League of Archers

Gr 5–7—Sent to live in a nunnery after her mother's death, 12-year-old Ellie spends her days as a novice nun and her evenings hunting in the woods with her friends—known among themselves as the League of Archers. Like their heroes, Robin Hood and his Merry Men, they hunt in secret on the villainous Baron's land in order to feed those in need. One night, Ellie encounters a mysterious man in the woods who is shot by a poisonous arrow. She brings him back to the nunnery only to discover that he is Robin Hood and the kind abbess of the nunnery is Maid Marion. What follows are a chain of events in which Ellie is publicly blamed for the death of Robin Hood. Friendships are tested as Ellie and her loyal League of Archers work in secret to uncover the mystery of Robin Hood's death and convince the village of her innocence. Readers will thrill at the nonstop action and adventure of this engaging tale. The familiar settings of Sherwood Forest and Nottingham add an extra level of interest for fans of the original story and Disney movie. Howard has created a thoughtful and likable character in Ellie, who is forced to reconsider her rosy image of Robin Hood as an unblemished hero. Despite the youth of her main characters, Howard doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of death, danger, and cruelty: Ellie's mother is hanged for hunting on the Baron's land, Robin Hood's dead and rotting body is dragged around for display, and Ellie herself struggles with guilt and confusion when she kills a man with an arrow during a fight.