Verdigris: a bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed in copper or brass by atmospheric oxidation, consisting of basic copper carbonate (Oxford Languages)
Pawn: a chess piece of the smallest size and value (Oxford Languages)
The Verdigris Pawn is a book, a book about a kingdom, but more about a boy named Beau and a girl names Cressi. One happens to be the heir, yet has no say in his life or the kingdom, while the other is poor, but she has a gift for healing, for charming. There is a hopelessness that you begin with and then as the story travails forward, a chance for little heroes to make a difference in a big world.
A revolution is brewing, and as the tale unfolds, friends come out of the wood work to help these characters along the journey. I read an interview from Mr. Ripley’s Enchanted Books, a blog on the internet that has a ton of book reviews for children as well as Q & A sessions with new authors. It was there I found out Alyssa Wishingrad got her story idea from a writing workshop with the prompt “tsk, tsk, poor little boy.” Wishingrad wrote about a boy being raised and stuck in a bird cage, and the idea of Beau bloomed from this exercise.
The entire story revolves around a game called “fist.” Wishingrad was inspired by the game of chess in developing this strategic play. Essentially Beau must play his life like the game and overtake the kingdom. This was a very good book to start off with for the new year. This winter has had only one snow so far that was only an inch or two and melted later that night by the oncoming rain. Winter just hasn’t been that usual icy beauty it has potential for. It sort of takes the magic away from the season, so a book with adventure and mystery and a bit of its own magic has helped. Will you be reading this book this winter? I highly recommend it!
Tea Time Book Club 