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Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale

by Donna Jo Napoli (Goodreads Author)

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 2,522 ratings · 424 reviews

Melkorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in mediæval Ireland -- but all of this is lost the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Thrown into a world that she has never known, alongside people that her former country's laws regarded as less than human, Melkorka is forced to learn quickly how to survive. Taking a vow of sil...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published October 23rd 2007 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

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Nov 18, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by JodiG. for TeensReadToo.com

What would you do if you were torn away from your life and everything you knew and forced into slavery? If you were taken to new places where people spoke different languages than you, how would you persevere?

Meet Melkorka, the oldest daughter of an Irish king. As members of royalty, Melkorka and her brother, Nuada, and sister, Brigid, enjoy life at the top of the social structure. In Dublin, travelers from around the world gather to sell their wares. The...more Reviewed by JodiG. for TeensReadToo.com

What would you do if you were torn away from your life and everything you knew and forced into slavery? If you were taken to new places where people spoke different languages than you, how would you persevere?

Meet Melkorka, the oldest daughter of an Irish king. As members of royalty, Melkorka and her brother, Nuada, and sister, Brigid, enjoy life at the top of the social structure. In Dublin, travelers from around the world gather to sell their wares. The "heathen" Vikings are among them. Melkorka wants nothing more for her birthday than to visit the stores in Dublin with her family and find the perfect brooch for her cape. The trip ends tragically when her brother is attacked in one of the shops. Although Nuada has survived, he is disfigured and, therefore, no longer able to be the future king.

Melkorka's father, the king, develops a plan for revenge against the Viking offenders. The plan involves luring a Viking ship to their town. Melkorka and her younger sister, Brigid, are sent away in the dark of night to assure their safety.

Before they can reach their destination, Melkorka and Brigid are abducted and taken aboard a ship bound for an unknown destination. Although her instinct is to announce her royal status and demand to be treated as such, Melkorka succumbs to the hints from Brigid and the word she has heard her mother utter so often, "Hush." She becomes silent, refusing to speak to her abductors, the other prisoners, or even to scream at the horrors she sees inflicted upon others.

While Brigid manages a daring escape, Melkorka remains captive, forming silent bonds with those she is held prisoner with and captivating one of her abductors. Her silence becomes her strength, an unbreakable and enticing gift. But how will a princess adapt to life as a slave? Will she ever escape or will she remain silenced forever?

HUSH is based on an Icelandic folk tale. Donna Jo Napoli has gone to great lengths to create a story for the princess/slave described in the tale. Her writing draws you into the story; you can almost feel the cold air from the deck of the Viking ship. This is an amazing tale of strength and perseverance in the face of insurmountable challenges. A highly recommended reading experience. (less)

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Mar 05, 2011 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, medieval-ireland-slavery-vikings

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Melkora, a 15-year-old Irish princess, is sent from home with her sister to hide while her father takes vengeance on Norsemen who cut off her brother's hand. They are caught by Russian slave traders who sail along the coast and kidnap women and children. Melkora follows the lead of her sister in keeping silent to conceal their royalty. Their silence give them a hold over their captors. The leader, Clay Man, thinks Melkora is an enchantress. Her sister makes a run for freedom, jumping overboard i...more

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Apr 26, 2008 Coral rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like grim books with lots of historical detail

Shelves: retold-fairytales-myths-etc, young-adult

Based on a character briefly mentioned in an Icelandic saga, this is not the typical fanciful or heroic fairytale retelling. Rather, the author is interested in exploring what a princess-turned-slave in the early 900s might actually have felt, seen, and experienced. The plot is slow-moving and the book is packed with historical details. In fact, one character in particular (a fellow slave woman) is supiciously knowledgable about all the places the slaves are taken to and seems to have been intro...more

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May 27, 2008 Brandy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Based on an ancient Icelandic tale, this is the story of Irish princess Melkorka. Captured by Vikings and sold into slavery, she reinvents herself as a mute enchantress. A twist to this story is the power of silence rather than the power of speech.

I liked the story, and younger female readers will enjoy the empowerment of the Melkorka. Still, it was a sad tale. After all that she endured, I can not say that the ending was a happy one. But it wasn't a hopeless ending either.

