Ages 10+

Hawksmaid

The Untold Story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian

by Kathryn Lasky

Before she was Maid Marian, she was Matty.......

Matty has been raised to dance well, embroider exquisitely, and marry nobly. But when Matty's mother is murdered before her very eyes and her father, a nobleman, is reduced to poverty, Matty's life changes.

As the daughter of Nottingham's most famous falconer, she finds a new destiny in the hawks her father keeps. She begins to understand their thoughts and even speak their language. The beautiful merlin Marigold becomes Matty's closest winged companion and her fiercest ally.

It is a treacherous time in England. The sheriff of Nottingham is rising to power, and a true king has been kidnapped. Determined to fight, Matty's friend Fynn becomes Robin Hood. As Maid Marian, Matty joins Fynn and his Merry Men, famously robbing from the rich to give to the poor.

You thought that you knew the legend, but this is the untold story. Bestselling author Kathryn Lasky soars to magnificent new heights here, giving us a bold tale of bravery and romance.

-from barnesandnoble.com

I picked up this book because I've always loved the Robin Hood legend, and often wondered about the origins of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. This book doesn't disappoint.

There was a lot of information about falcons and the art of falconry in this book, which I found interesting. I thought the addition of Matty (who later becomes Maid Marian) being able to communicate with the falcons will draw in kids, especially the animal lovers.

I loved the main character, Matty, because she had a lot of spunk and wouldn't let the boys tell her that she couldn't do something just because she was a girl. I thought the author did a good job representing what Maid Marian would have been like as a kid.

I also enjoyed Fynn (who later becomes Robin Hood). The way Kathryn Lasky wrote his personality, I could totally believe that he would become Robin Hood. He was a bit of a smart aleck and very clever.

My final verdict- if you like the legend of Robin Hood, you will enjoy this book.

Rating: Borrow it from the library or buy it.