Cuckoo Song

I loved the way this began. Tris's uncertainty about who/what she is and her desperation to hide it was genuinely chilling. Her little sister made a fine foil, threatening to wreck Tris's fragile sanity. I really felt for her and her experience was terrifying. (This first half was like a photo-negative version of Coraline,, and like Coraline, was a dark fantasy book for kids that adults could also enjoy.)

My second favorite thing was how skillfully Hardinge blended family issues—sibling rivalry, parental possessiveness and abuse, death of a loved one—with changes to society stemming from WWI. Among these changes are dealing with the emotional and economic aftermath of soldiers who didn't return plus women's greater independence and new role in the world's economy. These add depth and resonance to the fantasy elements.

Once the book was halfway through, the subtly creepy and disturbing story became a fast-paced kid's fantasy/adventure story. It was almost a different book, a little less intense and engrossing for me because the tone from the opening half lightened up.

Cuckoo's song is imaginative and unusual. Hardinge created a set of uncanny, intriguing creatures and characters and I remained invested in the protagonist and her allies. I do wish she had kept some of the mood and emotions from the first half and taken them even deeper but this wasn't a dealbreaker for me in enjoying the book.