The
adventure starts again with the next trip into history for twins Joe and
Jemima, their best friend and neighbour Charlie, and their talking Tonkinese
cat Max. The twins are determined to find their parents, who are not dead, as
everyone assumes, but merely lost in the pages of history. With the help of
their ancient book and a magic key to open it, the kids have had quite a few
forays back into some of history’s most significant and dangerous moments. This
adventure is no less hazardous but the kids are up to it and Max, who totally
eschews danger, violence and in fact anything uncomfortable, is not going to
let Jemima get into trouble without him by her side to rescue her. The kids
live with their Uncle Richard, a scholarly man who really needs a girlfriend.
Things have been developing in the romance department between Uncle Richard and
Charlie’s mum Ellen. Their relationship has progressed to the point of a family
holiday in Normandy, France. Any history buff who knows their dates will think
of 1066, the Battle of Hastings, King Harold, William the Conqueror, and the
Bayeux tapestry. Well, that’s exactly
what the kids thought and that’s where they went in The Shadow of the Norman Arrow.
This
time, however, Max is prepared for any danger or feats of derring-do he might
be required to perform. He insists on wearing his chain mail and horned helmet
especially made for him by the blacksmith in Camelot on their last adventure
(The Shadow of Camelot). Will they be welcomed by King Harold and his men or
will they be considered Norman spies, especially since, when questioned, the
young strangers and their weirdly dressed animal seem to know far too much
about events taking place right there and then, and even about the king’s
family members? Events unfold filled with the kind of stuff young readers will
love. The kids enter a forest to kill a dragon and bring back its blood
(renowned for magical properties) for King Harold. Instead they meet a nadder
(that’s right, not an adder; a nadder) and some wonderful word play ensues.
There are a few heart stopping moments and some very scary moments as the story
unfolds. I enjoyed how the kids saw their home city changed into what it would
have looked like so many centuries ago and also the names of places and how
these had changed, although not so much as to be unrecognisable. Charlie really
shines in this tale because of his interest in history, and sometimes being a
swot or know-it-all is very useful.
Once
again author Wendy Leighton-Porter infuses historical facts with realism and a sense
of ‘now’ for young readers. History can be cruel and many times was, but she
does not shy away from hardships, decisions, warfare, and the kinds of things
we, as modern readers, only discover in the pages of a book. One wonders how
things would have turned out if the other side had won, if something had turned
the tide in an event, and the kids learn once more that one cannot tweak
history to make any changes. The title of the book, The Shadow of the Norman Arrow, is
significant in relation to the death of King Harold on the battlefield and I
enjoyed that subtle reference. History comes alive under the author’s skilled
pen and any young reader will be drawn right into the magicality of history
populated by characters that are not dry as dust mentions or mere names in the
pages of a boring book, but are real people with dreams and ambitions.
For
anyone who has seen the Bayeux tapestry, they may or may not have noticed a
strange heraldic looking beast among the characters featured; an animal
actually, rather resembling Max wearing chain mail and a helmet …
 |
| Could that possibly be Max in the bottom left hand image? |
If
you’re looking for more adventures, then please visit The Quest Books, where
Middle Grade authors Cheryl Carpinello, Wendy Leighton-Porter and I have
teamed up to offer readers an array of exciting quests. Sign up for our monthly
newsletter with exciting exclusive material and get your choice of any e-book
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