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The Winter Oak
James A. Hetley Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Winter Oak
"

Ace, Nov 2004, 14.00, 304 pp.
ISBN 0441 012019

When the creatures of myth and legends were kicked off the human world they went to the Summer Country in another dimension that has portals allowing travel between the worlds. Sisters Maureen and Jo Pierce accidentally traveled into the Summer Country and learned that the blood of the Old Ones run through their veins giving them power to cast spells. Maureen fought against Fiona the witch and a dragon.

Jo returns home with David to Naskaag Falls, Maine and troubles. Her mother is dying, they lost their jobs and the police don't believe her story insisting they produce Maureen and her lover Brian who stayed behind in the Summer Country. Fiona plots with the dragon to have their revenge on Maureen who has power but is drinking herself into oblivion to blot out the awful memories.


Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Winter Oak
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - part earth & part fantasy world
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
magical powers: - clash between evenly matched magical power(s) (fantasy)
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - mage/magician
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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