Author Tamora Pierce is notable for stretching the possibility of just about everything while serving up a great adventure at the same time. She does not disappoint with her new title, MELTING STONES, where the experiences of 14-year-old Evvy, stone-mage-in-training, attempt to teach her to trust people --- not all people, but some. Her hectic life as a young slave sold by her mother in the land of Yanjing and then as an orphan surviving on her own have made Evvy somewhat crispy around the edges. Her friends of intentional choice are cats and, of course, stones and rocks of all shapes, sizes and kinds.

Evvy’s life of beatings, deprivation and war has given her a temper along with her distrust of people. Her inability to rein in her desire to pummel anybody who challenges her continually causes trouble. Beating a group of other trainee mages at Winding Circle Temple has placed her in the position of either sailing across the sea (which she hates) to a distressed island or being punished at Winding Circle. Her guardian Rosethorn thinks Evvy might come in handy, so she is a passenger on the ship before she knows it.

As a stone mage, Evvy has the power to communicate, understand, and use rocks for purposes such as stopping a giant boulder in mid-air before it smashes her and her companions. Her talents reach beyond the fanciful as she is also empowered with a special trance ability, which allows her to send her spirit deep into the levels of the earth accessible only to stone mages. Evvy uses this soul-draining talent to help those in need when she accompanies Dedicate Rosethorn and Dedicate Myrrhtide (whom Evvy has nicknamed “Dedicate Fusspot” because his nitpicking annoys her) on a mission to rescue the dying plants and waters on the island of Starns.

Evvy isn’t aware that she will be the one mage to whom island residents turn for help. Her problem with being a stone mage is that she doesn’t appreciate people enough to save them from anything. For all she cares, a few less meeting-holding, talk-too-much “meat creatures” disguised as humans would suit her just fine. As long as she has rocks to collect and draw strength, power and knowledge from, she doesn’t need people.

Pierce’s choice to write Evvy’s story in first person may disconcert the traditional reader who thinks fiction should be an omniscient, vicarious experience. But in the compulsive turn of a few pages, anyone will be captivated by the mystery and the cheeky young mage. Sharp-tongued and endowed with a dry wit, she is accompanied by a great friend and teacher, who is also another stretch of the imagination. Luvo, the “heart of a mountain,” is a wisdom-spouting guru sort of character carried around in a cloth sling. He can walk, but his legs are too stumpy to get anywhere quickly, so Evvy carries him over her shoulder. Luvo is the talking rock equivalent of Jedi Master Yoda as he tempers Evvy’s wildness with stories, guidance and challenges designed to help her grow.

When Evvy uncovers what is threatening the island’s survival, even Luvo bows to her powers and intuition as she carries out a plan to help the people avoid sure devastation. Of course, there are islanders who don’t believe a smirky 14-year-old knows what she’s doing, and Evvy doesn’t care if the earth’s destructive powers eat them whole. Along the way, however, she has come to care about what happens to the orphaned and foster children of Starns Island. That is who Evvy tests her strength for and that is who she saves.

For readers willing to suspend reality and take a chance on believing that rocks, trees, animals and water have spirits worth respecting, MELTING STONES is an enjoyable venture into the realization that we must work with nature in order to enjoy living with it.

    --- Reviewed by Joy Held