Which brings me the n...more

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Mar 25, 2008 Enna Isilee (Squeaky Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2008, reviewed-on-blog

Warning-- This book is not for those that enjoy a happy story.

I personally liked it. But it certainly isn't happy or good. When you see "Princess' Tale" you shouldn't think of this book. Yes, it is about a princess, but it's about a princess who is captured as a slave and is horribly horribly mistreated. There were parts that my brain made me skip over, but what's facinating is that it's based off a true event/legend.

So... there you are.

ADDED THE NEXT DAY:

So as I was mulling in my bed last night...more

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Aug 22, 2007 Molly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I was completely caught up in this retelling of an Icelandic tale that came complete with a kick-ass Irish Princess heroine, Vikings, and a snippet of history I'd never read about before.

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Jan 18, 2009 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Melkorka. I love the name of the protagonist in this story of an Irish Princess. Melkorka's life as an Irish king's daughter changes in an instant when she is captured by slave traders heading east. Based on an old Icelandic tale, Melkorka chooses to remain mute and her lack of speech sets her apart and gives Melkorka at least one advantage in her new, dangerous life.

Life as a slave in 9oo AD was not pretty, and Napoli doesn't make it out to be anything else. But despite the violence (including...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 25, 2008 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tales, historical-fiction

Melkorka is the 16-year-old daughter of a medieval Irish king around 900 A.D. When she and her younger sister, Brigid, are sent away for safety before an attack by Vikings, they are captured by foreign slave traders and taken on a long sea voyage. Melkorka has always been free with voicing her questions and opinions, but now staying silent is what's keeping her safe, since the leader believes she has magical powers and doesn't want to incur her wrath. They go from Ireland through the North Sea t...more

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Jul 28, 2008 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Young adults 16 and up

This was an unhappy story, based on an ancient Icelandic tale, of a strong Irish princess who was captured by slave traders. Her vow of silence kept her alive, and even gave her a little bit of power over her captors. A little bit of violence and some sexual scenes (one of them is a bit disturbing) makes me think that this book is meant for older kids - maybe 16 and up.

Napoli was very descriptive and gave an interesting account of what life was like for these people during the 900's.

Critical po...more

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Mar 12, 2009 Abby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This was a fascinating (and quick) YA read. Based on an old Icelandic legend and set in the late 900s, Melkorka is an Irish Princess who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Having always been told at home that she needs to learn to "hush", Mel makes a vow of silence once she's kidnapped, realizing her silence makes her an enigma to her captors. She grasps this tiny thread of power and we watch as she struggles to understand her life and eke out a new existence with her new life.

The first person...more

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Apr 06, 2009 Kathryn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

When Zel was first published, I feel in love with Donna Jo Napoli's writing style. Her beautiful prose, intense adventures and heart-braking romance caught me up in stories that legends are made of. But Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale let me down.

Melkorka is an Irish Princess whose brother is mutilated by a Viking, causing her father to retaliate. Mel and her sister are sent to hide in the pre-Columbian Irish wild where they are kidnapped by slave traders and end up on a ship heading for Russia....more

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Mar 23, 2009 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hard-issues, ya-lit

The subject matter was dismal, but I was surprised at how satisfying the ending left me. Rather than take away all the horrible and ugly things going on in the plot, Napoli follows the thought process of the protagonist from angry to annoyed, and finally to a sense of peace with her trials. Although the subject matter of the book does not end happily, I would argue that the optimistic thoughts of the protagonist at the end helped to increase my satisfaction.

I also simply must comment on how well...more

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Jan 30, 2009 BAYA Librarian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairytales-and-myths, historical

M Melkorka is a princess in medieval Ireland. She has everything a girl could want, until one day a raiding slave ship captures her and her sister. With no weapons to fight her assailants, she decides to remain mute. In her silence she finds power. Her captors find her appealing which adds to her value. Donna Jo Napoli has successfully written another reinterpretation of a classic tale. Some scenes allude to rape which make this book more appropriate for older teens. The descriptive language in...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-356

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. SPOILERS:

This book was beautifully written. Just beautiful. I began reading it late in the night, and could not put it down until I had finished the whole book by 4 AM. However, this book frustrated me on many levels. I was waiting, waiting, and waiting for when she would break her silence. I kept waiting, waiting, and waiting for her to try and escape! Except for one attempt, she never made another!

