Printz Winner - Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedwick

Sedgwick, M. (2013). Midwinterblood (p. 272). New York: Roaring Brook Press.

Themes: Reincarnation, Love, Death, Life

Characters: Eric (Eric Seven, Eric Carlsson, Erika, Eirik, King Eirikr), Merle (Melle and Queen Melle), Tor (Thorolf), Edward, David, Bridget, Gunner, Henrik, Rebecka, Benjamin, Nancy, Isabella, Mat, Maya, Jane, Wulf

Summary:

The story is divided into seven sections. In each section, Eric and Merle are, in some way, interconnected and love each other. The story starts in 2073 and ends in the 10 century.

 It starts with Eric Seven who is sent on assignment to research the island called Blessed. He meets Merle and is immediately drawn to her. He ends up on a stone table able to be killed. In part 2, an archeologist named Edward is looking for Viking remains. He meets Eric and his mother Merle. He finds a grave with two bodies holding each other. Part 3, introduces Lt. David Thompson who parachuted from his plane. He meets Rebecka, Erik and Benjamin, who take care of him and his broken ankle.  Erik demands David to burn everything because soldiers are looking for him. He manages to save his wallet, containing a picture of his daughter Merle. At the end Erik is killed and David returns to his daughter which he outlives.

Part 4 is about Merle and her mother Bridget who live on Blest Island. Merle is curious about a church in the western part of the island. Eric Carlsson, a famous painter, lives there. Merle and her mother take care of him. He is currently painting Midwinterboold, a painting of a king on a stone table being sacrificed. On day, Bridget checks on Eric and finds him death with a paintbrush in his hand.  He has painted Merle into the picture. Part 5 is a story of two twins. Their mom, Laura, tells them a tail of two lovers that are forbidden to be together. The children are so scared they go downstairs and find the real Laura. A ghost had recited that story. The real Laura recognizes the story, but it was two females (Erika and Merle) who were in love. In part 6, Melle is reminiscing about her past. Her dad and uncle (Wulf and Tor) come home from a voyage. She and her twin brother, Eirik, find out that Tor is their biological father. Wulf kills Tor and he becomes a vampire. One night, Eirik goes missing. Melle thinks Tor and Eirik are in a grave holding each other. In the last part, King Eiriki is ready to sacrifice himself to save his kingdom from crop failure. As he dies, he asks his Queen (Melle) to follow him because he will live seven lives . She says yes.

Teachers can use the book in meaning ways. You can have the students create a “family tree” showing how these characters are connected. They can also write another story of Eric and Merle and try their previous encounter in some way or form.