Hawksmaid: The Untold Story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian
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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.Children's LiteratureThis book is in two parts. Book One, "When Robin Hood was Fynn and When Maid Marian was Matty," tells the story of young Matty and Fynn, and their friends. Matty is the only girl in the group and at times the boys leave her out even though she is often better at things such as building tree houses and strategizing important plans. It is twelfth-century England and Prince John is plotting to steal the crown from Richard who has gone off to the Crusades. The poor are getting poorer and those in control are becoming more greedy and corrupt. After Matty's father's castle is overthrown and her mother murdered, Matty and her father slip into poverty like many other people. Her father teaches her to become a falconer and soon she masters the art more than her father ever did. As Matty, Fynn, and the boys become aware that the new abbess is corrupt and clearly in on a plan to steal the crown, they decide to help fight for their king and the people of their country. In Book Two, "When Fynn Became Robin Hood and When Matty Became Maid Marian," Matty, Fynn, and the boys change their names. Maid Marian goes to work as a scullery maid in Nottingham Castle to try to uncover any secrets she can. Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men steal from the rich and give to the poor. Marian makes an enemy of the abbess and barely escapes Nottingham. Eventually she is captured by the abbess and held in the part of the castle where dying lepers are kept. Marian, weak from hunger, melds with one of her falcons and manages to retrieve the five rubies the abbess is after. These she delivers to Queen Eleanor so she can pay the ransom for Richard, who was captured and imprisoned. Meanwhile, Robin and his Merry Men break into the castle to save Marian, who is near death. Robin and Marian finally confess their love for each other and King Richard knights Marian, thus validating that she is not "just a woman" among the troupe of men, but one of the primary leaders and the one responsible for rescuing the king. The second book is much more of a page turner than the first. The action picks up as the mystery unfolds and the stakes heighten. The overall story is unique and Lasky does a beautiful job at weaving together legends and history as well as outlining the art of falconry. The fantastical element of Matty/Marian feeling like a bird and eventually moving her spirit into the body of one in order to save the king is a stretch but it works in this take on the legendary tales. Lasky includes a glossary on the birds and falconry terminology. At the end of the book, an Author's Note is included that briefly explains the legends of Robin and Marian. Lasky also discusses her goals with the book and what she chose to use from legends and history. This book is a great read. It is full of adventure with just enough "new" vision to make the old tales fresh and intriguing. Lasky has also created a wonderfully strong female protagonist, who has strength of body, mind, and character. Reviewer: Stephanie R. Pearmain
