Valiant

Saville hates sewing. How can she not when her father, the Tailor, loves his bolts of velvet and silk far more than he's ever loved her? Yet, when he is struck ill shortly after they arrive in the city of Reggen, Saville must don boy's clothes in the hopes of gaining a commission from the king to keep them fed. The kingdom is soon on edge when stories spread of an army of giants led by a man who cannot be killed. But giants are just stories, and no man is immortal. And then the giants do come to the city gates, two larger-than-life scouts whom Saville cunningly tricks into leaving. The Tailor of Reggen is the hero of the kingdom, the king promises his sister's hand in marriage, and by the time Saville reaches the palace doors, it is widely known that the Tailor single-handedly killed the giants. When her secret--that she's a girl--is quickly discovered by Lord Galen Verras, the king's cousin, Saville's swept into the twists and turns of court politics. The deathless man is very real, and he will use his giant army to ensure he is given the throne freely or by force. Now, only a tailor girl with courage and cunning can see beyond the tales to discover the truth and save the kingdom again. Debut author Sarah McGuire artfully crafts a story of understanding, identity, and fighting to protect those you love most in Valiant, a rich reimagining of The Brave Little Tailor.

About the Author :
Sarah McGuire is a nomadic math teacher who sailed around the world aboard a floating college campus. She writes fairy tale retellings and still hopes that one day she'll open a wardrobe and stumble into another world. Coffee and chocolate are her rocket fuel. She wishes Florida had mountains, but she lives there anyway with her husband (who wrote this bio in less than three minutes!) and their family.

Review :
Debut novelist McGuire gives her ambitious retelling of the Grimms' tale of the Brave Little Tailor a solid dose of girl power. After her mother's death, 17-year-old Saville accompanies her gruff father to the village of Reggen, where he will start up his tailoring business anew. When he is felled by an apoplexy, Saville dresses as a boy, calls herself Avi, and takes on the guise of her father's apprentice. The ruse plays on even after Avi outwits two giants who were scouting Reggen for their mysterious leader, a duke who claims to be an heir of the ancient emperor and 'holder of the eternal heart.' But when the village learns the true identity of its supposed giant-slaying champion, and an army of raging giants approaches, Saville finds unlikely allies (and romance) as she takes on her next challenge. McGuire crafts a richly detailed cast, and her heroine brings verve to a familiar story. Explanations of the giants' mythology and the mystical eternal heart slow the action a bit, but readers will be rewarded by a satisfying conclusion.―Publishers Weekly -- "Journal" In this retelling of 'The Brave Little Tailor, ' a young woman comes to the rescue of a city that's besieged by giants. Saville, a tailor's daughter, picks up the ruined pieces of her family's livelihood after her father suffers an apoplexy that leaves him unable to speak, let alone sew. She masquerades as a boy to secure a commission from the king. Nearby villages have suffered attacks by giants led by a duke who describes himself as 'Heir to the Ancient Emperor's crown, Holder of the Eternal Heart.' When two giants appear at the city's gates, Saville sees Will, a waif she's taken under her wing, dangling from their hands. Like the tailor in the Grimms' folk tale, Saville outwits the giants and is declared champion by the king--who promises his sister's hand in marriage to the champion before finding out who she is. Saville uses her ingenuity to get both self and city out of trouble, with the help of a handsome young nobleman and Will. McGuire uses familiar European folk-tale motifs as the bare-bones backdrop for a lively adventure story with some surprising twists. Characters are fully developed through Saville's engaging first-person voice, but it's clever Saville herself who wins the day--and the heart of the nobleman. A charming, satisfying first novel. --Kirkus Reviews -- "Journal" Seventeen-year-old Saville is trapped. Arriving in the city of Reggen, Saville's father, a tailor, falls ill. Despite her father's disdain for her, she resourcefully dons boy's clothing, chops her hair, and assumes the name Avi. Then she has to be smarter than ever when she must rescue a friend―and the city―from two giants. The town cheers Avi as their champion, and stories of his victory turn into impossible feats of human ability. Problems continue to arise as saving Reggen from an evil duke becomes as much Saville's destiny as it is Lord Verras', the king's cousin with whom Saville falls in love. This reinvention and expansion of Grimm's fairy tale 'The Valiant Little Tailor' replaces the protagonist with his giant-battling daughter. Featuring a strong, brave, and determined female protagonist, royalty, and giants, it's a debut novel that's perfect for fans of Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine. Who doesn't love a love story built on trust in the face of danger?―Booklist -- "Journal" When her father falls ill, Saville uses the skills he has taught her to become tailor to the king. Disguised as a boy, Avi, she is able to provide for herself and her ward, as well as gain access to rumors of giants and an evil Duke. Her bravery with the giants is real, but her heroism is overblown. Suddenly, Avi is betrothed to the princess, and destined to protect the city from attack. This re-imagined version of 'The Brave Little Tailor' will captivate all fantasy readers and others looking for an exciting adventure story. Saville is a well-developed and likeable character. Her relationships are compelling, sympathetic, and realistically flawed. The city of Reggen is drawn beautifully, captivating the reader's imagination. The story will remind readers of Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl (Bloomsbury, 2003), but it will stand alone in any collection.--starred, School Library Connection -- "Journal"