The Scorpio Races

1. The Scorpio Races written by Maggie Stiefvater Scholastic Press 2011 Lillie Busch Pre-IB 9 2A

2. “Some riders live.Others die.” • The setting is the fictional island of Thisby. • Each November, capaill uisce {singular is capall usice}– or water horses – come from the sea and are captured. • Men train them for two weeks before the Scorpio Races begin. • The races are dangerous, because the sea calls to the carnivorous mounts during November more than any other time in the year, thus making them more uncontrollable than ever. • The book’s plot starts moving along when the protagonist is faced with her brother’s choice to leave.

3. Kate “Puck” Connolly • Mount: Dove, regular mare • Puck is the middle Connolly sibling, and cares for her brothers. • She is also either really stupid or really brave to be the first female to take part in the Scorpio Races – on a regular horse no less.

4. Sean Kendrick • Mount: Corr, capall usice stallion • Puck’s protagonist counterpart. • He has a jobat Malvern stables, and is basically a capall usice’s version of a horse whisperer. • Also the four-time winner of the Scorpio Races on Corr. • Stubborness is a quality both he and Puck share.

5. Matthew “Mutt” Malvern • Mount: Skata, mare capall usice • The antagonistof the story, Mutt is son to Mr. Malvern and Sean’s envious rival. • He is usually not the sharpest person around.

6. “It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.” –Sean Kendrick • Puck is perfectly content riding Dove and merely living on Thisby, until her older brother announces that he is leaving for the mainland. • In a desperate ploy to make him stay, Puck says that she is going to ride in the Scorpio Races. • She is quickly faced with prejudiced men who’d do almost anything to keep her out of the races, but she slowly finds an ally in quiet and loner Sean. • She can either win, and have Gabe and the prize money, or lose and give Sean a chance to get what he had always wanted. Dying is a possibility, too; her chances of casualties are higher than normal.

7. Mr. Malvern • Mount: none • He’s Thisby’s richest man as well as the owner of Malvern Stables. • Plays the parts of Sean’s boss, Mutt’s father, and Corr’s official owner. • Mr. Malvern’s not exactly cruel, but not completely nice, either. He can stand his ground.

8. Peg Gratton • Mount: none • Wife to the Skarmouth butcher. • She’s considered beautiful and is adored by every man on the island because she could “cut [his] heart out neat.” • Is skeptical – and does not approve - of Puck’s choice to enter the Races, but does eventually assist her.

9. George Holly • Mount: none • He’s a pleasant and prosperous American who comes to Thisby at the time prior to the Races. • Befriends Sean and Finn – which is an accomplishment in itself.

10. Connolly brothers Gabriel “Gabe” Connolly Finn Connolly Mount: none, unless the Morris car counts Youngest Connolly. Loves tinkering with things. Doesn’t like being thanked/complimented/revealing happiness. • Mount: none • Gabe yearns to leave Thisby for the mainland. • He holds the title of the oldest living Connolly. • He also works odd jobs to earn money for the family - mainly at the docks.

11. Gabe Connolly Finn Connolly

12. What the Critics Say • “An utterly compelling read.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review • "[A] thrilling book that’s as unusual as it is alluring." — The Los Angeles Times

13. What I Say.{slight – obvious - spoilers} Before I Read It: After I Read It: Definitely better than the Shiver trilogy (previous books written by Stiefvater). The descriptions were amazing. The romance was all right; if you’re expecting make-out sessions at every page, you are wrong. Took a while to get into. • Skeptical, for I did not enjoy the author’s earlier works. • Admittedly hoped that Puck and Sean wouldn’t end up together, and would just be friends. • Thought that the races would be more prominent.

14. Not on my READ OR FOREVER BE NOT ENLIGHTENED LIST, but if you’re looking for a light read, it’ll work.