Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9266-0
Gier, K. (2012). Sapphire blue. (A. Bell, Trans.). New York: Henry Holt and Company. (Original work published 2010)
Plot Summary
After discovering she, and not her cousin Charlotte, has the time-traveling gene Gwyneth’s life has been much more complicated. Gideon, her time-traveling partner, is gorgeous, but Gwen is unsure of his feelings towards her. One day he’s kissing her, the next he’s ignoring her completely. Gwen also is not sure why her cousin Lucy and Gideon’s cousin Paul are considered traitors and stole the first chronograph. Was it because they want the secret power of the chronograph for themselves, or is were they trying to protect someone? On one trip to the past Gwen and Gideon attend an evening soiree where Gideon flirts with an older woman and Gwen drinks too much. Their meeting with Count Saint-Germain is somewhat informative as Gwen learns of the Florentine Alliance, a group dedicated to killing the time-travelers. During one of Gwen’s time-traveling episodes, she goes to 1947 and meets her grandfather. After their initial surprise, the two compare information about Lucy and Paul, and what their potential motives might have been. They form a plan and agree to discuss any new information they find. Aunt Maddy has a vision about a ruby stone pushed over by a lion, and shattering into blood. Gwen is shaken and believes she is the ruby and Gideon is the lion. Soon after Gideon clumsily admits to Gwen that he is in love with her. They leave on another time traveling trip with disastrous results.
Critical Evaluation
As with Ruby Red, Bell has translated so wonderfully that it does not seem to have been written in a language other than English. The jokes and sarcasm come off as naturally as if a friend spoke them, and there are no awkward sentences or phrasing. Sapphire Blue begins just minutes after Ruby Red, the first installment, ended. Readers unfamiliar with the first novel will have a challenging time trying to keep up and understanding the time-traveling problem. Gwen comes off convincingly as a sixteen-year-old girl. It is not the time-traveling that has her crying or talking about for hours, but a boy. Like a regular teenager, life takes second place when a boy issue is at stake, and Gwen’s best friend is ready to listen. Gwen’s mother also acts as a real mother, one who loves her children deeply and will do anything to keep them safe. Though a major plot point, the time-traveling explanation remains elusive. There is no convincing explanation of how or why it started, and the chronograph makes little sense. The timing is also difficult to understand as characters in the past experience visits with Gwen linearly, but Gwen hops back-and-forth between time. Despite these complications, Gier has written a captivating story with likeable characters and intriguing plot points. Fans will be waiting eagerly for the last installment.
Reader’s Annotation
Gwen and Gideon continue their time-traveling adventures and their feelings for each other grow.
About the Author
Kerstin Gier is German and all information I could find was in German, but I used the translate feature.
Ruby red and the two sequels are Gier’s first youth adult fantasy novels. It has been translated into seventeen languages include English, Spanish, Polish, and Norwegian. Anthea Bell is the German to English translator. Ruby Red has also been turned into a German-language film. Before turning to young adult, Gier wrote 13 novels for adults.
She has enjoyed reading fantasy since childhood, but finally decided it was a good time. Gier has published novels under the pseudonyms Jule Fire and Sophie Berard. However, Gier now just writes under her own name. She says she used to write more prolifically, but now just has need for one name. Gier is married and has ason. During book tours Gier’s mother takes care of her son. Favorite authors include Nick Hornby, Marian Keyes, Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Stroud, and Antje Babendererde. She lives in Bergisches Land on the western side of Germany.
Anthea Bell is a well-known translator. Her most recognizable translation are Cornelia Funke’s children’s novels. Other than English, Bell is fluent in German and French, and can also translate Danish, though she does not speak it. Bell attended Oxford University and took a special English course on language development. Bell was married at 21 and became a secretary. By chance, someone asked if anyone read German and could give a publishing house an opinion on a German book. From there, Bell began reading books in German and eventually turned to translating them. She has won the Batchelder Award for book translations four times and has been honored an additional three. Bell currently lives in England.
Genre
Fantasy/Romance
Curriculum Ties
History
Booktalking
Are Gideon’s feelings genuine and what is going on with Paul and Lucy?
What does Aunt Maddy’s vision means?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 7th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues may include time travel and murderous threats.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I loved Ruby Red and definitely needed to read the sequel right away and add it to this assignment.
