Lasky, K. (2003). Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545010344
· Plot Summary
When the Barn Own Soren of Tyto is pushed out of the nest by his own brother, he is captured by members of St. Aegolius, an organization and facility for brainwashing and control of all owl species. It is here that he meets Gylfie, the small Elf Owl that joins him in actively resisting the work of the leaders with the most influence of the young owls captured as they are-Auntie, Uncle, Jatt, Jutt, Spoorn, and Skench. Each owl is given a number, they are trained to sleep during the night, and work during the day. Humility and blind obedience are expected, the asking of questions grounds for punishment. Harsh are the punishments dealt those that are caught fighting the methods of St. Aggie's as well, the plucking of feathers and moon blinking. When Soren and Gylfie discover that one of the most brainwashed owls of their acquaintance (Hortense) is actually acting in order to save the stolen eggs of eagles in the area, she enlists their aid. Killed while in the process, she yet encourages the young owls to find a means of escape. They find this in the library, and are trained to fly by the owl known as Grimble, who is also murdered for helping the pair. Once outside again, a Great Grey named Twilight takes on the task of helping Soren and Gylfie. The three become four with the addition of the snake that cared for Soren's nest when he was first hatched, four becoming five with an owl named Digger joining the race to the Tree of Ga'Hoole, where the group believes they may be able to find the young owls' parents. Ultimately, the eagles aided by Hortense come to the rescue, enabling the group to evade owls sent from St. Aggie's.
· Critical Evaluation
A well-written, surprisingly enthralling tale of resisting suppression. The use of owls, symbols of wisdom in a context where many have become mindless, is inventive on Lasky's part. The descriptions of each species, and the places they frequent, thoroughly detailed.
· Reader’s Annotation
First in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. Owls with the ability to think, fight, and reason as humans might do, each with distinct personalities within their own species.
· Information about the author
Katherine Lasky lives in Massachusetts with her husband, and after years of conducting research for the purpose of writing a non-fiction work on owls, she instead authored the fifteen books of the Ga'Hoole series, aware that the owls would be able to function to the point of being able to even dream. She has received countless prestigious awards, including the National Jewish Book Award, an ALA Best Book for Young Readers award, and a Washington Post Children's Book Guild Award.
· Genre
Novel
· Curriculum Ties
Ornithology
· Booktalking Ideas
Owl species
Methods of mind control
· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 5-7/Ages 10-12
· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
This is the first series of books my reluctant reader/daughter ever finished. I was interested in seeing why she was so captivated by the novels, realizing after reading, it was because the characters were well crafted, the settings realistic, and yet it all held a magickal quality without ever using that as an obvious device.
