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WORK TITLE: Grace and Fury
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Tracy E. Banghart
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://tracybanghart.com/
CITY:
STATE: HI
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: one son.
EDUCATION:Davidson College, B.A.; Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, England, M.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Has worked in the publishing industry.
AVOCATIONS:Movies, fantasy football.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Tracy Banghart is a writer and novelist whose interest in writing was triggered at an early age, when she wrote her first story at age five. She grew up in rural Maryland and spent her summers on an island in northern Ontario, Canada, which gave her plenty of time, isolation, and inspiration to read and write. She has worked in publishing and currently focuses on fiction writing. She is married to a U.S. Army soldier, which affords her frequent opportunities to travel and live in other parts of the world. She holds a B.A. in English from Davidson College and an M.A. in publishing from Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England.
Banghart’s “novels feature strong women, realistic romances, and tight female friendships. She believes in cultivating worlds where women support rather than compete with one another, and first kisses happen en route to new adventures, instead of in lieu of them,” commented a writer on Banghart’s website.
Grace and Fury, Banghart’s debut novel, is a young adult book with feminist overtones set in a dystopian world where women’s opportunities are few and their lives are severely constricted by an oppressive monarchy. In the land of Viridia, women have three options: work in a factory, become servants, or get married. They are not permitted to learn how to read or act independently. The ruler of the land, Malachi, known as the Superior, has no queen; instead, he maintains a harem of Graces, women who have trained since childhood to hold the position and represent what are considered the qualities of the ideal woman.
Protagonist Serina Tessaro has spent her life training to be a Grace, hoping to be selected by Malachi. If she is, she will spend the rest of her days in luxury in the palace, with her sister Nomi as her handmaiden. For Nomi’s part, she detests the competition to become a Grace and is perpetually angry at the way women are treated throughout Viridia. She has even gone so far as to learn how to read in direct defiance to the Viridian way. However, their family will benefit from their position in the palace, so Nomi agrees to go along with the plan. When Serina and Nomi go to the Superior’s court, their hopes are upended when Malachi chooses Nomi over Serina.
Circumstances worsen when Nomi steals a book from the palace library. Serina is accused of reading it, and she willingly takes the blame for this serious breach of Viridian law and for Nomi’s theft. She is banished to a brutal women’s prison on Mount Ruin, where the commandant forces women to fight to the death for food. With both Serina and Nomi suddenly thrust into unexpected roles, both of them must rely on their own abilities to survive in unfamiliar settings until conditions can be changed and Serina saved from inevitable death.
“Though Banghart’s debut may seem familiar, she breathes new life into this feminist story of oppression and resistance,” remarked a Publishers Weekly contributor. “The pace is quick, the ending promises a sequel, and the plot couldn’t be more relevant,” commented Maggie Reagan in her Booklist review of Grace and Fury. Throughout the book, “Banghart’s prose is florid and engaging, and she expands the drama explosively,” observed Janet S. Thompson, writing in School Library Journal. In Voice of Youth Advocates, contributor Kim Carter concluded, “This book would be a captivating read for anybody interested in themes like women’s rights, bravery, and sisterhood.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, May 15, 2018, Maggie Reagan, review of Grace and Fury, p. 50.
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2018, review of Grace and Fury.
Publishers Weekly, May 14, 2018, review of Grace and Fury, p. 58.
School Library Journal, April, 2018, Janet S. Thompson, review of Grace and Fury, p. 128.
Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2018, Kim Carter, review of Grace and Fury, p. 68.
ONLINE
Tracy Banghart website, http://www.tracybanghart.com (October 16, 2018).
About
Tracy Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. She grew up in rural Maryland, with a cornfield in her backyard and flying squirrels in her bedroom walls, and spent her summers on a remote island in northern Ontario. All that isolation and pretty scenery led to a reading addiction, writing obsession, and several serious book boyfriends.
After high school, Tracy escaped to North Carolina, where she got her BA in English from Davidson College. After college, she sampled city life in Canada and D.C. before jetting off to England, to pursue a master’s degree in Publishing at Oxford Brookes University. When she returned stateside, Tracy dabbled in various publishing jobs but didn’t give up on her dream of being a published author. Her husband convinced her that writing full time made perfect sense given the unpredictability of his job, thus affirming her conviction that he was better than any book boyfriend.
Tracy now lives with her husband, young son, and sundry pets in Hawaii, but it won’t be long until the Army sends them off on new adventures. She is represented by Linda Epstein of Emerald City Literary Agency.
Short Bio
Tracy Banghart grew up in rural Maryland and spent her summers on a remote island in northern Ontario. All of that isolation and lovely scenery gave her the time to read voraciously and the inspiration to write her own stories. Always a bit of a nomad, Tracy now travels the world Army-wife style with her husband, son, cat, and sweet pupper Scrabble. She wrote Grace and Fury while living in Hawaii.
