Description
12-year-old Alexander Buchan was once content, training as a falconer at Strathbogie Castle in Huntly. But when his Earl sends him to Edinburgh to the court of the newly arrived Mary, Queen of Scots, the boy finds himself lured into a world of intrigue, terror and treachery. Alexander knows right from wrong, but how can he hope to outwit his master’s murderous messenger? Surely no one can defy an Earl – especially one whose wife is rumored to be a witch!
Soon, more than the boy’s own life is at stake: his friend Lizzie is arrested and the angry clouds of Reformation Scotland gather around the young Queen.
It seems that Alexander must spy – or die.
About the Author
Barbara Henderson has lived in Scotland since 1991, somehow acquiring an MA in English Language and Literature, a husband, three children and a shaggy dog along the way. Having tried her hand at working as a puppeteer, relief librarian and receptionist, she now teaches drama part-time at secondary school. Writing predominantly for children, Barbara is the author of the Highland Clearances novel Fir for Luck, The Crystal-Kite, the eco-thriller Wilderness Wars, the Robert Burns smuggling novella Black Water, the medieval Siege of Caerlaverock, the Viking adventure The Chessmen Thief and the Jacobite adventure The Reluctant Rebel. Her latest book is Rivet Boy, about a young Victorian breadwinner employed on the construction site of the iconic Forth Bridge. She has twice won the Historical Association’s Young Quills Award. Her only title for adults to date is the immigration memoir Scottish by Inclination. Barbara lives in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
My Thoughts
This is a well-written and entertaining story that could appeal to middle grade readers, especially those fascinated by the period of history presented here. I don’t know how much young students will know about Mary, Queen of Scots and her accurate portrayal in history, but that knowledge isn’t necessary here to pique interest. Instead, we have a young male protagonist who is smart, clever, and appealing, displays extraordinary honesty and bravery, and is rewarded for it.
The action starts almost immediately and doesn’t stop until the end, which is a pace that will keep kids reading. The vocabulary is appropriate to the age level. Reading this could easily prompt kids to investigate falconry, tall ships, and even embroidery.
An more enticing cover would surely encourage kids to pick this one up.
Publication Date: April 11, 2024
Published By: Luath Press
Thanks to Book Sirens for the review copy
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