Raven Stole the Moon follows Jenna’s journey in Alaska and Robert’s journey to find her. Jenna is mysteriously drawn to Alaska. She has a sense that there is something unfinished concerning her son’s death. Is it because his body was never found or is it guilt eating at her that she didn’t do everything she could to save him? While touring the town of Wrangell, she has what seems like supernatural encounters and the feeling that things are not what they appear. Jenna learns of the beliefs and legends of the Tlingits, the North American Indian tribe that was her grandmother’s, concerning the kushtaka, shape-shifting otter-like creatures that have been known to lure people to their deaths and transform them into a fellow kushtaka. Could this be what happened to her son? Is this why Jenna seems to be seeking out answers?

I really did enjoy my time spent with Raven Stole the Moon. There were elements of magic and mystery, shape-shifters and shamans, romance and a violence (nothing shocking). The characters are interesting and the dialogue between them really lends to the overall “feeling” of the book. The edition I read was actually a release of a new edition of the book which was originally published in 1998. In the afterword, author Garth Stein explains his relief that he felt he did not need to rewrite large parts of his original version including the lack of technology (pretty amazing a time without cell phones and the internet) and I am glad that he left things pretty much as is. I believe a story should be kept true to it’s original form.

I was very excited to have this opportunity to review this release (offered by Sarah from Terra Communications Book Marketing).  As I am an Enzo fan – Enzo being the star of Mr. Stein’s extremely popular and wonderful The Art of Racing in the Rain – I was very curious to see how Mr. Stein’s first work compared. Both books featured very believable and realistic characters but I do believe the author’s writing has gained a better voice and has evolved.  Raven Stole the Moon is an engaging book with a great appeal.

Please visit Mr. Stein’s website, follow him on twitter, or join him on Facebook and MySpace.

Now for the giveaway! Sarah has generously offered one lucky reader the chance to win their own copy of Raven Stole the Moon.

• This giveaway will run from today (March 11, 2010) through midnight CST Friday (March 19, 2010).
• U.S. and Canadian residents only
• How to enter you ask – leave a comment.
• Want one more additional entry, please click on the Animal Rescue Site button in the footer and let me know in your comment

Raven Stole the Moon – Review/Giveaway is a post from: booktumbling

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