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Sherwood: Original Stories from the World of Robin Hood
Eight tales of Sherwood Forest.
Welcome to Sherwood Forest by Jane Yolen
1 Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen
2 Marian by Maxine Trottier
3 Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan
4 Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer
5 The Children's War by Timons Esaias
6 Straight and True by Robert J. Harris
7 At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno
8 Robin Hood v 1.5.3 by Adam Stemple
About the Authors 3-pg
Welcome to Sherwood Forest by Jane Yolen
1 Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen
2 Marian by Maxine Trottier
3 Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan
4 Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer
5 The Children's War by Timons Esaias
6 Straight and True by Robert J. Harris
7 At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno
8 Robin Hood v 1.5.3 by Adam Stemple
About the Authors 3-pg
134 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Jane Yolen
987 books3,240 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 21, 2019
This is a great gathering of Robin Hood short stories that helps expand the lore.
Containing eight short stories (and therefore being a relatively quick read), the stories are arranged chronologically, beginning with the night Robin Hood was born, and extending two stories beyond his death, including one about grandchild of Robin Hood and another rather funny one about an artificial intelligence that is programmed to believe he is Robin Hood. My favorite was probably Straight and True, by Robert J. Harris, which is a previously unknown story about Robin Hood as narrated by Friar Tuck, but they all had something to appreciate.
I also have to say something about the illustrations (there is one for each story) created by Dennis Nolan… they were fantastic. I loved the detail!
Recommended to anyone who enjoys the legend of Robin Hood and wants to read more!
Containing eight short stories (and therefore being a relatively quick read), the stories are arranged chronologically, beginning with the night Robin Hood was born, and extending two stories beyond his death, including one about grandchild of Robin Hood and another rather funny one about an artificial intelligence that is programmed to believe he is Robin Hood. My favorite was probably Straight and True, by Robert J. Harris, which is a previously unknown story about Robin Hood as narrated by Friar Tuck, but they all had something to appreciate.
I also have to say something about the illustrations (there is one for each story) created by Dennis Nolan… they were fantastic. I loved the detail!
Recommended to anyone who enjoys the legend of Robin Hood and wants to read more!
August 4, 2020
(3.5 STARS)
A fun anthology of Robin Hood stories! My personal favorites are “Our Lady of the Greenwood” and “Marian”.
A fun anthology of Robin Hood stories! My personal favorites are “Our Lady of the Greenwood” and “Marian”.
May 21, 2023
It is hard finding a Sherwood anthology. Most of them seem to be published a few decades ago. This one is one of the older ones I always wanted to read, however. I had an old old copy I could pull out and finally enjoy.
This book mostly features children in it's stories. It's clearly meant for a younger audience. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot when I was 8 (though maybe not understood all of it, seeing as how there's a lot of strong accents!)
Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen - this one feels entirely old school fey; medieval . The midwife speaks with a heavy accent, there are stanzas of old poetry within the narrative, there is a pact made with the ancient elves of the greenwood. I feel like you don't get stories like this anymore. I loved the old wild forest festooned with elven magic imagery. I loved how this is one of the tales that embraces the magic and warnings of the fey wholly. This story revolves around naming the new babe but it is so much more than the surface plot. Still, it was but a glimpse. 3.5/5 stars.
Marian by Maxine Trottier - This was a very sweet story of Marian and Robin as children, meeting in the forest for the first time. Marian is a wild thing, born of wood and nature and Robin has a lot to learn from her. I loved Marian in this, but found Robin wanting. The plot was also quite thin. 3/5 stars.
Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan - Another tale of Robin, Will and Marian as children, this one where they speak with an incredibly fancy accent, and take turns trying to outdo one another in shooting. It's fun childish gimmicks, though the writing was wonderful. 3/5 stars.
Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer - Finally a story with Robin as a man, with his band of outlaws surviving in the forest! Ah I have yearned for more tales of such. This one was simple fun. Most of these stories seem to be quite simple, but I really wanted more of this one especially. 3.5/5 stars
The Children's War by Timons Esaias - This tale incorporates a lot of kids in booby-trapping the woods to catch the Sherrif's men. I think I would have enjoyed the sequel to this tale more (where Niam has to go out into the world and spy). 2.5/5 stars
Straight and True by Robert J. Harris - this tale is more like an oral retelling sort of in second person about Robin Hood to "you" by Friar Tuck. It's an interesting framing device, but I'm not sure it was necessary. A lot of this tale is "well, that did happen but its exaggerated" and then proceeds to retell some of the older myths about RH. It's not my favorite story. 2/5 stars
At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno - I actually liked this story quite a lot! Gib is sent off by his dying mother to find the Abbey in Sherwood, persued by his uncle who wants him dead for his land. They capture him but Gib escapes to lock himself in the main chapel. There he finds a secret tunnel full of riches, green garb, and a longbow. He escapes and terrorizes his uncle's men. Gib realizes this is the place Friar Tuck became Abbot of, and he's invited to continue the legend of Robin Hood by the end. This tale was both well written and quite charming. It was super adventurous, full of the original RH daring and trickery. I loved it a lot. 4.5/5 stars.
Robin Hood v 1.5.3 by Adam Stemple - This last tale is "futuristic" story of an AI built in 2007 that acts as Robin Hood. I love a "futuristic" AI tale that's written right around the dawn of the internet. They get so my interesting things wrong in their predictions. This tale is pretty absurd, though. It really reaches hard to make a lot of the original tale work. 2/5
This book mostly features children in it's stories. It's clearly meant for a younger audience. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot when I was 8 (though maybe not understood all of it, seeing as how there's a lot of strong accents!)
Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen - this one feels entirely old school fey; medieval . The midwife speaks with a heavy accent, there are stanzas of old poetry within the narrative, there is a pact made with the ancient elves of the greenwood. I feel like you don't get stories like this anymore. I loved the old wild forest festooned with elven magic imagery. I loved how this is one of the tales that embraces the magic and warnings of the fey wholly. This story revolves around naming the new babe but it is so much more than the surface plot. Still, it was but a glimpse. 3.5/5 stars.
Marian by Maxine Trottier - This was a very sweet story of Marian and Robin as children, meeting in the forest for the first time. Marian is a wild thing, born of wood and nature and Robin has a lot to learn from her. I loved Marian in this, but found Robin wanting. The plot was also quite thin. 3/5 stars.
Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan - Another tale of Robin, Will and Marian as children, this one where they speak with an incredibly fancy accent, and take turns trying to outdo one another in shooting. It's fun childish gimmicks, though the writing was wonderful. 3/5 stars.
Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer - Finally a story with Robin as a man, with his band of outlaws surviving in the forest! Ah I have yearned for more tales of such. This one was simple fun. Most of these stories seem to be quite simple, but I really wanted more of this one especially. 3.5/5 stars
The Children's War by Timons Esaias - This tale incorporates a lot of kids in booby-trapping the woods to catch the Sherrif's men. I think I would have enjoyed the sequel to this tale more (where Niam has to go out into the world and spy). 2.5/5 stars
Straight and True by Robert J. Harris - this tale is more like an oral retelling sort of in second person about Robin Hood to "you" by Friar Tuck. It's an interesting framing device, but I'm not sure it was necessary. A lot of this tale is "well, that did happen but its exaggerated" and then proceeds to retell some of the older myths about RH. It's not my favorite story. 2/5 stars
At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno - I actually liked this story quite a lot! Gib is sent off by his dying mother to find the Abbey in Sherwood, persued by his uncle who wants him dead for his land. They capture him but Gib escapes to lock himself in the main chapel. There he finds a secret tunnel full of riches, green garb, and a longbow. He escapes and terrorizes his uncle's men. Gib realizes this is the place Friar Tuck became Abbot of, and he's invited to continue the legend of Robin Hood by the end. This tale was both well written and quite charming. It was super adventurous, full of the original RH daring and trickery. I loved it a lot. 4.5/5 stars.