I thought when she does break her silence, it is gonna mean something. Who is she going to break...more SPOILERS:

This book was beautifully written. Just beautiful. I began reading it late in the night, and could not put it down until I had finished the whole book by 4 AM. However, this book frustrated me on many levels. I was waiting, waiting, and waiting for when she would break her silence. I kept waiting, waiting, and waiting for her to try and escape! Except for one attempt, she never made another!

I thought when she does break her silence, it is gonna mean something. Who is she going to break her silence to? I wondered...So you can imagine my frustration, when it was to a bird!

This character had the opportunity to say something to someone from her own land - Didn't take it. She had the opportunity to try and make a run for it - Didn't take it. She never tried!! So frustrating. She just gave up and accepted her new circumstances.

Her master, suggested she could work off her debt. She remained silent when this would have been an opportune moment to pull out that gold binkey and say, I'm royalty. At this point the guy was in love with her, and would have probably returned her home OR he could have used that gold binkey to buy her out of slavery! But she never uses it. What was the point of having her old master give the trinket back to her, if she wasn't going to use it later!!

Anyways, I loved this book but was also very frustrated by it. I ranted a good 30 minutes to my boyfriend about the book-how good it was, but how it was so stupid - all in one go.

Warnings:

Sex - A woman is raped repeately on the slave ship, but the author writes it in such a way you know its happening through intuition. Also, Melkorka becomes a concubine later on.

Violence - May I repeat? A woman is raped repeatedly. Slaves are beaten. Children are captured as slaves. Of course, there's violence in the slave trade. Let's not forget, Melkorka's brother's arm is sliced off.

Language - I do not recall any, but that doesn't mean there isn't any.

Drugs/Alchohol - I'm pretty sure people on the slave ship drink beer, and later on people get drunk. (less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Isabelle rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Historical Fiction Lovers

Recommended to Isabelle by: No one.

Shelves: awesome-writing, just-plain-good, good-heroine

I loved this book a lot. Maybe it was that her vow of silence was amazing to me (I don't know about other people, but it seemed . . . so strong). Maybe, just maybe, it was how fellow slaves, captors, and masters treated her because of this. It could possibly be the friends she made along the way WITHOUT SPEAKING A WORD TO THEM. They just . . . cared for her. Maybe it was the writing, which . . . enraptured me from the beginning.

One main reason that I loooooved this book WAS the writing. The writ...more I loved this book a lot. Maybe it was that her vow of silence was amazing to me (I don't know about other people, but it seemed . . . so strong). Maybe, just maybe, it was how fellow slaves, captors, and masters treated her because of this. It could possibly be the friends she made along the way WITHOUT SPEAKING A WORD TO THEM. They just . . . cared for her. Maybe it was the writing, which . . . enraptured me from the beginning.

One main reason that I loooooved this book WAS the writing. The writing . . . it was unbelievable. I could imagine everything perfectly. Then there was Melkorka (nicknamed Hush). I knew Hush. I was rooting for her, wanting her to keep her vow of silence forever. I actually shouted out "Come on Melkorka!" aloud once (scaring my brother).

The vow of silence. It was the main topic of the book, what kept me loving her. Most heroines these days don't have a backbone. They can't defend themselves (ahem, Bella). This girl knows how to be strong, even if she isn't physically strong. She communicates with her eyes, her face. She doesn't even need words to threaten and scare. (view spoiler)

She doesn't just threaten and scare with her vow of silence. She gave the other captives hope with it. She made friends without talking, only using facial expressions, and they still loved her (some like their own children).

I can't just rave about this book all day. You know I've got to give a reason for missing one star. I never give four stars! It's always five. But . . . you have to do it sometime, and I'm doing it now.

