But it weren't. It were all that Roman boy's fault. He's the one who started it. If it weren't for him, my wee brother would still be running alongside me up the braes like he used to, and I would've been affirmed a woman of the village with the rest of my age-mates long afore now. Instead of that I'm stuck a wee lassie till I can prove I'm no just a trouble-maker with a firebrand temper and a gift for making mischief...
***
Scotland, 158 AD, is a divided country.
On one side of the Antonine Wall, thirteen-year-old Felix is trying to become a good Roman soldier like his father. On the other, twelve-year old Jinny is vowing revenge on the ‘metal men’ who have invaded her Damnonii tribe’s homeland. At the Damnonii’s sacred circle of standing stones, her planned attack on Felix goes badly wrong, awakening a legend that threatens to bring fire and destruction down on them all.
Can Jinny and Felix overcome their differences and soothe the stones back to sleep before it’s too late?
***
I am thrilled to be part of the blog tour for another of Victoria Williamson's books as I have loved all of the ones I have read and this is no exception. If you would like to read my review of her book, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, please click here. Also, my review of the fabulous, Norah's Ark, can be found here.
Set in Scotland during the Roman invasion, it is a gorgeous blend of myth, legend and historical fiction. It is aimed at middle grade children but I think older children and young adults (and not so young ones like me) will enjoy this book.
It is told from the alternating viewpoints of Jinny, a girl of the Damnonii tribe and Felix, a Roman boy whose people have invaded and are camped on the land belonging to the native Damnonii. Felix has a Roman father and a Damnonii mother and through this the book considers what constitutes family and belonging. The book also deals with themes of family and friendship and the impact that conflict can have on society.
As with her other books, Ms. Williamson has brought her characters and the place and period in which the book is set alive on the page. The voices of both Jinny and Felix are very distinct, and she builds an entire culture around them. She has clearly researched her time period thoroughly and has thus succeeded in building a world and characters which are utterly believable.
This book could well be the spark which ignites an interest in history for those children who are unenthusiastic about the subject. Having said that, I think budding historians would enjoy this. My granddaughter loves history, and I will be buying her a copy of this book as I know she will love it.
Publishing on the 23rd of September, this book is well worth pre-ordering.
ISBN: 978 1910895801
Publisher: Scotland Street Press
Formats: paperback
No. of Pages: 200
.jpg)
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment