Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture
by Kathryn Lasky
“‘Mum! Da!’ he cried out in his half sleep. He would forever regret calling out those two words, for suddenly, the night was ripped with a shrill screech, and Soren felt talons wrap around him. Now he was being lifted.” Soren was snatched and before he knew it he was in St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. The Capture by Kathryn Lasky is a captivating story about one owl’s courage to fight all circumstances and what a friendship can do in frightening places.
Soren is a barn owl that lives in the Forest Kingdom of Tyto. He nested with his family in a hollow until one day he fell out of his nest and was snatched by owls. He ends up in a mysterious place called St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls which is nestled in deep canyons. He meets another owl named Gylfie. Gylfie is a very smart elf owl from the Desert of Kuneer. Together they discover the evil that St. Aggie’s is planning.
St. Aggie’s is a band of horrible owls that snatch owls and then “moon blink” them. Moon blinking hypnotizes owls and floods them of all emotion and rational thinking. This is their army of owls that will someday help St. Aggie’s take control of all the owl kingdoms on Earth. Luckily Soren and Gylfie learn how to escape the moon blinking by staying out of the moonlight. This means they are the only ones that can even think about escaping St. Aggies and saving the world from evil.
The writing talents of Kathryn Lasky are ingenious. It is amazing that such a far-fetched story could sound so real. The reality is created by her strong details and the depth of thought from the owls. The owls in the story are like humans in a sense, with many emotions and intense thoughts. This all puts the reader in the moment, whether flying with the owls or battling with the owls.
The different places the owls end up are all very Earth-like. The canyons of St. Aggie’s for example are fascinatingly described. With the deep walls and huge arches it is like you are there. Also, the Forest Kingdom of Tyto is described beautifully. The forest has giant fir trees 100 feet tall and hollows within the trees.
This action packed New York Times bestselling book will definitely thrill readers. It will change the way you think about the animal kingdom. But will Soren and Gylfie escape from St. Aggie’s? Will they find their families? Read The Capture by Kathryn Lasky and you’ll find out.
--Scholastic Kid Reporter Daniel Wetter