Mission Statement
Tracy Banghart’s novels feature strong women, realistic romances, and tight female friendships. She believes in cultivating worlds where women support rather than compete with one another, and first kisses happen en route to new adventures, instead of in lieu of them.
Fun (Random) Stuff
Tracy has lived in Canada, the UK, Italy, and Hawaii, in addition to many places along the US East Coast.
She is left-handed.
She was once rescued by helicopter while on a canoe trip with her dad.
Her husband originally expressed his romantic interest by daring her to eat a raw potato at a party.
The first story Tracy ever wrote was called The Dog, Cat, and Bird. She was five.
The authors Tracy discovered an everlasting love for when she was a young adult: Robin McKinley, Cynthia Voigt, Madelaine L’Engle, L. M. Montgomery, Charles Dickens, and L. J. Smith.
Her high school role model/icon, to whom she is still grateful for making her want to be a strong, kickass chick: Buffy Summers
BANGHART, Tracy. Grace and Fury
Janet S. Thompson
School Library Journal. 64.4 (Apr. 2018): p128.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
BANGHART, Tracy. Grace and Fury. 320p. Little, Brown. Jul. 2018. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780316471411. POP
Gr 9 Up-From a pageant of nine, Serina is selected to go to the capital city of Bellaqua to compete to become a Grace. Graces are the most beautiful women of Lanos, chosen to adom the palace and produce children for the Superior and now the Heir. Serina has studied for this her entire life, while her sister Nomi has served their family and will continue as her sister's handmaiden. Elaborate descriptions of decor and dress set the scene for the twists that follow. When Nomi is selected as a Grace instead of Serina, the momentum builds. Nomi is thrust into a role for which she is unprepared; worse, Serina is accused of reading a book Nomi stole from the palazzo library. For women, reading is a capital offense, and Serina is banished to a ruined island where inmates must endure gladiator-style fights to survive. The sisters' parallel stories are told in alternating chapters as they suffer their separate forms of bondage. Banghart's prose is florid and engaging, and she expands the drama explosively: Nomi becomes a pawn in a deadly plot while Serina begins to build a coalition among the prisoners. A final twist may bring the sisters back together but under far more dangerous circumstances. Fans of "The Hunger Games" will appreciate the similar plotting in this first installment of a planned trilogy. VERDICT An easy hand-sell that will find a willing audience in those who have enjoyed Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles and Stephanie Garber's Caraval.--Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Thompson, Janet S. "BANGHART, Tracy. Grace and Fury." School Library Journal, Apr. 2018, p. 128. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A533409071/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=469de3e5. Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A533409071
9/30/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Print Marked Items
Banghart, Tracy. Grace and Fury
Kim Carter
Voice of Youth Advocates.
41.3 (Aug. 2018): p68.
COPYRIGHT 2018 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
Banghart, Tracy. Grace and Fury. Little, Brown, August 2018. 320p. $17.99. 978-0316-47141-1.
3Q * 4P * J * S * NA
In the land of Viridia, women are intended to serve men in all ways, forbidden to read or learn anything
outside the scope of their duties. Serina Tessaro has spent her life learning to be "graceful and obedient and
poised" in preparation for being selected as one of Heir Malachi's wives, called Graces in Viridia. If
selected, Serina will spend her life in luxury in the palace with her sister Nomi as her handmaiden and their
family will want for nothing. Serina's success, however, is threatened by Nomi's anger at the way her sister-
-and all women--are treated. Upon arrival at the palace, things quickly go awry. First, Malachi upends the
process, selecting Nomi rather than Serina. Then, Serina is banished to Mount Ruin, a prison island for
women run by the cruel Commander Ricci who forces women to fight to the death for food. With roles
reversed, both girls must use all their wits to stay alive as they figure how who to trust and how to save
Serina.
Strong characters and early plot twists quickly engage the reader in the book's engrossing premise. While
some plot elements are less well developed, the book's driving force is clearly stated in its dedication: "For
every woman who has been told to sit down and be quiet ... and who has stood up anyway." With echoes of
The Hunger Games, Grace and Fury will appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy strong female protagonists,
and the occasional male willing to stand for what is right.--Kim Carter.
