Sherwood: Original Stories from the World of Robin Hood - Hardcover

Various

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 039923182X ISBN 13: 9780399231827

Publisher: Philomel Books, 2000

Synopsis

Eight new tales delight and mystify readers with stories ranging from Robin Hood's mysterious birth, to the adventures of Hood's grandson while trying to follow in his grandfather's footsteps.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Prolific Yolen (Not One Damsel in Distress, 2000, etc.) proffers eight tales that further embroider the legend of Robin Hood, by a mix of new and veteran authors. Most of the episodes center around a younger version of the hero or one of his followers: Yolen herself opens by recounting the newborn Robin's introduction to the Fair Folk; in the following two stories, Robin and the formidable Marian meet as children. In Nancy Springer's Know Your True Enemy, an outlaw child thirsting for vengeance after the killing of his father finds himself saving the life of the Sheriff of Nottingham's son. The legend passes to the next generation in Mary Frances Zambreno's contribution, and Adam Stemple takes it hilariously into our own future by setting an Artificial Intelligence with a Robin Hood complex loose in cyberspace. Though the stories will stand alone, readers already familiar with Robin's career and better-known associates will have a leg up; consider this an intermediate step between Jane Louise Curry's Robin Hood in the Green Wood (1995) and novel-length treatments, from Robin McKinley's Outlaws of Sherwood (1988) to Michael Cadnum's In a Dark Wood (1998). (Illustrations, not seen) (Short stories. 10-13) -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-9-Nine short stories about Robin Hood and his legacy are chronologically presented, from Yolen's tale of his mystical birth to Adam Stemple's story of Robin's adventurous spirit redistributing wealth through the Internet. While the compilation may lack the poignancy and depth of human perception found in some full-length works, and hero worship and villain vilification create one-sided characters, all of the writers' skills are unquestionably high. Clever application of folkloric elements to original stories combined with consistency and smooth writing will enliven the imaginations of all Robin Hood enthusiasts. They will also enjoy the variety of viewpoints. Nolan has provided skillful soft-hued illustrations, one for each story. The glossy plates accurately depict one aspect of each story, but for the most part lack the text's irony, playfulness, or danger. Offer this to readers after Robin McKinley's Outlaws of Sherwood (Greenwillow, 1988), Monica Furlong's Robin's Country (Knopf, 1995), Theresa Tomlinson's Forestwife (1995) and Child of the May (1998), and Michael Cadnum's In a Dark Wood (1998, all Orchard).
Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Philomel Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 039923182X
• ISBN 13: 9780399231827
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160
• Editor: Yolen Jane