The Stolen Crown

Gr 5 Up—The outlaw Eleanor Dray is back in this exciting, action-packed sequel featuring the League of Archers, a group of young men and women who follow in the steps of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. After saving Maid Marian from the clutches of the greedy and evil Lord de Lays, Eleanor (Ellie) and her friends have been hiding out in the Greenwood Tree and working toward a new goal: to build a farm where people can live free of the cruel taxation of de Lays. But when King John is murdered, Nottingham is thrown into disarray and a new level of vulnerability. Against her better judgement, Ellie allows a new addition to the League, someone with an intimate connection to de Lays. His presence throws the league out of balance, forcing Ellie to reexamine her role as leader. Just as in the first book, Howard finds a pleasing equilibrium between satisfying character development and heart-stopping adventure. Ellie is an admirable and relatable heroine who makes mistakes and wades right into the center of moral quandaries. Although she is still haunted by the lives she took during a fight, she bravely continues in her quest to be a fair and just outlaw: stealing from the rich only to improve the lives of the poor and downtrodden. Ellie also struggles with the challenges of leadership and the importance of learning to accept her own shortcomings and forgive others as well.