Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest

December 1, 2002
Gr 5-7-This recording of Nancy Springer's novel, Rowan Hood: Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest (Philomel, 2001) is read by actress Emily Gray. Rowan is actually Rosemary, a 13-year-old who disguises herself as a boy and goes into hiding when her mother, the woodwife Celandine, is murdered. Ro has never met her father, Robin Hood, nor her mother's people, the aelfe, or old ones. But in this lively adventure, she finds Robin, saves him from certain death, reveals herself to him, and makes a connection with the aelfe. In the process, she creates her own band of outlaws: a wolf-dog, a foolish but well-meaning minstrel boy, and a runaway princess. Gray reads the story well, with just the right amount of expression and variation among the characters' voices. She even sings the minstrel's songs in a clear, simple voice.-Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, Morgan Hill, CA

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.