Robin Hood v 1.5.3 by Adam Stemple - This last tale is "futuristic" story of an AI built in 2007 that acts as Robin Hood. I love a "futuristic" AI tale that's written right around the dawn of the internet. They get so my interesting things wrong in their predictions. This tale is pretty absurd, though. It really reaches hard to make a lot of the original tale work. 2/5
November 23, 2024
Each story was a delightful read. Each unique, yet holding true to the spirit of the Robin Hood legends.
My favourites were 'Know Your True Enemy' and 'The Children's War' but all of them were well written and enjoyable.
My favourites were 'Know Your True Enemy' and 'The Children's War' but all of them were well written and enjoyable.
August 21, 2015
I admit, this wasn't quite the book I had thought when I first heard of it. I'm a big Robin Hood fan, and I'm always looking for another version of the legend. This anthology was more young adult than I had thought from what I read about it.
However, that doesn't make it bad at all. It was enjoyable, with some very different spins on familiar characters. Each short story also had a gorgeous illustration. I enjoyed the writing.
Among the many stories are Robin and Marian's first meeting, Friar Tuck telling a tale about Robin, a very modern version of the tale, and a focus on Will Scarlet. Oddly, for a Robin anthology, there isn't really a Little John story, which I kept expecting up till I finished.
Recommended for younger readers, or any real serious Robin Hood fan, like me.
However, that doesn't make it bad at all. It was enjoyable, with some very different spins on familiar characters. Each short story also had a gorgeous illustration. I enjoyed the writing.
Among the many stories are Robin and Marian's first meeting, Friar Tuck telling a tale about Robin, a very modern version of the tale, and a focus on Will Scarlet. Oddly, for a Robin anthology, there isn't really a Little John story, which I kept expecting up till I finished.
Recommended for younger readers, or any real serious Robin Hood fan, like me.
March 31, 2015
Good, but nothing really jumped off the pages for me. A nice, quick little read for robin hood fans, but I seriously doubt other readers well be to entertained. I liked the one about robin and Marian meeting as kids and the story about the sheriff's son tod.(I'm almost certain the author of that story, Nancy springer, used part of the plot of her rowan hood novel "wildboy" to help with it.)
I didn't like story called "under the bending yes." It was too difficult to read. And the last one where robin hood was a computer virus, was just stupid. Thats not an original story. That was already done in "the Sherwood game" and I liked that book a lot better than this one.
I didn't like story called "under the bending yes." It was too difficult to read. And the last one where robin hood was a computer virus, was just stupid. Thats not an original story. That was already done in "the Sherwood game" and I liked that book a lot better than this one.
October 1, 2022
I came across this book by chance when trying to find Nancy Springer's Rowan Hood books at the library. I was excited to read a bunch of short stories dealing with Robin Hood (as, really, the original tales are just that--a bunch of different tales). However, upon reading Nancy Springer's contribution, it makes me question how many of this stories are just pulled from a larger story versus what is truly just a short story. Not to say they don't all work as short stories, as they do, but the two I would love to read more of don't seem to exist in longer form... All I want to know are which are modified excerpts and which are stand alone pieces.
Our Lady of the Greenwood - Jane Yolen: 3.5 stars
I love what I've read of Jane Yolen, and this wasn't a bad story by any means, but... Childbirth scares me and I didn't enjoy reading about it. Not that it's super graphic, but one line of description just made me shudder. Ignoring the childbirth, though, this does a great job at setting up a mythical origin for Robin Hood, getting the fae involved. It feels natural without feeling predictable, which is great for an origin story.
Marian - Maxine Trottier: 4 stars
Then we have the opposite, of Robin having no special connection to the forest but instead learning everything from Marian. It's an interesting take and Marian was a fun character to read about. It did make me realize I prefer at least a little bit of a natural connection to the forest for Robin, but that's just personal preference. It was a fun origin story, though.
