The Warrior Maiden

February 1, 2019

Gr 6 Up-Mulan is the illegitimate daughter of Lithuanian solider, Mikolai, and an unnamed woman from "the Orient." After Mulan's biological mother died, she was taken to Lithuania by Mikolai and raised by he and his wife, Feodosia. When Mikolai dies just prior to being called back into battle, Mulan disguises herself as a young man, also named Mikolai, and heads into battle in her father's place. While disguised as Mikolai, Mulan meets and begins to fall for Wolfgang, a fellow solider from a prominent family. Wolfgang and Mulan/Mikolai quickly become leaders among the soldiers, but then her secret is discovered. This novel is part war story, part love story, and part inspirational fiction. Unfortunately, it doesn't succeed in all it takes on. Mulan's true identity is discovered midway through the story and, rather unbelievably for the time period (in Poland during the late Middle Ages), does not seem to matter to anyone but the enemy. Wolfgang has no trouble moving past her former identity as Mikolai and falling for Mulan, but once he knows the truth he goes into full protector mode, forgetting the capable soldier she is. Most troubling, he locks her in a room during a pivotal scene to "keep her safe" while he saves the day. The novel is most successful when discussing faith, although it takes a relatively modern stance on beliefs compared to the time period in which it is set. VERDICT Purchase only where the author has a strong following.-Heather Webb, Worthington Libraries, OH

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