4 out of 4 stars
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Are you a fan of swashbuckling adventures? Do you get lost in medieval tales of sword fighting, horseback riding and good versus evil? Do you secretly wish a scabbard was a part of your everyday attire? Then you are going to like Robyn Hood Outlaw Princess by John Reynolds. It adds a feminine twist to Howard Pyle's 1883 classic Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire.
The protagonist Robyn Howard is a senior at Eastlake College, and she has family roots in Nottingham. She is a good student and her school's soccer team captain, but she can't help but notice that she gets treated differently than her male counterparts do. Mr. Smallfield, the school principal, seems to have her in his crosshairs. He constantly chastises Robyn for behaviors that she is sure would go unpunished were she a boy instead of a girl. While Robyn ruminates over gender inequality one afternoon, she is whisked away from Eastlake College to Sherwood Forest. No longer is she Robyn Howard. She has become Robyn of the Hood.
Robyn Hood Outlaw Princess is an entertaining work of YA fantasy fiction. It is a great story idea. Most other twists on the Robin Hood adventure novel have male characters in the lead, or female characters disguised as males. Mr. Reynolds adds to the mix by having a consistently female protagonist who is supported by a band of merry women instead of men. I like that Mr. Reynolds includes elements that provoke the reader to question how males and females are treated differently in society, even when they do the same things. This is an appropriate angle for a young adult novel, as many members of the target audience may be mulling over the same issues.
Robyn's adventure in Sherwood Forest is reminiscent of Frank L. Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in that people from her school life make appearances in her outlaw experience. Without including spoilers, both Mr. Smallfield and Robyn's friend William have roles in Nottinghamshire. You will have to read the book to find out how they come into play!
Although this is young adult fiction, I recommend it for readers of all ages. People who like reading about magic and medieval times will especially like this book. I rate Robyn Hood Outlaw Princess 4 out of 4 stars. It is an entertaining read, well written, appropriate for its target audience, and it appears to be professionally edited. One thing I would change about this novel is the length. It seems cut short. I would have liked to read more of Robyn's adventures as an outlaw. That being said, this book would be the perfect opening for a series of books with Robyn in the lead.
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Robyn Hood Outlaw Princess
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