Bibliography: Nayeri, Daniel and Dina Nayeri. (August 2009). Another Faust. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 978-0763637071
Plot Summary: Five beautiful and gifted teens are about to start at the prestigious Marlowe School in New York. Helped by their icy governess Madame Vileroy, there is nothing they won’t do to get what they want: academic awards, boyfriends, sports championships, social standing. But what did they give up to get it? And who will be hurt along the way? What happens when some want out and others realize the true nature of where their gifts come from?
Critical Analysis: I find the idea of this series interesting, a sort of reimagining of classic literature using a setting akin to Gossip Girl and darkness from any number of teen paranormal series. I struggle with whether most teens are familiar with Goethe’s Faust. I studied both advanced literature and German in high school, and while I suppose I knew what a Faustian bargain was, I didn’t read and study Goethe until college. Even then I’m not sure I really understood the whole thing. Is this important? I think it might be, as without the layering of the events and symbolism from Faust, I’m not sure how strong the story is on its own.
I found the action and events of the story to be compelling, suspenseful even, wondering what Madame Vileroy would do next, when the teens who were in the dark would figure out what was going on, how the more desperate teens would turn on one another next. But without a grounding in Faust, the story and most of its characters feel very cold and one dimensional to me, except for Christian and Bice. Perhaps that is the point? In a way, the authors have taken Faust and divided some of his characteristics and events that happened to him among all the teens. Maybe for teens then, it becomes easier to see and understand that which drives each teen to make the bargain they do (or in some cases, not to make the bargain…) I wish I were able to share this with teens to see what they think of it.
The best thing maybe would be if teens enjoyed this, then they might seek out the source material and other related novels, plays, movies that have the Faustian bargain at their core.
Curriculum Connections: The most obvious one is to Goethe, of course. Having studied this in the past, I highly recommend other forms of the original, including plays, operas, musicals, and movies.
Review Excerpts: “Unfortunately the magic—especially the siblings’ “gifts”—overshadows the characters themselves, creating characters who are a bit too one-dimensional to be memorable. Nonetheless the context and dark tone will surely find a solid readership.”–VOYA
“By switching character viewpoints often, the authors keep the pace moving to an ending full of action, revelation and horror.”–Kirkus
Reviewed from publisher provided advanced reader copy
