Prentice Alvin (1989)

An interesting installment in the series. This book felt more like it was telling the tale than the second book. It also felt like it was being told as part of the oral tradition, with a bit of excessive repetition of ideas and themes. All the same, the story is getting more interesting, and I look forward to seeing what happens next. ( )

This was better than the previous book, but still fell short of where I thought it needed to be. This series is still amazingly racist, and does more to justify racism than to go against it. There are genuinely good parts to this book, and a lot of it was enjoyable, but there were parts that just made me wonder what Card was thinking leaving these parts and elements in a finished book. They really detracted from the whole. ( )

Alvin Maker stories are really keeping my interest. Especially the good guys overcoming the bad guys. ( )

This was a difficult read. The part of the story that covers Arthur's personal history is horrifying and makes for some very uncomfortable passages. But it's worth bracing yourself to read. The book is thought-provoking and powerful.

http://archthinking.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-hatrack-river-tales-of-alvin.htm... ( )

Come live in an America that might have been. Where everyday people used hexes and charms in their homes and lives. Where a slave turned into a bird and flew to freedom with infant in her arms. Where Red men created a powerful magic with the sacrifice of their lives and in doing so created a barrier no white man could ever cross. Where a Weaver sits in her cabin weaving our lives-as her ancestress did in the old country-as her cousins in the old country do even now-and as her daughter in the Red mans land does as well. Where Ben Franklin was a Wizard and a Maker and George Washington was beheaded. Where the Iroquis-in the books the Irawaka are one of the original states that sign the constitution-known in the books as The Compact. A Compact that makes Red men-Native Americans- citizens as well as black men-no slaves. The books tell the tale of Alvin, who is the seventh son of a seventh son and a very powerful Maker-almost like a wizard. He fights against the Unmaker. The books also feature a very prominent Torch-or psychic. In these novels Card weaves a wonderful Continent full of powerful characters. ( )