Under the Bending Yew - Anna Kirwan: 2 stars
Whenever a story has a distinct voice, it can take me a couple pages to really get into it/understand it. This being a short story, I don't feel like I had time for that to happen. As such, I just didn't enjoy it as much. Also, I'm writing all of the individual story reviews after finishing the whole book, and I don't recall this story at all outside of having a hard time reading it. So, it's the most forgettable of the lot. Skimming through it, it is fun that they all seem to be childhood friends.
Know Your True Enemy - Nancy Springer: 4 stars
I've read the book this short story is an excerpt from, but it works really well as a short story. It's modified to take out everything from the series except Rafe and the Sherriff's son. The events are the same, just slightly modified, but it works very well as a short story. It doesn't feel rushed even though big character changes are happening. As for the story itself, I love the way Robin Hood and his men are portrayed, while Rafe is there for the emotional core.
The Children's War - Timons Esaias: 3 stars
I'm neutral on this story. It's an interesting take, of Robin Hood's band aging and the next generation starting to follow in their ways but not all of the parents being happy about this. So, not bad, but ultimately uninteresting to me.
Straight and True - Robert J. Harris: 4 stars
If this was a full book, I would read it. This is a fun style of telling a Robin Hood tale, of somebody else telling a story about him. The setup for the tale was fun, and I enjoyed how the events unfolded. The ending especially got me, as I was expecting one thing and then ended up fooled but happier for it.
At Fountain Abbey - Mary Frances Zambreno: 4 stars
I would also read a full book of this story. It's sad, in that it takes place after Robin's death, but Gib was an easy character to attach to and I really want to know what happened to him after this. It's a great setup for a bigger story. I also like how slowly the mystery unraveled and I enjoyed the answers themselves. There's plenty of tension to keep one reading, as well.
Robin Hood v. 1.5.3 - Adam Stemple: 3 stars
I can't say I liked this one, but it was very creative. The further I got, the more it felt like it was written as a joke--which do make me enjoy it more, once in that mindset. Basically, Robin Hood is a rogue A.I. nobody can stop, and... that's it.
Overall, I think this is a great collection of Robin Hood stories. They have a wide variety of range and take place over different time periods in Robin's life and even after. If you're not sure where to start with Robin Hood retellings, I think this can help narrow down what you might enjoy. It helped me some, in knowing what I want to include when I attempt writing my own Robin Hood retelling.
So, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but that's always how it is for short story collections. My only real complaint about this book is that there is no way to know what's a book excerpt versus what's a short story.
Our Lady of the Greenwood - Jane Yolen: 3.5 stars
I love what I've read of Jane Yolen, and this wasn't a bad story by any means, but... Childbirth scares me and I didn't enjoy reading about it. Not that it's super graphic, but one line of description just made me shudder. Ignoring the childbirth, though, this does a great job at setting up a mythical origin for Robin Hood, getting the fae involved. It feels natural without feeling predictable, which is great for an origin story.
Marian - Maxine Trottier: 4 stars
Then we have the opposite, of Robin having no special connection to the forest but instead learning everything from Marian. It's an interesting take and Marian was a fun character to read about. It did make me realize I prefer at least a little bit of a natural connection to the forest for Robin, but that's just personal preference. It was a fun origin story, though.
Under the Bending Yew - Anna Kirwan: 2 stars
Whenever a story has a distinct voice, it can take me a couple pages to really get into it/understand it. This being a short story, I don't feel like I had time for that to happen. As such, I just didn't enjoy it as much. Also, I'm writing all of the individual story reviews after finishing the whole book, and I don't recall this story at all outside of having a hard time reading it. So, it's the most forgettable of the lot. Skimming through it, it is fun that they all seem to be childhood friends.
Know Your True Enemy - Nancy Springer: 4 stars
I've read the book this short story is an excerpt from, but it works really well as a short story. It's modified to take out everything from the series except Rafe and the Sherriff's son. The events are the same, just slightly modified, but it works very well as a short story. It doesn't feel rushed even though big character changes are happening. As for the story itself, I love the way Robin Hood and his men are portrayed, while Rafe is there for the emotional core.