I didn't like the ending. (view spoiler)(less)

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Apr 21, 2012 Makenzie Vaughn rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale
*Spoiler Alert*
Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale is a historical fiction book written by Donna Jo Napoli. This book is published by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and has 308 pages. Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale is about a 15 year old princess who has been abducted and taken upon a slave ship. The main character, Melkorka, is forced to abandon her life of riches and being handed everything she wants, to a life where she has to learn how to tend to her ma...more Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale
*Spoiler Alert*
Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale is a historical fiction book written by Donna Jo Napoli. This book is published by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and has 308 pages. Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale is about a 15 year old princess who has been abducted and taken upon a slave ship. The main character, Melkorka, is forced to abandon her life of riches and being handed everything she wants, to a life where she has to learn how to tend to her masters but survive at the same time.
In the beginning of the book Princess Melkorka is portrayed as being a selfish teenager who doesn’t show any empathy for her slaves. One slave, Brogan, said, “Before you father bought me, when I was still a boy, I was owned by a man who had a wicked temper,” (Napoli 16). At this time Melkorka didn’t care at all about Brogan or his miserable past as a slave. This can also relate to people now. I think Donna Jo Napoli wrote this book to teach a lesson that you can know somebody for a long time, but if you don’t listen and you become narcissistic, you don’t know their whole story, and you don’t really know them at all.
In Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale, the beginning of the story was a little slow when delivering the plot. However, Donna Jo Napoli had an amazing way of keeping her readers guessing. In just the first 14 pages the main character’s brother, Nuada, has his hand cut off by a young Norseman. Although most beginnings of books seem to go in so much detail that the reader’s mind floats elsewhere, in this book Donna Jo Napoli puts detail in the interesting parts instead. For example, “One scream. Then Nothing. That’s worse than a continual cry. I don’t know where to look. I run frantically from doorways, calling,” (Napoli 11) is the thoughts of Melkorka. Even though the plot didn’t begin until awhile in, this book kept me interested the entire time because of the creative writing technique Donna Jo Napoli made in Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale.
Unlike today, when there are motivators all around you saying that it is important to use your voice, Melkorka must be able to get her point across as a slave without speaking a single word. As seen in the writing of Donna Jo Napoli and from history years ago, slave owners do not care at all about their slaves. However Melkorka’s friend- who is also a slave, Maeve, says that, “A slave life counts for nothing unless the slave finds a trick. You’ve found yours. Stick to it. Hush,” (Napoli 135). Maeve tells her this because by not speaking, Melkorka’s owner is intrigued by her, and treats her a little more kindly then the rest of the slaves- like the defenseless woman who got beaten. Therefore, to save her own life, Melkorka must do as she is told, when she is told to do it. She must forget about her sister, Brigid, who jumped over board during their third night, forget about her parents, the King and Queen, forget about her brother who may or may not have lived through his amputation, and do it all without speaking a word.
I think a lot of people should learn how to stay optimistic even in the most pessimistic times. As Melkorka is on her new owner’s ship, and a horrible storm had just passed a few days ago- limiting their supplies- yet she still manages to put a smile on her face. “I stand up and face the wind blowing off the good land,” (Napoli 308), said Melkorka. Hush an Irish Princess’ Tale was a truly astonishing book that everyone, at least once in their lifetime, should sit down and read. It helps you realize that life should be enjoyed no matter how bad things might be.

(less)

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Apr 08, 2012 Cindyloo rated it 3 of 5 stars

