Book Review Discussion: Drift by M.K. Hutchins

Book: Drift by M.K. Hutchins
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
For: Review, Support local authors
From: Received for free from the publisher, Tu Books. All opinions are my own. 

Short Synopsis: This story takes place in a world where the people live on the backs of huge giant turtles swimming in the ocean. They have to make sure the turtle is properly feed and nourished or else their soil and earth won't be healthy enough support their crops. Our hero, Tenjat, wants nothing else except to be a Handler, one of the guys who "handles" the turtle and makes sure everything is going smoothly. He wants this life so he and his sister, both orphans who years before sought refuge on this particular turtle, can be secure in their future. As he fulfills this dream, he begins to find out more and more about his past and what's really going on with his world.

My Response: This story was a little hard for me to understand at first. The names and the world and the philosophy was a little hard to grasp. But, as the story went on and things began to be revealed, I got it! Yes. I got it. I know, sometimes I'm a little slow. But then, once I got it, it was pretty dang cool. And then when I was finished, I especially liked reading the author's note in the back that explains all the different things that inspired the story, much of it being Mayan culture.  It makes everything all make so much more sense! 

Bottom Line: In the end, I thought it was a very clever fantasy, even if it took me awhile to catch on.

Let's Talk About:  One of the strangest things about this world is that is was looked down upon to get married and have kids... to be a husband. This was, for them, the ultimate shame. Ah, it was so strange for me to read about something that is so far from my own feelings! What do you all think? Do you agree that one of the best things about reading is learning about a world (real or imaginary) that is so very very different from your own? (Actually, this little tidbit may not be that strange in our world, but it is in mine!) Even if it made me want to shout, NO!, I still find it fascinating to ponder the all the possibilities and other ways of life.

Other Reviews:

Hutchins writes a unique fantasy based in multiple mythologies in which she explores gender based roles, family structures, the environment and what we essentially believe about the cycle of life and death.  From Crazy QuiltEdi