Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchan
Bruchac, J. (2013). Killer of enemies. Tu Books. ISBN 9781620141434
Seventeen year old Apache hunter Lozen has been gifted abilities. Abilities that she doesn't completely understand. She does know that she has to make the right choices and no matter how difficult they may be, and can be very difficult considering all technology stopped working and now monsters are hunting down Lozen. Lozen must make the right choices to make sure she survives.
The premise of Killer of Enemies was interesting. In as world where technology being incorporated into every aspect of everyday lives, it was interesting to see a world where technology has failed, and also turned on humans at the same time. In the book, Lozen recognizes that her abilities are unique, and it is with the help of these abilities (not the only reason) the Lozen is able to survive for as long as she did. Lozen is a smart main character who takes her time to think before she acts, which helps Lozen survive the nearly impossible situations The Ones keep putting her in.
There are several nods to culture in Killer of Enemies, one of which being Lozen's name. Lozen in Native history was an Apache warrior who was said to have supernatural abilities to locate enemies, just like Lozen in the book. Additionally, Lozen is also a talented hunter and gather who knows and respects the land and its animals, which is evident when Lozen asks for forgiveness whenever she kills. Just like other titles written by Native authors, Lozen also has strong family values, and her family has stays as one of her priorities throughout the entire book, which is nice to see!
What do others think of this title? Kirkus Reviews says that Killer of Enemies is a "good bet for fans of superhero fiction and graphic novels and readers in search of superpowered female warriors." If you enjoyed this title, make sure you continue the series by reading the second and third book in the trilogy titled Trail of the Dead and Arrow of Lighting. After reading Killer of Enemies, challenge yourself to learn more about the real Lozen and then compare how Lozen compares to a warrior from your own culture.
Awards and Honors for the title:
- American Indian Youth Literature Award
- Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Finalist
- Great Lakes Great Books Award Honor
References
Bruchac, J. (2013). Killer of enemies. Tu Books. ISBN 9781620141434
Books for all ages. Tim Tingle. (n.d.). http://www.timtingle.com/books-for-all-ages.html
Killer of enemies. Kirkus Reviews. (2013b, October 1). https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joseph-bruchac/killer-of-enemies/
Killer of enemies. Lee & Low Books. (2024, October 2). https://www.leeandlow.com/books/killer-of-enemies/
Comments
Post a Comment