The Children's War - Timons Esaias: 3 stars
I'm neutral on this story. It's an interesting take, of Robin Hood's band aging and the next generation starting to follow in their ways but not all of the parents being happy about this. So, not bad, but ultimately uninteresting to me.
Straight and True - Robert J. Harris: 4 stars
If this was a full book, I would read it. This is a fun style of telling a Robin Hood tale, of somebody else telling a story about him. The setup for the tale was fun, and I enjoyed how the events unfolded. The ending especially got me, as I was expecting one thing and then ended up fooled but happier for it.
At Fountain Abbey - Mary Frances Zambreno: 4 stars
I would also read a full book of this story. It's sad, in that it takes place after Robin's death, but Gib was an easy character to attach to and I really want to know what happened to him after this. It's a great setup for a bigger story. I also like how slowly the mystery unraveled and I enjoyed the answers themselves. There's plenty of tension to keep one reading, as well.
Robin Hood v. 1.5.3 - Adam Stemple: 3 stars
I can't say I liked this one, but it was very creative. The further I got, the more it felt like it was written as a joke--which do make me enjoy it more, once in that mindset. Basically, Robin Hood is a rogue A.I. nobody can stop, and... that's it.
Overall, I think this is a great collection of Robin Hood stories. They have a wide variety of range and take place over different time periods in Robin's life and even after. If you're not sure where to start with Robin Hood retellings, I think this can help narrow down what you might enjoy. It helped me some, in knowing what I want to include when I attempt writing my own Robin Hood retelling.
So, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but that's always how it is for short story collections. My only real complaint about this book is that there is no way to know what's a book excerpt versus what's a short story.
October 22, 2014
Sherwood edited by Jane Yolen
Welcome to Sherwood Forest by Jane Yolen
1 Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen
2 Marian by Maxine Trottier
3 Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan
4 Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer
5 The Children's War by Timons Esaias
6 Straight and True by Robert J. Harris
7 At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno
8 Robin Hood v 1.5.3 by Adam Stemple
About the Authors
1 Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen - Midwife Mag is bid by Lady Margaret to carry her first "born by midnight, christened by noon" p 7 to the forest fairy Folk for naming by the Lady of the Greenwood. At the last minute, a robin flies into the charmed circle where she waits. "What better name than this? .. For a child who would be brave and true. The Lady of the Greenwood has sent thee thy name, child" p 16.
definition: p 12 campanula = bellflower
2 Marian by Maxine Trottier - Marian Fitzwalter 10 "tall and slim as the bow she carelessly slung over her shoulder" p 24, meets Robin of Locksley "a boy .. his serious face beneath the smudges and scratches" p 23. The rich castle girl and poor "son of a forester" p 26 spend the night exploring the forest, secret places. "And from that day on, Sherwood Forest was a merry place indeed" p 34.
3 Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan - The narrator turns out to be Robin Hood admiring Marion, outwitting his slightly older nephew, richer, boastful, contesting to escort the girl to a pageant. "For all his puffed-up talk, he's none foolish, Will Gamwell" p 45. Will's arrow does skewer her "waving tag of scarlet ribbon" p 45 on a holly branch
4 Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer - Rafe burns for revenge, his father killed in a man-trap by the sheriff. The outlaws rescue the sheriff's son Tod, caught in a man-trap, his "narrow shoulders striped with welts, his bony ribs mottled with fresh dark bruises" from his own father "to toughen" the lad. The sheriff catches Little John, orders his men to shoot Tod dead rather than exchange hostages p 61. Finally Rafe recognizes his true enemy
5 The Children's War by Timons Esaias - Niam is angry at his father John Weaver, for packing up the family, "the first .. to leave Sherwood and go back into the world again" p 81. His mother slashes open his arm, then binds the wound. The other children jeer, bully. The lad had expected his invention to be lauded by all. With pal Lewis, he mounted 16 crossbows across the shelves of an old pie cart to shoot all at once against the enemy replacing a single shot. Will Scarlet asks a "boon" p 80
6 Straight and True by Robert J. Harris - Friar Tuck tells "an exploit none of the rest of us witnessed" p 87 "no wise embellished or exaggerated" p 92. After Robin stuffs the fat purse of a rich merchant into his belt, killer Bull Cutler and three of his "bearded, unwashed crew whose vicious smiles exposed rows of yellow rotted teeth" p 93 agree to let Robin live if his arrow can pierce both a diving hawk and dove target. "Robin did not suppose for a moment that he would keep his word" p 96. "If you would be doubly blessed, then pass me that tankard of ale" p 99
7 At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno - Gib 13 obeys his dying mother's last request, and flees his greedy uncle who wants to inherit. To Brother Mitchell, Lord Richard brandishes a fake signed confession witnessed by his own chaplain, claiming a passing minstrel fathered the lad. Gib bars himself inside a small chapel.