Others in the Series
Ruby Red (Book #1)
Emerald Green (Book #3- Not yet translated into English)
References
Lear, Elizabeth (2011, May 19). Q & A with anthea bell. Publisher’s Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/47327-q-a-with-anthea-bell.html
Swiss, Tine. (2009, November 30). Interview with kerstin gier. Tines World Books. Retrieved from http://tinesbuecherwelt.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/interview-mit-kerstin-gier/
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9266-0
Gier, K. (2012). Sapphire blue. (A. Bell, Trans.). New York: Henry Holt and Company. (Original work published 2010)
Plot Summary
After discovering she, and not her cousin Charlotte, has the time-traveling gene Gwyneth’s life has been much more complicated. Gideon, her time-traveling partner, is gorgeous, but Gwen is unsure of his feelings towards her. One day he’s kissing her, the next he’s ignoring her completely. Gwen also is not sure why her cousin Lucy and Gideon’s cousin Paul are considered traitors and stole the first chronograph. Was it because they want the secret power of the chronograph for themselves, or is were they trying to protect someone? On one trip to the past Gwen and Gideon attend an evening soiree where Gideon flirts with an older woman and Gwen drinks too much. Their meeting with Count Saint-Germain is somewhat informative as Gwen learns of the Florentine Alliance, a group dedicated to killing the time-travelers. During one of Gwen’s time-traveling episodes, she goes to 1947 and meets her grandfather. After their initial surprise, the two compare information about Lucy and Paul, and what their potential motives might have been. They form a plan and agree to discuss any new information they find. Aunt Maddy has a vision about a ruby stone pushed over by a lion, and shattering into blood. Gwen is shaken and believes she is the ruby and Gideon is the lion. Soon after Gideon clumsily admits to Gwen that he is in love with her. They leave on another time traveling trip with disastrous results.
Critical Evaluation
As with Ruby Red, Bell has translated so wonderfully that it does not seem to have been written in a language other than English. The jokes and sarcasm come off as naturally as if a friend spoke them, and there are no awkward sentences or phrasing. Sapphire Blue begins just minutes after Ruby Red, the first installment, ended. Readers unfamiliar with the first novel will have a challenging time trying to keep up and understanding the time-traveling problem. Gwen comes off convincingly as a sixteen-year-old girl. It is not the time-traveling that has her crying or talking about for hours, but a boy. Like a regular teenager, life takes second place when a boy issue is at stake, and Gwen’s best friend is ready to listen. Gwen’s mother also acts as a real mother, one who loves her children deeply and will do anything to keep them safe. Though a major plot point, the time-traveling explanation remains elusive. There is no convincing explanation of how or why it started, and the chronograph makes little sense. The timing is also difficult to understand as characters in the past experience visits with Gwen linearly, but Gwen hops back-and-forth between time. Despite these complications, Gier has written a captivating story with likeable characters and intriguing plot points. Fans will be waiting eagerly for the last installment.
Reader’s Annotation
Gwen and Gideon continue their time-traveling adventures and their feelings for each other grow.
About the Author
Kerstin Gier is German and all information I could find was in German, but I used the translate feature.
Ruby red and the two sequels are Gier’s first youth adult fantasy novels. It has been translated into seventeen languages include English, Spanish, Polish, and Norwegian. Anthea Bell is the German to English translator. Ruby Red has also been turned into a German-language film. Before turning to young adult, Gier wrote 13 novels for adults.
She has enjoyed reading fantasy since childhood, but finally decided it was a good time. Gier has published novels under the pseudonyms Jule Fire and Sophie Berard. However, Gier now just writes under her own name. She says she used to write more prolifically, but now just has need for one name. Gier is married and has ason. During book tours Gier’s mother takes care of her son. Favorite authors include Nick Hornby, Marian Keyes, Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Stroud, and Antje Babendererde. She lives in Bergisches Land on the western side of Germany.
Anthea Bell is a well-known translator. Her most recognizable translation are Cornelia Funke’s children’s novels. Other than English, Bell is fluent in German and French, and can also translate Danish, though she does not speak it. Bell attended Oxford University and took a special English course on language development. Bell was married at 21 and became a secretary. By chance, someone asked if anyone read German and could give a publishing house an opinion on a German book. From there, Bell began reading books in German and eventually turned to translating them. She has won the Batchelder Award for book translations four times and has been honored an additional three. Bell currently lives in England.
Genre
Fantasy/Romance
Curriculum Ties
History
Booktalking
Are Gideon’s feelings genuine and what is going on with Paul and Lucy?
What does Aunt Maddy’s vision means?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 7th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues may include time travel and murderous threats.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I loved Ruby Red and definitely needed to read the sequel right away and add it to this assignment.
Others in the Series
Ruby Red (Book #1)
Emerald Green (Book #3- Not yet translated into English)
References
Lear, Elizabeth (2011, May 19). Q & A with anthea bell. Publisher’s Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/47327-q-a-with-anthea-bell.html
Swiss, Tine. (2009, November 30). Interview with kerstin gier. Tines World Books. Retrieved from http://tinesbuecherwelt.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/interview-mit-kerstin-gier/
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