It took me some time to get into this story because I didn't find the beginning believable. The way Nuada is maimed didn't ring true for me. The mother sending her daughters off alone with no males to protect them didn't make sense either. Surely at least a strong male servant would have been sent along. It seemed to me a too-convenient plot device and, from what I know of the period, an unrealistic one. This was a culture based on honour price. If someone harmed you, they paid according to your...more It took me some time to get into this story because I didn't find the beginning believable. The way Nuada is maimed didn't ring true for me. The mother sending her daughters off alone with no males to protect them didn't make sense either. Surely at least a strong male servant would have been sent along. It seemed to me a too-convenient plot device and, from what I know of the period, an unrealistic one. This was a culture based on honour price. If someone harmed you, they paid according to your price. In the year 900 in Ireland any person travelling outside their tuath had no rights and required protection from the person they travelled with or someone in the kingdom through which they passed. I don't believe a queen would send her royal daughters into such potential danger with no safeguards whatsoever.
I didn't like Melkorka at first either, but she also grew on me, which is, I believe, the point. Some people have commented that she was a passive heroine and that the story was dark. Slavery, rape, murder, these are dark things, and they are things that most readers of this book will never have to experience themselves. It is good to be reminded that many in the past and today have not been so fortunate, but more to the point, it is not always possible for a person to be a hero by controlling the external facts of their destiny. Sometimes a person is powerless over all but their reaction to their situation. I came to like Melkorka as she grew stronger and learned to survive with the maturity of a woman instead of the flailing denial of a child.
The one jarring irritation for me was when Melkorka muses about the sweaters knitted for fisherman with varying designs so their clan can be identified when their drowned bodies are found. In 900? I don't think so. More like 1800, if at all. From what I have read this was a fabrication of J.M. Synge when he wrote (unflatteringly) of the people of the Aran Islands more than 900 years after the time when Melkorka lived.
This is a part of history that has not been examined enough. The book has its flaws, but I appreciate Napoli's effort. (less)

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Jan 24, 2012 Cj rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was so disappointing.

The things I liked:
1. The realistic story plot. Taking people into slavery is often what happened, and I appreciate that the author tried to stick to the reality of our world.

2. The setting, I liked that it took place in a place other than a small town no-one's heard of, with just an average girl.... blah blah blah

And, that's about it, for now. Maybe I'll think of more later?

The things that I didn't like:
1. The misleading blurb. This is not a quest to discover hers...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

For our school's Literature Circles, my group chose to read this book. It wasn't my first choice, but the other groups were either full or had books I'd already read.

The concept, while interesting, is not really fully developed on. While the author's writing creates an appropriate atmosphere, Brigid and Melkorka's transitions from royalty to slaves fighting for their own lives and maintaining their disguises are too hurried to be believed. Some of the characters - especially the Nordic slave chi...more

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Feb 20, 2010 Gemma rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I picked this up on a whim after seeing it in my local bookstore last year. When I began reading it I kept getting a sense of deja vu, which confused me until I realised the plot was very similar to Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.
The Irish girl gets captured by foreigners (Vikings nonetheless), put on a boat, carted away to a different country, and all without speaking a single word. Whilst Marillier tells the tale with a sense of magic and love, none of that really applies in this t...more I picked this up on a whim after seeing it in my local bookstore last year. When I began reading it I kept getting a sense of deja vu, which confused me until I realised the plot was very similar to Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.
The Irish girl gets captured by foreigners (Vikings nonetheless), put on a boat, carted away to a different country, and all without speaking a single word. Whilst Marillier tells the tale with a sense of magic and love, none of that really applies in this tale.

This is not a book for those who love happy endings; I'm a hopeless romantic myself, and there is often nothing I love more in a book than a nice HEA. So I'm actually quite surprised I even made it to the end of Hush. I suppose I kept on reading out of hope; hope that Melkorka would escape from captivity, find her sister, or perhaps be rescued by a knight in shining armour if you will.

As I drew nearer to the end of the book, it dawned on me that I'd read too many fairytales; no one was going to help Melkorka. Why should they? What were the odds of anyone she knew in her old life finding her while she was adrift in the ocean, or in Iceland? What were the chances of her ever finding out what happened to her sister? Million to one, probably. Whereas perhaps another author may have created an elaborate way for the heroine to discover these things & be saved, Donna Jo Napoli does no such thing. Instead, she shows the probable reality of what fate a person captured by the Vikings would have faced in Ireland all those years ago. She doesn't attempt to put any gloss on it, which can cause some really heartbreaking scenes to take place.

Melkorka is not abused as some are due to her captors belief her mute ways are proof that she is a mythical being, but it doesn't save her for long. She is bought by a man who likes her because of her beauty, and ends up serving as his unwilling mistress. Over time it is implied she develops feelings for him, and the book ends uncertainly with Melkorka pregnant with an illegitimate child. The author reveals in the ending pages that in the tale on which she based Hush on, the girl returns with her master only to be banished by his jealous wife to a life of hard work in their kitchens, her son her last hope of finding out what happened to her family in Ireland and sister.