The Baron gives the Abott "until dawn to pray .. then, we'll break down the door. In the meanwhile, I want this place guarded so that not even a mouse could slip past" p 110. In a dream, a man dressed in leather "blue eyes like the summer sky .. grinned so infectiously .. pointing at the altar" p 111. Gib's "fingers traced an inscription -- Mathew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; knock, and it shall be opened" p 112.
Welcome to Sherwood Forest by Jane Yolen
1 Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen
2 Marian by Maxine Trottier
3 Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan
4 Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer
5 The Children's War by Timons Esaias
6 Straight and True by Robert J. Harris
7 At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno
8 Robin Hood v 1.5.3 by Adam Stemple
About the Authors
1 Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen - Midwife Mag is bid by Lady Margaret to carry her first "born by midnight, christened by noon" p 7 to the forest fairy Folk for naming by the Lady of the Greenwood. At the last minute, a robin flies into the charmed circle where she waits. "What better name than this? .. For a child who would be brave and true. The Lady of the Greenwood has sent thee thy name, child" p 16.
definition: p 12 campanula = bellflower
2 Marian by Maxine Trottier - Marian Fitzwalter 10 "tall and slim as the bow she carelessly slung over her shoulder" p 24, meets Robin of Locksley "a boy .. his serious face beneath the smudges and scratches" p 23. The rich castle girl and poor "son of a forester" p 26 spend the night exploring the forest, secret places. "And from that day on, Sherwood Forest was a merry place indeed" p 34.
3 Under the Bending Yew by Annja Kirwan - The narrator turns out to be Robin Hood admiring Marion, outwitting his slightly older nephew, richer, boastful, contesting to escort the girl to a pageant. "For all his puffed-up talk, he's none foolish, Will Gamwell" p 45. Will's arrow does skewer her "waving tag of scarlet ribbon" p 45 on a holly branch
4 Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer - Rafe burns for revenge, his father killed in a man-trap by the sheriff. The outlaws rescue the sheriff's son Tod, caught in a man-trap, his "narrow shoulders striped with welts, his bony ribs mottled with fresh dark bruises" from his own father "to toughen" the lad. The sheriff catches Little John, orders his men to shoot Tod dead rather than exchange hostages p 61. Finally Rafe recognizes his true enemy
5 The Children's War by Timons Esaias - Niam is angry at his father John Weaver, for packing up the family, "the first .. to leave Sherwood and go back into the world again" p 81. His mother slashes open his arm, then binds the wound. The other children jeer, bully. The lad had expected his invention to be lauded by all. With pal Lewis, he mounted 16 crossbows across the shelves of an old pie cart to shoot all at once against the enemy replacing a single shot. Will Scarlet asks a "boon" p 80
6 Straight and True by Robert J. Harris - Friar Tuck tells "an exploit none of the rest of us witnessed" p 87 "no wise embellished or exaggerated" p 92. After Robin stuffs the fat purse of a rich merchant into his belt, killer Bull Cutler and three of his "bearded, unwashed crew whose vicious smiles exposed rows of yellow rotted teeth" p 93 agree to let Robin live if his arrow can pierce both a diving hawk and dove target. "Robin did not suppose for a moment that he would keep his word" p 96. "If you would be doubly blessed, then pass me that tankard of ale" p 99
7 At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno - Gib 13 obeys his dying mother's last request, and flees his greedy uncle who wants to inherit. To Brother Mitchell, Lord Richard brandishes a fake signed confession witnessed by his own chaplain, claiming a passing minstrel fathered the lad. Gib bars himself inside a small chapel.
