No Good Deed

May 15, 2017
Olympics-bound archer Ellie Hudson is in Nottingham, England, for a tournament when a detour into off-limits caves transports her back in time. Emerging in the Middle Ages, with Richard the Lionheart reigning and Prince John vying for the throne, Ellie immediately finds herself on the wrong side of the law, pursued by the sheriff of Nottingham and his forest rangers. Disguised as a boy, she teams up with Sir James, a Templar knight turned cleric; a gangly boy named Much; and two rogues, Will Scarlett and Little John. In the role of Robin Hood, Ellie finds her modern idealism leading her to challenge the rich and powerful in the name of the poor and disenfranchised. Debut author Connolly’s historic Nottingham is richly imagined and described, and she cleverly incorporates differences in the English language, law, and gender roles into this fresh take on the Robin Hood mythology. Ellie’s newfound allies’ lack of concern over her modern clothes and speech requires some suspension of disbelief, but this historical caper is well worth it. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.

May 15, 2017
A modern-day white teen travels through time and becomes Robin Hood.Ellie Hudson is a privileged elite archer with Olympic aspirations from present-day America. While competing in Nottingham, England, Ellie follows a strangely dressed man in white into a cave and emerges (inexplicably) in the Middle Ages. The clunkiness starts here: Ellie is nearly apprehended! She escapes! She's nearly apprehended again! She escapes again! Then Ellie, who is passing for a boy, turns herself in to protect others and manipulates the notorious (but blandly drawn) sheriff of Nottingham into releasing her if she can shoot well enough. Ellie's talent shines through...and then the awkward pacing takes hold again with occurrences that feel either arbitrary or like filler. Ellie's aware that her purpose in the past may be to become Robin Hood, but she doesn't seem particularly interested in assisting the people of Nottingham. Then a plot to assassinate Prince John emerges, threatening the eventual king's ability to sign the Magna Carta. Connolly avoids the trap of offering a limp, unconvincing rationale for the time travel, but, unexplained, the device is still pretty slim. Couple it with an uneven plot and unconvincing premise, and even a gender-bending, butt-kicking, time-traveling heroine may not be enough to satisfy exacting readers, even if she is Robin Hood. Off target. (Historical fantasy. 12-16)

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June 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-While competing in the Olympics, held in England, archer Ellie Hudson notices a mysterious monk. She follows him into the tunnels under Nottingham Castle and finds herself in medieval England, during the reign of King John. The 21st-century teen quickly butts heads with nasty Shire Reeves and the armed Knights Templar. Hurling insults and an arrow or two, sarcastic Ellie is soon mistaken for one of the most notorious vigilantes in history. The protagonist is fully developed, and Connolly's attention to historical detail is strong. Robin Hood fans will enjoy Ellie's escapades as she runs around Sherwood Forest, bumping into bad guys, and teens interested in historical fiction with a generous mix of action/adventure will appreciate this page-turner. Read-alikes include fairy-tale and myth retellings such as Renee Ahdieh's "The Wrath & the Dawn" series, David Almond's A Song for Ella Grey, and Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora. VERDICT A general purchase for public or school libraries seeking additional historical fiction for teens.-Meaghan Nichols, Archaeological Research Associates, Ont.

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