To be honest, I was torn over this book - it was so bleak and hard hitting at times, and could become downright depressing. On one hand I respected that; too many books glamourise periods such as this in history, and props to the author for writing about such an event with realism and not through rose tinted glasses. But it often felt too bleak and harsh - usually with books like this there is an underlying message of hope, but I didn't really detect one here.
I admired Melkorka; she was very strong and suffered a lot, and telling it through her eyes was an efficient way of showing how a lot of people would have felt in those circumstances. It was nicely written at times, but it did drag in others, which felt inevitable considering the plot but still noticeable. But as much as I could appreciate the story, as much as I felt for Melkorka, I don't really feel like I can rate this book high. It just wasn't enjoyable. Yes, I know, given the subject matter it was never going to be, but in most books like this I can find a message in it; something that inspires me, or gives me hope. This just left me with a burning in my eyes and a really heavy melancholy that took a while to lift off. I've never been one for depressing books, and although it may seem ignorant and immature, a tale about a girl who suffers through hell and gets nothing for it just doesn't appeal to me. It happens in everyday life, yes, and if this would have been a real story I probably would have given it more; not because I enjoyed it, but out of respect for the person. But this was fiction, and in my fiction I like to be reminded of the happiness that can come from dark things in the world, which this didn't do. I just find it too hard to read about people, come to care about them, and then see horrible things happen to them - I immerse myself too much in their feelings and get myself upset.

There just didn't seem to be much point in reading about this; at times it reminded me too much of the misery fiction that's invaded literature - who actually reads that stuff? It's pessimistic and gloomy, and make me feel kind of ill.
So, as beautiful as it could be, Hush just seemed to have too much darkness and not enough light, and that made me unable to get any joy out of it. And since reading for me is all about entertainment and education, the non-providal of both of these things really made it so that this book offered me only doom & gloom, something I'd rather not have in my life - there's too much of it in the world already without diving into the past to dredge up some more.(less)

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Sep 13, 2009 silverstream84 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Melkorka an Irish princess of medevial Irerland is a very satisfied and pampered child. At the time Ierland is a kingdom of great wealth and vast riches. That is until the vikings, considered less then human by her people,strike kiddnapping Melkorka and her little sister Bridget and drag them off to a slve ship where women are not treated kindly. To save herself from a terrible fate on the slaver and being forced to reveil the whereabouts of her countrys treasurs, young Bridget throws herself ov...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Kenzie Keppner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: eng-356

This was really an interesting book. I learned so much about the Anglo-Saxon period and what these people believed. I really liked this book. I couldn't believe the trials that she went through and took them all head on. The book leaves a lot of questions that will never be answered which is kind of depressing because I want to know! I would recommend this book, it has a powerful storyline and kept me reading to the very end.

Violence: 2- There wasn't a whole lot of violence. They are on a slave...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Sam rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Page 99. From what I've gathered of this book, I can't really decide whether or not I like it. I know a few aspects are annoying me. I don't want to know she "urinated" on her cloak she loves so dearly. And where having little bits of Gaelic in there is nice because I do so love the language, it gets a bit confusing.Also, this author uses too many complex words. I understand she's royalty, but she continues re-using the word urinate. It's beginning to get on my nerves, not to mention, I don't r...more

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Mar 26, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, general-fiction, historical-fiction, read-in-2010

Melkorka is the eldest princess of the tiny fiefdom of Dunnpatrick in the land of Eire. When her elder brother is wounded and Mel's father seeks revenge, Mel and her sister are forced to steal away in the night to safety. Before the two girls can reach a neighboring home however, they are kidnapped by slavers and taken far from Eire.

I kept waiting for something big to happen in this story but overall nothing really does. Melkorka has to be the most passive heroine I have ever read. She maintain...more Melkorka is the eldest princess of the tiny fiefdom of Dunnpatrick in the land of Eire. When her elder brother is wounded and Mel's father seeks revenge, Mel and her sister are forced to steal away in the night to safety. Before the two girls can reach a neighboring home however, they are kidnapped by slavers and taken far from Eire.