The Baron gives the Abott "until dawn to pray .. then, we'll break down the door. In the meanwhile, I want this place guarded so that not even a mouse could slip past" p 110. In a dream, a man dressed in leather "blue eyes like the summer sky .. grinned so infectiously .. pointing at the altar" p 111. Gib's "fingers traced an inscription -- Mathew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; knock, and it shall be opened" p 112.
January 23, 2025
3.5 stars
This is a good little Robin Hood anthology for young readers (young middle-schoolers).
I enjoyed most of the stories included. My favorites were:
Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen, which reads like a fairytale of how Robin of Locksley got his name. Marian by Maxine Trottier, in which Robin and Marian meet in the woods as children. It (like Marian) is feminist and wild and sweet. Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer, where we meet Robin as an adult, as the moral and righteous protector of a beaten boy . Straight and True by Robert J. Harris, was a fun read from Friar Tuck's perspective as he tells "us" stories of Robin Hood. And At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno, in which a young boy on the run takes up the mantel of Robin Hood two generations later.
(Liking 5 out of the 8 stories is a pretty good ratio. Not bad!)
This is a good little Robin Hood anthology for young readers (young middle-schoolers).
I enjoyed most of the stories included. My favorites were:
Our Lady of the Greenwood by Jane Yolen, which reads like a fairytale of how Robin of Locksley got his name. Marian by Maxine Trottier, in which Robin and Marian meet in the woods as children. It (like Marian) is feminist and wild and sweet. Know Your True Enemy by Nancy Springer, where we meet Robin as an adult, as the moral and righteous protector of a beaten boy . Straight and True by Robert J. Harris, was a fun read from Friar Tuck's perspective as he tells "us" stories of Robin Hood. And At Fountain Abbey by Mary France Zambreno, in which a young boy on the run takes up the mantel of Robin Hood two generations later.
(Liking 5 out of the 8 stories is a pretty good ratio. Not bad!)
October 27, 2024
Ah Robin Hood, my first love. Thanks to the foxy Disney hero and then the sultry BBC Robin of Sherwood series, I imprinted on the whole merry gang at a young age. To be as jolly but lethal as friar tuck, as beloved as Much, as sturdy as Scarlet, as kindly as John, as gifted as Robin, as lovely as Marian! Plus, I was in love with the forest-- that fae- haunted liminal space.
This collection does the Robin Hood romance justice. The stories are from many authors with their own insights-- we meet Marian as a wild tree climbing child and Robin as an AI in the future. We see the sleazy Sheriff and the good friars.
Lovely little collection of love songs to Robin of the Hood.
This collection does the Robin Hood romance justice. The stories are from many authors with their own insights-- we meet Marian as a wild tree climbing child and Robin as an AI in the future. We see the sleazy Sheriff and the good friars.
Lovely little collection of love songs to Robin of the Hood.
January 2, 2022
Actually closer to 2.5. This is a rather weak entry as an anthology of Robin Hood stories. Ideally, an anthology piques your interest in some of the authors, leading you to read more of their work. It should also give you various viewpoints on the subject. This book did the latter, but the nebulous nature of the Robin Hood legend means that the short stories, although chronological, seem disjointed. The last story, set in a future where computers can be used for robinhooding, was probably the most interesting.
Considering that I am a big fan of Jane Yolen's work (she serves as the editor), and her name was the reason I picked up this book, it was a disappointment.
Considering that I am a big fan of Jane Yolen's work (she serves as the editor), and her name was the reason I picked up this book, it was a disappointment.
April 11, 2020
Very enjoyable stories of Robin Hood and takes on the Robin Hood theme. I have not enjoyed a collection of short stories so much (for pure adventure's sake) in a long time. It took me back to the joy of discovering Robin Hood in Howard Pyle's classic telling of his tales.
