Editorial Content for Grayling's Song

A mother under an evil spell. A talking, shape-shifting mouse. A band of eccentric companions. And cheese. Magic cheese. What better way to begin a quest? Grayling, the daughter of a wise woman, doesn’t agree. When their book of magic spells and recipes is stolen and her mother begins turning into a tree, Grayling sets out to find the book and other “cunning folk” to help her reverse the spell. She hopes to find wise and skillful practitioners of magic --- instead, Grayling finds herself burdened with odd new friends who are often more of a hindrance than a help. While trying to find her grimoire, or book of magic, and save her mother, Grayling is often forced to rescue her companions from dire situations. She feels helpless and ill-equipped to handle the enormous task her mother has set for her.

"GRAYLING’S SONG has an innocent charm....I love the heroine Cushman creates in Grayling....[her] skill with character development truly shines."

Reluctantly, Grayling sets out to find both the grimoire and a way to break the spell. She doesn’t have much confidence to begin with, and she’s doubtful that she can even find a solution. Aiding her is Pook, a shape-shifting mouse who makes up for his small stature with unfailing loyalty to Grayling.Auld Nancy, an elderly weather witch, and Pansy, her dour young traveling companion, join Grayling in her quest. Soon Desdemona Cork, a beautiful and bewitching enchantress, agrees to travel with them as well, although she seems to be absent at any sign of trouble --- and there is trouble. The road that Grayling follows by a song she alone can hear is fraught with danger from the elements, other travelers and mysterious magic. Knights and townspeople attempt to harness the power of Grayling and her friends, not realizing that there isn’t much magic to be had. In the forest the travelers meet Sylvanus Vetch, a mediocre magician who appears in a cloud of smoke. His specialty, he explains, is “tyromancy, or the divination of cheese.” Shenanigans ensue. Sylvanus proves to be as useless as the rest of Grayling’s companions, but when danger finds them, they manage to put aside their own fears and pull together to help Grayling --- even if they return to complaining once the danger has passed. 

The only form of magic that Grayling seems capable of is singing: a song to ease old joints, a song to warm the heart on a cold evening. But her songs cannot conjure or transform. She feels overshadowed by her powerful mother, and struggles to find a use for her own skills. Will she be able to find the spell book, lift the curse from her mother and discover her own magical strength?

With GRAYLING’S SONG, Karen Cushman makes her first foray into fantasy. The novel is more of a fairy tale than anything else, full of delightful medieval words and references to witchcraft. It lacks the exquisite attention to detail and sense of place that make Cushman’s other historical fiction so gripping. As an avid reader of CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY, THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE and THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE, I found GRAYLING’S SONG a bit simpler, with less complex emotional themes. But GRAYLING’S SONG has an innocent charm of its own. Like Grayling, the book takes a step out into unknown territory and does the best it can with what it already knows to be true.

I love the heroine Cushman creates in Grayling. A bit reluctant, more than a little scared, Grayling pushes herself beyond her comfort zone for the sake of her mother. Although her self-confidence in her magic is low, she is remarkably self-reliant and defends her independence at every opportunity. Instead of the common trope in the fantasy genre of a group of helpful companions who each bring a different skill to the table, Grayling’s friends each seem to possess their own specific way of hindering her quest. They are not brave, nor fierce, nor brilliant, nor powerful. In a world of magic, Cushman has created decidedly human characters. 

But that is the beauty of GRAYLING’S SONG. No one is perfect, or even particularly special. Ordinary people navigate a playful but treacherous world and do the best they can to support one another. And Grayling, in spite of her self-doubt, has a thirst for independence and the will to carry out her mission. At one point, a gallant young man tries to save her. “Nay, let me rescue myself!” Grayling replies. This is where Cushman’s skill with character development truly shines. In the tradition of Catherine, Alyce and Lucy Whipple, Cushman’s newest heroine will find her own way in the world and into the hearts of a new generation of readers.