Frances Hardinge

A Face Like Glass

"The most enjoyable children's book of the year so far." Sunday Times In the underground city of Caverna the world's most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare - wines that can remove memories, cheeses that can make you hallucinate and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat. The people of Caverna are more ordinary, but for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to show (or fake) joy, despair or fear - at a price. Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a little girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. For Neverfell's emotions are as obvious on her face as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, though entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed... PRAISE FOR FRANCES HARDINGE "This unusual and highly imaginative fantasy from Frances Hardinge is spellbinding: sophisticated, multi-layered and elegantly written." Booktrust "Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now." Patrick Ness

I first read this book at age 12. I come back to it now at age 20, and find myself somehow even more enthralled than I was the first time round. The characters are compelling, the world building is both fascinating and effective. Many passages of this book have stuck with me in the past eight years. This book’s exploration of class especially was an early step in the development of my worldview in ways that I have only come to realise through rereading. I think I can honestly say that is one of the most significant books I have read.

wren

Face Like Glass

courtney garrison

** spoiler alert **
           This book focuses on a girl named Neverfell, who has a face like glass. A face like glass is seen on outsiders. See in Caverna people can shape their faces, they can be experiencing one thing and there face shows the complete opposite. Whereas Neverfell’s face can not do that, she shows all her emotions on her face, you always know what she is feeling or thinking. In Caverna everyone lives underground, you start the story in the cheesemakers tunnels. Neverfell knows her way around the tunnels and soon the cheese maker takes five-year-old Neverfell in and makes her wear a mask to hide her face. Neverfell just thinks she ugly and just wear the mask. she goes about helping Grandible make cheese and clean up. Seven years go by, now twelve-year-old Neverfell is making cheese and cleaning, but she feels completely isolated and alone. When a visitor comes she begged the cheesemaker to let her visit and stay instead of hiding away. Soon she follows a little white rabbit trough a crack in the tunnel and wanders out into the mysterious Caverna.

She is soon thrust into the court and is dodging assassination attempts and being kidnapped. Finding out who she can trust. When the Grand steward dies the enquire blame Neverfell, but Childerson comes to her defense or so she thinks. She is soon hiding out, trying to find out what truly happened to him, where she come from and leading a Rebellion for everyone to get to the overground. Neverfell learns who her true friends are and to trust her gut instinct.

I liked this book, but at times I found myself going mad trying to follow and imagine the story. It’s a story about trusting your gut and having a little faith. Neverfell is easily a character who can border on annoying at times and is a little naive. Overall the story is very well written and imaginative. I did enjoy the story, but at times found myself completely lost and had to reread a chapter. This is probably not a book I will ever reread. I was hoping to go into it and it would be one of my favorite books, but sadly it just did not work out that way.

In the underground city of Caverna, the world's most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare--wines that remove memories, cheeses that make you hallucinate, and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat. On the surface, the people of Caverna seem ordinary, except for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to express (or fake) joy, despair, or fear--at a steep price. Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. Neverfell's expressions are as varied and dynamic as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, except hers are entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed . . .

Leah Patton

This book was definitely strange in the best way.Will update with review soon. Review also to come soon on www.theleafd.com!

Meagan

This book was like a fresh drink of water. It was new, unique and different than anything I had ever read before. I'm not usually one to choose a book about a main character so young. I also usually choose books that include romance. This book was not about romance. And I was actually very okay with that. 

A Face Like Glass takes place in a place called Caverna. People that are born in Caverna do not smile. They don't show anger, or any other emotion. They have to learn to show emotion like we learn our ABC's. Those with money, get taught more expressions, it's a commodity in Caverna. People that are born 'above', do not have these problems. 

The people of Caverna are unique. They are craftsmen. Facesmiths, that create new facial expressions, Cheesemasters that create cheeses that can help you remember lost memories, wines created to make you forget and perfumes that control other people around you. Neverfell, our main character, was born different. Her guardian realized when he first found Neverfell that she was different. She had natural facial expressions, so many within a minute's time. He quickly made the decision to hide her face to protect her from the world of Caverna where facial expressions are craved like diamonds. 

Neverfell thinks she's ugly. She does not know about her expressions, just that she is told to constantly wear a mask to hide her face from the world, leading her to believe that she's ugly. Not only that, but that she craves to see the outside world. When presented with that opportunity, Neverfell jumps at it leading her down the proverbial rabbit hole. Here Neverfell discovers she has a 'face like glass'. She has more expressions than the Facesmiths of Caverna, she's different than anyone underground and she is targeted for it. She meets new people, has to learn the craft of lies through taught expressions, and the motives of others for herself. This book was refreshing, unique and keep me going until the very end. I loved Neverfell and saw the world out of her eyes. Hardinge has a very poetic way of writing and I would definitely recommend her and her wonderful book to anyone.

Nicholas Barnard

Sade A

Ashlee

Alex Roland

Chene 

Caitlyn Barton

Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now.' Patrick NessA Face Like Glass is an astonishing and imaginative novel from the Costa Award winning author of The Lie Tree, Frances Hardinge.In the underground city of Caverna the world's most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare - wines that can remove memories, cheeses that can make you hallucinate and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat. The people of Caverna are more ordinary, but for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to show joy, despair or fear - at a price.Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a little girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. For Neverfell's emotions are as obvious on her face as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, though entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed . . .

A Face Like Glass

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