Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver’s daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden talismans are so fine that some even call her “witch-blade”: a dangerous nickname in a country where witches are hunted and burned in the square.

For Kate and her village have fallen on hard times. Kate’s father has died, leaving her alone in the world. And a mysterious fog now covers the countryside, ruining crops and spreading fear of hunger and sickness. The townspeople are looking for someone to blame, and their eyes have fallen on Kate.

Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: In exchange for her shadow, he’ll give Kate the means to escape the angry town, and what’s more, he’ll grant her heart’s wish. It’s a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes she can’t live shadowless forever — and that Linay’s designs are darker than she ever dreamed
(Summary from Amazon.com)

Plain Kate is one of the most beautiful books that I have read in ages. ‘Beautiful’ is honestly the first word that comes to mind to describe Erin Bow’s prose, which is as lovingly shaped and whittled as the figures and objarka, or talismans, that Kate so artfully carves to protect others from the curses and mysterious sicknesses that threaten the land. The writing is so simple and straightforward, much in the vein of the classic fairytale, but at the same time manages to infuse worlds of emotion and description into each paragraph and every sentence.

Bow creates a well-developed, three-dimensional heroine in Kate, whose plucky, adventurous, and stubborn nature does not allow her to languish in misery or self-pity after her father dies. Although she is persecuted by her fellow townspeople and encounters suspicion once she joins up with a band of Roamers, she still stays strong in her desire to find acceptance and a home. Throughout Kate’s struggles: to not get thrown out of her village, to find belonging with the Roamers, to escape Linay, and to ultimately save the village of Lov from destruction, she never loses hope. Perhaps it is this idea of hope that is so central to fairy tales and that is key to why I adore fantasies so much. Plain Kate embodies this idea.

The supporting characters in Plain Kate are amazing. Linay, the villain, is creepy and compelling, bargaining for Kate’s shadow and then stealing her away for further sacrifices. Without giving spoilers, I will say that his ultimate scheme is incredibly eerie, and one of the most original motives I have seen in ages. Drina, the Roamer girl who befriends Kate and is ultimately and inextricably linked to Linay’s devious plan, is a welcome companion, providing a wonderful look at a best-friendship that is nurtured and developed throughout the course of the book. Scenes with Drina and Kate plotting, sacrificing for each other, and huddling together in the dark hours talking made me yearn for the sleepovers of my youth.

And who could leave out Taggle, one of the most adorable talking cats I have ever had the pleasure of being introduced to. In the depths of her loneliness after her father’s death, Kate only desires friendship and companionship. When this, her heart’s desire, is granted to her, it is embodied in the talking form of her cat, Taggle. Taggle’s humorous lines (“Look, I’m still damp. Fuss over me.”), preening arrogance, and deep love for Kate are the heart of this novel.

Full of mystery, superstition, heart, and pure emotion (I dare you not to cry–you’ll know when I mean), Plain Kate is one of my favorite books read so far this year.

(Also of note for Harry Potter fans: the table of contents of this book is done in the exact format and font as the Harry Potter books (both are Arthur A. Levine books)—that, more than anything, will tell you how good this is!)