The Rithmatist
Joel Saxon is a student at the prestigious private school known as Armedius Academy. As the son of a deceased chalkmaker and cleaning lady, Joel fails to fit in with the school’s student body, which consists largely of individuals from affluent families. Joel’s love of Rithmatics and desire to become a Rithmatist alienates him further from the rest of the student body. Most of Armedius’ students leave for summer vacation, leaving Joel alone with the students who failed their classes and the Rithmatists who are forced to continue their training in preparation for their impending battle at the tower of Nebrask. Joel’s summer elective involves working as a research assistant for Professor Fitch—a famous Rithmatist and historian who specializes in defensive Rithmatic lines. At first, Joel is disappointed when he realizes that he will be maintaining records of past censuses. However, when Rithmatic students go missing, the police seek Fitch’s help in cracking the case. Since he spends the summer working for Fitch, Joel is reluctantly asked to help. Melody Muns, Fitch’s remedial student, eventually joins the hunt as well. Can the trio solve the case before it’s too late?
I adored Brandon Sanderson’s The Rithmatist; it may be the best book I have ever read. I enjoyed Sanderson’s novel for several reasons. First, the novel maintained an excellent pace. It took the time to build up to major plot points before revealing them in a whirlwind, which swept me away over and over again. Second, I appreciated the fact that Sanderson chose to develop a new magical discipline involving chalk. I would argue that it loosely resembles Summoning in the sense that Rithmatists can create chalk drawings and bring them to life, but Rithmatics is its own distinct discipline. It involves both defensive and offensive uses and resides entirely within two-dimensions. (Summoning begins in two-dimensions, but often matures into a third once the creature has been summoned). I also appreciated the great lengths Sanderson went to when it came to explaining Rithmatics. The novel included diagrams as well as pictures with fairly in-depth descriptions, which described each of the magical form’s components. The diagrams included each line’s and strategy’s abilities, including strengths and shortcomings. It was obvious that Sanderson put a lot of thought, time, and effort into the development of Rithmatics.
Third, I was blown away by the amount of detail Sanderson poured into “intense” scenes such as battles between Rithmatists and attacks made on Armedius Academy’s student body. Instead of leaving me with a mere impression as to what was going on, Sanderson took the time to paint clear pictures of the novel’s plot. As a result, I began to feel as though I was a part of the novel, an observer who never had to guess what was going on. Fourth, Sanderson created a host of well-rounded, well-thought-out, interesting, and relatable characters. Joel Saxon is a prime example because he is passionate about Rithmatics—it’s not often that one finds an adolescent who is truly passionate about something. Thus, finding an individual who was driven by their passion felt truly refreshing. Joel is relatable because he wishes that his acquaintances were as interested in Rithmatics as he is. He’s also extremely smart, excelling in several of his courses. Naturally, he prioritizes the things he’s interested in, (Rithmatics), and procrastinates or ignores the things he’s less interested in, (math). However, Joel’s status as an outsider is what makes him the most relatable to Sanderson’s readers. Joel remarks that Armedius Academy’s student body “treated him with civility… but they didn’t include him,” (Sanderson 57). Joel was ostracized because he is a member of the lower class and obsessed with Rithmatics and Rithmatists. His status makes him relatable—we have all been ostracized at some point during our lives.
Another character who proves to be both relatable and likable is Professor Fitch. He is a kindly old man who appreciates sleep. He is also a talented Rithmatist and Rithmatics professor. Despite his skill, Fitch is riddled with anxiety and self-doubt. He breaks under pressure, struggling during duels and combat. His relatability stems largely from his self-debt, which everyone contends with at some point during their lives. Melody Muns is another interesting character. She’s a free-spirited student of Rithmatics who is far more interested in relaxing and sketching than becoming a Rithmatist. She also struggles with the feeling that she lives in her older siblings’ shadow—they’re all talented Rithmatic students; she struggles to draw basic lines. Finally, I appreciated the fact that The Rithmatist was a social commentary, which subtly argued that racism, classism and segregation are ridiculous. At Armedius, there is “separation between Rithmatists and others,” (Sanderson 80). As the novel progresses, Sanderson reveals that this separation has a negative effect on the student body—the students cannot protect one another from outside threats when they remain divided. Furthermore, the separation creates unnecessary tension between the groups and instills a sense that the Rithmatists outrank the non-Rithmatists in the student body’s minds. This mindset is false and Sanderson demonstrates that the students cannot solve their current problems without each other’s help.
The only thing that I did not like about Sanderson’s novel was Professor Nalizar. I despised him because he is an arrogant and obnoxious bully. He also supports the segregation of Rithmatic and non-Rithmatic students, which puts a sour taste in my mouth. However, Nalizar’s unpleasant nature was unable to color my view of Sanderson’s novel. The Rithmatist was absolutely amazing and I highly suggest that you take the time to read it.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Glossary:
Rithmatics: A magical discipline based off the Rithmatist’s ability to draw with chalk, investing their drawings with life.
Rithmatist: An individual who practices a form of magic involving chalk.
Nebrask: An isle in the center of the United Isles; contains the Tower.
The Tower: Located at the heart of the United Isles in Nebrask. Wild chalklings emanate from the tower, forcing Rithmatists to contain them so that the isles will not be overrun.
Chalklings: Animate two-dimensional drawings made out of chalk. They have the ability to attack and kill humans. Wild chalklings are those that escape from the Tower in Nebrask; they are out-of-control and must be destroyed by trained Rithmatists.
Work Cited:
Sanderson, Brandon. The Rithmatist. Tor, 2013.