magical world kept hidden from the other portions of Quill by spells and guard
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There are a lot of things to like about this book, but the pacing really bothered me. So much time for Alex to mope about not being accepted into magical training, and eventually so much happening at once. Many things were unique and thought-provoking, but I hoped that eventually the people of Quill would realize how pitiful their situation was, and that the war would not be fought. Mr. Today was such a great character, and so was Alex. The chilling relationships among family members seemed a bi
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Loved this book. Starting it with my fourth graders tomorrow! Such great imagery and tons of twists that I didn't see coming...
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2.5 stars
Dystopia with magic. Some interesting elements here. A winning combination for Harry Potter fans. 4th-8th
May 15, 2012
Elisabeth
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Jun 07, 2012
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Kathy
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Claire Caterer
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Annette
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Mar 21, 2015
Kirsten Barber
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Sherry Holland
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May 27, 2016
Tara
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