Review: The Star Shard by Frederic S. Durbin

The Star Shard by Frederic S. Durbin.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: February 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547370255

Review: The Star Shard is a marvelously written book by Frederic S. Durbin. A fantasy in the world of Eiriegh, it tells about the adventures of Cymbril, a girl with the fantastic ability to sing aboard the magical wagon, The Thunder Rake.

Cymbril is a slave to the owner of the Rake, Rombol. She sings on command, something she's known to do since she could remember. The only things that link her to whatever past that she can't recall is a magical hairpin from her mother, and the star shard from her father. One night, Rombol purchases a new slave: a boy from the mystical realm of the Fey. The boy's name is Loric, and his service toward Rombol is to guide the Rake through the dark swamps at night. He is kept in a prison cell, where he comes to contact only with the maid who brings him his meals.

Cymbril decides that she wants to meet this boy. By bribing the maid who brings Loric his food, she learns steadily about him after frequent visits. When Cymbril shows Loric the magical hairpin and the star shard, he tells her information that she has yearned for since childhood. And with the new piece of Cymbril's family heritage, she and Loric come up with a conclusion. They will no longer stay prisoners aboard the Rake. Together, they will escape to the Fey world.

The Star Shard is one of those books that makes you hungry for more. Better yet, it leaves you feeding yourself with imagination: What will happen to Cymbril and Loric? Why do they do what they do? Great authors like Frederic S. Durbin don't give you specific, clear-cut endings. There's always room for a sequel, (or a reader's imagination), to take place. I loved Durbin's child-like imagination and description, it made me feel one with Cymbril. Until I read the next brilliantly written words of this author, I will always be hopeful for more tales of Cymbril and Loric.

Review written by Amber (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Star Shard for this review.

Have you read The Star Shard? How would you rate it?