A Daring Sacrifice

March 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-The Cloaked Bandit has been robbing the noble families of Wessex for years and has yet to be caught. Skilled at hiding in the forests, this bandit is able to conceal the fact that she is a girl, Juliana Wessex, and a member of the ruling family, who everyone believes is dead. Her talents allow her to feed and shelter the peasants of the land. While playing this Robin Hood-like role, she encounters Collin Goodrich, who recognizes her from years past. He encourages her to stay on his estate after she is injured, and teens will want to read on to find out if Collin is able to win her heart and if he will sacrifice everything for her. While Juliana and Collin are interesting characters and the action is easy to follow, the story is idealistic as opposed to realistic. While Juliana is 17, she doesn't sound authentically teen, though falling in love and resisting temptation will be themes that will resonate with some young adults. The book includes discussion questions in the back matter relating to its Christian motifs. VERDICT A great selection for collections looking for titles with strong Christian themes or for readers who enjoy fairy tales.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2016
Prolific Hedlund is back with another tale of medieval romance, a sequel to An Uncertain Choice (2015). Lady Juliana of Wessex lives in the forest, disguised as a boy, stealing to provide for the remnants of her father's uprising against her vicious uncle. She doesn't want to steal but must even though she is the rightful heir to the rich Wessex lands. But she goes too far when she tries to steal from the lord of the neighboring Goodrich lands and is injured in the process. Collin Goodrich has seen through her disguise and takes her to his castle to protect her. Their friendship builds and warms into a budding romance...until Collin's sister invites the Wessex usurpers into the Goodrich home. Juliana's no longer safe--and now neither is Collin. Hedlund's light on historical detail and makes no apparent attempt to find a medieval voice to suit the 1390 English setting. Nevertheless, this narrative told from Juliana's and Collin's alternating points of view has engaging-enough characters and plenty of derring-do to entertain young romance enthusiasts. Formulaic but fun for genre fans wanting a quick read. (Historical romance. 12-16)

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