Tender Morsels

Bibliographic Information: Lanagan, M. (2008). Tender morsels. New York: Knopf. ISBN: 978-0375848117

Plot Summary: Liga Longfield endures brutal and traumatic abuse from her widowed father which results in a child, and similar trauma from a group of village boys results in another pregnancy. Just when Liga is convinced that death may be her only escape from her horrific experience, she is granted safety and security in the form of a separate world, akin to her own personal heaven, where she is free from harm, and able to raise her two girls in a cottage in the woods. The daughters, gentle Branza and sprightly Urrda, couldn’t be more different, both in appearance and manner. In this paradise, where even the townspeople are all friendly and helpful, Liga slowly heals from her emotional wounds, but after years of solitude, feels a complicated kind of loneliness. The void is filled when one day a friendly bear appears in their world, and they grow fond of his comforting, gentle company. Little do they know, that the bear is a boy who has crossed the threshold from the real world, and other, more dangerous types are soon to follow. Meanwhile, Urrda’s strong will and spirit urges her to explore the unknown, and she mistakenly returns to the real world. While time moves at a slower pace in reality, Liga and Branza grow ever older in their paradise, convinced that Urrda has disappeared forever.  As more bears break the border between worlds, Liga learns she must learn to face reality once again, where there lies both good and evil.

Critical Evaluation: This story starts off on a very bad note, and trudges through some very difficult material to experience, let alone read about. But Lanagan is careful which details to include, never lingering on harsh moments for long, instead focusing on the depth of emotion and reflection that occurs afterwards, revealing the slow process of healing. Liga is but a maiden throughout her traumas, and so we get to see through her young perspective, how she slowly gains an understanding of what is happening to her, and what it means for her future. Her sheer sensitivity and calculated methods for saving herself and her children are deep and utterly human, to the point that she is willing to fling herself and her child from a cliff. Her salvation comes in the form of magic, but it only lasts for so long. Underlying the safety of her new life, is the harsh reality: she must eventually learn to face her fears again, and her daughters help give her the strength, as they too try to piece together their world and their identities. The language is intense, gritty and whimsical all at once, mirroring the clash of tone in this corporeal fairytale. This is a true feminist piece, full of dynamic female characters that takes the Grimms Brother’s “Snow-White and Rose-Red” tale, and fills in all the details in a poetic and gripping way.

Reader’s Annotation: Liga creates a magical world where dangerous men don't exist, and she and her daughters can live a comfortable and safe life. But the magic that separates her world from reality is waining, and bears and dwarfs are crossing the threshold, endangering her paradise.

Author Information: Gale’s Contemporary Authors Online states, “In addition to writing for children, author Margo Lanagan has worked as a freelance book editor as well as a technical writer. Growing up in the Hunter Valley and in Melbourne, Australia, she traveled extensively, in addition to studying history at universities in both Perth and Sydney. The insight and experiences gained from both her travels and her education have provided the inspiration for Lanagan's middle-grade and young-adult novels as well as for short-story collections such as White Time, Black Juice, and Red Spikes.”

  

Genre: Fantasy

Subjects: fairy tales, sexual abuse

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas: Introduce the original fairy tale of “Snow-White and Rose-Red” as the back drop for a discussion on the relationship between mothers and daughters.

Reveal how men are presented as bears in Liga’s world, and what benefits and/or dangers this could be towards the females in the novel. Why bears?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 16+

Challenge Issues/Defense: Due to descriptions of sexual abuse, this material may be challenged. If so, refer to:

1.     The San Francisco Public Library Collection Development Policy, Selection Criteria, and Teen Collection documents.

2.     The California Department of Education District Selection Policies, Reading Lists, and Resources for Recommended Literature: Pre-K-12.

3.     A hard copy of the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights.

4.     Mixed book reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Publisher’s Weekly.

5.     If necessary, The San Francisco Public Library’s Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form.

Reason for Selection: This book tackles heavy issues in a creative way, and has won numerous awards and honors.