{"id":35990,"date":"2019-03-08T21:47:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-09T01:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=35990"},"modified":"2019-03-08T21:47:07","modified_gmt":"2019-03-09T01:47:07","slug":"review-of-the-mad-wolfs-daughter-by-diane-magras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=35990","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Mad Wolf’s Daughter, by Diane Magras"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Mad Wolf\u2019s Daughter<\/em><\/p>\n

by Diane Magras<\/p>\n

Kathy Dawson Books (Penguin), 2018. 280 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written April 7, 2018, from a book sent by the publisher
\n2018 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>:
\n#2 Historical Children’s Fiction<\/p>\n

As this book begins, Drest tries to warn her brother and her father that she sees boats coming to their lair, but they\u2019re convinced she\u2019s dreaming. They know different when attackers burst upon them.<\/p>\n

Her father, the war band leader, gets her to flee and hide. But she sees him and all her brothers taken away. She is determined to save them \u2013 even if it means reviving the knight who got thrown down a cliff by one of the other knights.<\/p>\n

This is a wonderful historical fiction novel \u2013 set in medieval Scotland about a young girl who\u2019s small but fierce and resourceful. Her brothers have trained her well. But she only has six days to get to the castle to save her family, and her journey is not uneventful.<\/p>\n

You come to love Drest\u2019s fierce, fighting spirit, which is tempered by compassion for those who need help.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s where Drest approaches the knight at the base of the cliff:<\/p>\n

Tears sprang to Drest\u2019s eyes. \u201cYour toad-witted people took my da and my brothers. And I didn\u2019t throw you down here; one of your own men did.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young knight\u2019s voice quivered. \u201cWhat a filthy lie. Those are my most faithful men.\u201d<\/p>\n

His despair gave Drest courage. She crept closer. \u201cMaybe some of them, but not the one who was up on the cliff with you. I watched him fight and push you down here.\u201d The mist was thickening around them. Drest looked back to find the trail. \u201cDo you know where they\u2019ve taken my da?\u201d<\/p>\n

The young knight\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cTo Faintree Castle. Do you even know who we are?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNay,\u201d said Drest, \u201cwhy should I?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything in this part of the lowlands \u2013 including this headland \u2013 belongs to Faintree Castle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that the truth? Strange. I\u2019ve always known that my da owned this headland and all<\/em> the lowlands.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s only the beginning of Drest\u2019s surprising adventures.<\/p>\n

Fair warning is that while this book finishes at a good stopping-place, not everything is resolved, so I trust there will be more adventures to come. But this book has enough to make this lass become a legend.<\/p>\n

dianemagras.com<\/a>
\npenguin.com\/middle-grade<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/mad_wolfs_daughter.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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