MASL Book Trailer Winner
About the Author
Natalie Mae is an ex-programmer, dessert enthusiast, and author of young adult novels. She has also been a freelance editor and Pitch Wars mentor, and feels it notable to mention she once held a job where she had to feed spiders. Her work has been acclaimed by People Magazine, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon, USA Today, YALSA and HuffPost.
She now writes full-time at home with a bag of dark chocolates in one hand and a leopard cat on her lap. She is most definitely not checking Instagram right now.
Books
The Kinder Poison
The Cruelest Mercy
Third title of the trilogy coming soon
About the Book
A race for the crown. A girl destined to die.
A weapon more powerful than any blade.
Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, The Kinder Poison is an enthralling fantasy adventure that follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown.
Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she's only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.
All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing. A death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey's end—will ascend to the throne. With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing's human sacrifice.
Now Zahru's only hope for survival hinges on the impossible: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.
“… a delicious high-stakes adventure.”
— People Magazine, Best Books to Read Summer 2020
Amazon Best Book of 2020 so far
Amazon Best Young Adult Book of the Month: June 2020
★ “Zahru’s unexpectedly humorous inner voice, the rich worldbuilding full of political intrigue, a slow-burning romance, and a fantastic set of well-developed characters (both friends and foes) mark this exciting and refreshing tale of power and accountability. A funny, rewarding story for fans of optimistic tales with a bite.”— Kirkus, starred review
★ “With characters to love, to hate, and to love to hate, plus a plot full of adventure skillfully woven with suspense, this is a must-purchase for all YA collections.”— School Library Journal, starred review
“The Kinder Poison delivers a deadly dose of danger and ancient magic in a cleverly penned YA fantasy, perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes or Three Dark Crowns. Like a coiled snake, it’s full of wicked surprises.”— Colleen Oakes, bestselling author of the Queen of Hearts series
“Betrayal, sibling rivalries, and a crafty girl stuck in the middle, The Kinder Poison is a heartfelt, magical tale that swept me away like a desert storm.”— Brenda Drake, New York Times bestselling author of Thief of Lies
“A captivating tale of duty versus dreams, woven through with a unique system of magic and a push-pull romance that will have you demanding the sequel. Magically seductive!”— Lori Goldstein, author of Screen Queens and Becoming Jinn
“The best fantasy I’ve read in years. The Kinder Poison will grip you from the very first page and refuse to let go, sweeping you into an unforgettable adventure and leaving you breathless. Get ready for your newest obsession.”— Chelsea Bobulski, author of Remember Me
“Zahru is a witty, engaging narrator whose supernatural skills might be lacking but whose ability to throw out some epic one-line zingers is well honed and highly satisfying. The heirs are surprisingly nuanced as three once-loving siblings pitted against one another. A thrilling trip across sandswept dunes with a shocking ending that points to a dramatic sequel.” — BCCB
“A great cross-country race, sibling rivalry, magic gifts (or lack thereof), and unlikely love all come together in a delicious stew of adventure. As in other fantasies, magical ability and ability type help determine someone’s value, but Mae bestows additional complexity on her characters by deliberately exploring the human traits that shape them as well.” — Booklist
“The engaging cast stands out, especially the antagonists, whose well-developed backgrounds ensure sustained narrative tension. Zahru’s amusing mental dialogue and nascent romance complement the fast-paced plot, resulting in an entertaining duology opener.” — Publishers Weekly
Resources/Teaching Ideas
Fantasy / Dystopia
This novel includes elements of fantasy with magical abilities and world building, as well as elements of classic dystopia, with a protagonist who feels trapped and is struggling to escape a rigid caste society with a theocratic/monocratic ruler.
Karlene McGowen is a sixth grade teacher and author of Fantasy Books: There's a Whole Other World Out There, which has a ton of information about teaching fantasy units in middle school. One idea is to use well-known picture books to introduce the traditional elements of fantasy.
Megan Mariano, a middle school teacher and author of readwriteteachela.com, has shared some great free resources for teaching dystopia in middle school.
Fantasy / Dystopia blended independent choice unit or book-circles
Megan Mariano provides a great list of middle grade dystopia titles for free on TPT. Karlene McGowen includes a bibliography of fantasy novels and picture books at the end of her article.
Origins of a Dystopian Society activity to introduce the unit
Megan Mariano also has an Origins of a Dystopian Society activity available for only $1.75, which is a great way to introduce the dystopia unit.
Connect to a dystopian short story
Commonlit.org has curated a set of dystopian short-stories for a range of grade levels.
Pick 5 Items for Survival activity - you can register for a free account and download a printable here.
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