I kept waiting for something big to happen in this story but overall nothing really does. Melkorka has to be the most passive heroine I have ever read. She maintains her silence because the slaver who stole her thinks she's an enchantress and her silence reinforces that illusion. She remains quiet out of habit. She never tried to escape after the first time. She helps her fellow slaves but beyond that remains passive in all ways. Even when she is sold to a new master and taken even farther away. Overall, while the historical details are intriguing and the very, very faint interplay of Celtic mythology caught my interest this feels like a story about nothing at all. There is little character growth and that's a huge disappointment.

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Mel's attitude in the end is also frustrating for me because she's happy to have a baby. Even though that baby will be a slave. Even though that baby can be taken from her at any time. She just passively goes along with everything, even this where her child is concerned.

The book's description made it seem like there was some element of magic in the story and there isn't. The faint hint of Celtic mythology never plays out - Nuada losing his hand is clearly a nod to the Tuatha De Daanan and their king Nuada who met a similar fate and thus could not be king. The silver smith excited me because I thought for sure that silver would come into play and we'd see Nuada's silver hand. Nope. Bridgit's mythological roots also fall short of their potential. I feel as though this story promised me one thing and failed to deliver anything at all.

Napoli is an excellent story teller and I've loved other books by her. She has a way with description and prose that is so lyrical it's a kind of magic in itself. Given that, Hush was a huge disappointment for me.(less)

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Nov 30, 2011 Victoria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-historical-fiction, iceland

This is how historical fiction should be done. Whenever I picked up this book to continue where I left off, I found myself transported back to Medieval Europe. The sites, the smells, the experiences were all there.

This is probably the next best thing to time travel itself.

One of the two drawbacks to this book was that through the first half-dozen or so chapters, I found myself annoyed by the main character, Melkorka. Perhaps it was that Spoiled Princess Syndrome of hers I found myself put off b...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, young-adult

I strayed away from my favorite genre last month, but like a magnet I was pulled to the past yet again, and was amazed by the piece of spellbinding work I read. HUSH by Donna Jo Napoli is a memorizing retelling of an Irish princess' silent existence as a captive aboard a Scandinavian ship.

On what should be a... pleasant trip to Dublin, Princess Melkorka – Mel for short, quickly becomes aware of the dangers that savage Vikings inflict. In desperation and fear for her safety, Mel's parents instruc...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Would've given it four stars because it definitely made me think. Granted, what I thought about was the life of a 10th century teenaged girl kidnapped into slavery, so they weren't the most uplifting of thoughts. But still, it was an interesting, historically accurate read, and a fascinating survival tale. What made me knock it down from four to three stars was the almost complete lack of closure. There is the barest hint of a resolution in the heroine's problems in the last few pages, but it is...more

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May 10, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: eng-356

Melkorka, a young Irish Princess, has found herself in a great deal of trouble when her and her sister Brigid get captured by a Russian slave trader. Right from the beginning I knew the story was going to be interesting, just by the way the book is written. Donna Jo Napoli pays so much attention to the little details that you almost feel as if you are standing right next to the characters. I liked this book so much that after I was done reading it, which the author leaves it a bit unresolved, I...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Melkorka is an Irish princess, first-born in her family, with a younger brother and sister. After her brother is injured badly, her father vows revenge and sends her and her sister away. Before they reach their destination, she is kidnapped by a Viking slave ship. On the ship, she is grouped with other slaves of many different nationalities. She must learn to survive. As she observes and reacts, she takes refuge in silence and soon finds that her silence gives her power.
This story is based on an...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Libby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, historical-fiction, young-adult-fiction

Melkorka is an Irish princess living a privileged life in medieval Ireland. When she and her young sister are kidnapped by a Russian slave ship, Melkorka is plunged into the unfamiliar struggles of poverty and servitude. In her grief, she takes a vow of silence, but soon learns her silence is the key to survival. Her captors and masters are fascinated by her silence, giving her more power than a typical slave.
Hush is the story of Melkorka’s journey from a royal home in Ireland, through medieval...more

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About Donna Jo Napoli

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Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction.

Donna Jo has five children. She dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist. She loves to garden and bake bread.

At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to...more

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