December 2, 2020
4.5 stars
August 3, 2021
Turtle: great! Return to library.
April 30, 2023
Like every other short story collection I've read, some were great, and some not so. But as a lifelong Robin Hood devotee, it was a pleasant diversion.
June 28, 2023
Very lovely
October 9, 2025
A neat little collection of Robin Hood type stories, though none really focused on the man himself during his most famous days.
January 5, 2016
An interesting set of stories around Robin Hood. Although the cover depicts (Robin Hood?) aiming a fiery arrow, the first two stories are actually feminist in nature so I'm not sure what the target audience for this book is other than youth. After those first two stories, I sure don't blame my older boys for refusing to try this book -- they definitely wouldn't have gotten past them.
I was glad for the introduction, in which Jane Yolen reminds us it's perfectly fine to reinterpret, add to, and change the classic story to something you like more, or to make a point. After all, people have been doing just that for centuries! There wasn't a single story that wasn't worth my time. I'm glad my one year old just happened to pull this off the library shelf.
I was glad for the introduction, in which Jane Yolen reminds us it's perfectly fine to reinterpret, add to, and change the classic story to something you like more, or to make a point. After all, people have been doing just that for centuries! There wasn't a single story that wasn't worth my time. I'm glad my one year old just happened to pull this off the library shelf.
Read
June 28, 2007A good little collection of stories. I'm a big fan of both Robin Hood and free adaptation, so I liked this. It makes you feel the writers' equal to know they haven't got any more authority than you do; it's like sharing. My favorite part was the thoughtful forward by the editor in which she explains how she first met Robin Hood in Howard Pyle's classic version and then subsequently encountered others. "Did it bother me that later on I would read stories that were tremendously different from the ones in this first book? It did not. . . . I was always delighted to discover new versions, and I read them with an understanding that story--like gossip--changes in the mouth of the teller."
April 14, 2007
Like any anthology, a mixed bag. Of the eight stories in this collection, "Marion" and "Know Your True Enemy" stand out from the bunch. The rest are okay and it's nice to see some new Robin Hood stories. I can't say that this anthology held any superior stories, though, and I think it was hindered that it was geared towards children and not adults.
December 19, 2007
A very short book with short stories. There was one good story in it "Know your true enemy", but imo the rest were not really worth reading. Some of them were really easy to read, another was hard to understand with the speakers using heavy accents, and the last one made robin hood a computer virus, which could have been cool but the ending was unfinished.
September 5, 2017
The five stars I gave this book resulted mostly from the last story. This book is a collection of stories about or related to Robin Hood; some are good, some are just okay, and some are great. The one I will always remember, however, is the last story. This takes Robin Hood into the 21st century, into the world of computers and Swiss banks. This is truly an amazing story. Highly recommended!!!
September 9, 2010
This was a cool book! Each chapter is written by a different author and is a different little "one shot" (to use a fanfic term) of Robin Hood. They're from all different perspectives, some more "practical" than others. All were well written and a delight to read.
April 5, 2011
This is definitely one of the better Robin Hood books out there. The stories were novel and refreshing, and all featured different characters and flavors of writing. My only complaint is that the stories were too short --- I wanted them to keep going on and on and on!
October 31, 2015
"Thou art no match for me, Sheriff! I could defeat thee with a gigabyte tied behind my back," cried the computer. "Nay, two! Wouldst thou meet on the field of battle? Ha! There goes thy house! Thy car! Thy credit!"
January 9, 2010
These are feisty, fun, and sweet -- just what good folk tales should be.
September 10, 2012
waste of time
October 15, 2015
This wasn't what I expected - a lot of the stories are narrated by someone who's not from the original stories - but it's cute.
June 30, 2016
A nice collection of short stories; "Marian" and "Know Your Enemy" were the best ones. I have been trying to write a Robin Hood/style story for a long time...great to find some inspiration.
December 22, 2015
Feb 17, 2011 review: http://nairamofsherwood.blogspot.com/...
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