Grace and Fury is the story of two sisters, Nomi and Serina. Serina is expected to serve as a Grace, a
woman who is supposed to set an example of the quintessential woman, while Nomi serves as her
handmaiden. After a secret of Nomi's is revealed, Serina takes the blame and both sisters find themselves in
a position where making a mistake could cost them their lives. Grace and Fury's plot remains interesting
throughout the book. This book would be a captivating read for anybody interested in themes like women's
rights, bravery, and sisterhood. 5Q, 5R --Kayla Howe, Teen Reviewer.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Carter, Kim. "Banghart, Tracy. Grace and Fury." Voice of Youth Advocates, Aug. 2018, p. 68. General
OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A551167860/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=cb9b8533. Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
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Grace and Fury
Maggie Reagan
Booklist.
114.18 (May 15, 2018): p50+.
COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Grace and Fury.
By Tracy Banghart.
July 2018.314p. Little, Brown, $17.99 (9780316471411); e-book, $9.99 (9780316471398). Gr. 7-10.
The Handmaid's Tale gets a YA twist in this debut, which splits its focus between two sisters. In Viridia,
there is no queen; the Superior has a harem of Graces, held up as examples of the ideal woman. Serina
Tessaro has spent her life training to have the qualities of such a Grace: soft, demure, acquiescent. The Heir
of Viridia has come of age, and if Serina is selected as one of his Graces, it could mean an easier life for her
family. But it's her younger sister, Nomi, who is chosen. Nomi has always pushed the boundary of what
women are al lowed, even going so far as learning to read. When she makes a dangerous mistake, Serina
takes the blame and is sent to a prison on a volcanic island where inmates fight to the death. Meanwhile,
Nomi must learn to navigate the equally deadly political world she's suddenly alone in. The pace is quick,
the ending promises a sequel, and the plot couldn't be more relevant. Buy an extra copy--this should find an
audience.--Maggie Reagan
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Reagan, Maggie. "Grace and Fury." Booklist, 15 May 2018, p. 50+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A541400922/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=3edf8648.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A541400922
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http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1538340198450 4/5
Banghart, Tracy E.: GRACE AND FURY
Kirkus Reviews.
(May 15, 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Banghart, Tracy E. GRACE AND FURY Little, Brown (Young Adult Fiction) $17.99 7, 24 ISBN: 978-0-
316-47141-1
Two sisters test the bounds of their personal hells in an oppressive monarchy.
In a world where factory work, servitude, and marriage are women's only other options, Serina hopes
desperately to be selected as a Grace, an attendant to the Heir and a model of submissive womanhood. But
Serina's unruly younger sister, Nomi, while serving as her handmaiden, accidentally sets off a series of
events that results in the girls' being cruelly separated and faced with challenges they are each particularly
ill-equipped to handle. What follows, unfolding in split plotlines from each sister's perspective, is an
entertaining, if predictable, riff on some of youth literature's most popular trends. From palace intrigue and
requisite love triangles to dystopian survival challenges and gruesome death matches, Grace and Fury has it
covered. A nod at diversity feels gratuitous. Nomi notes, "The Superior didn't seem to have a specific
standard of beauty: Some Graces had dark skin, others ghostly white," but all of the primary characters read
as white. The girls' ruminations on sisterly womanhood, while welcome enough, are a bit pat;
unsurprisingly, Serina and Nomi must join forces with other women to effect change. And, of course, there's
the ending that isn't--readers should know that resolution will be withheld over at least one more
installment.
Fine fodder for fans of the genre but look elsewhere for something fresh. (Fantasy. 12-16)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Banghart, Tracy E.: GRACE AND FURY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A538293839/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d55b124c.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A538293839
9/30/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Grace and Fury
Publishers Weekly.
265.20 (May 14, 2018): p58+.
COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Grace and Fury
Tracy Banghart. Little, Brown, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-316-47141-1
Serina Tessaro has trained her entire life to be a Grace, chosen by the heir to the throne of Viridia to be held
as "the highest standard of beauty, elegance, and obedience. What all little girls were meant to aspire to."
Her sister Nomi, two years younger, has reluctantly trained to be her handmaiden. Being selected as a Grace
is the only way Serina and Nomi can escape a life of drudgery. Shockingly, Nomi is chosen as a Grace,
leaving Serina to take the fall for Nomi's thievery from the palace library. Desperate to find allies and locate
Serina, Nomi uncovers a little-known truth about the history of their world and its subjugation of women.
Meanwhile, Serina must find a way to survive Mount Ruin, a dangerous prison where women are forced to
compete in death matches. Though Banghart 's debut may seem familiar, she breathes new life into this
feminist story of oppression and resistance. The sisters, whose personalities seem predictable at first, shift
and grow, adding depth to each character. Fans of Keira Cass and Marie Rutkoski will be drawn to this
absorbing story and left eager for another installment. Ages 14-up. Agents: Joelle Hobeika and Eliza Swift.
Alloy Entertainment. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Grace and Fury." Publishers Weekly, 14 May 2018, p. 58+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A539387486/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=94197849.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A539387486