The Legend of Robin Goodfellow recounts the coming-of-age of the beloved character from English folklore as he struggles to come to terms with who he is. Growing up on the fringes of a 12th century English manor, Robin is the only child of the local “wise woman,” and an outcast. After his mother dies, he is left at the mercy of his superstitious neighbors. He survives by grinding grain for the villagers by night, in return for treats left on their windowsills. This illegal activity draws the ire of the baron, who has a monopoly on milling. As Robin's legend continues to grow, the baron deems him a threat and declares him an outlaw. Seeking sanctuary in the church, Robin is visited there by the lady of the manor, who begs him to rescue her son from his abusive guardian. Now it falls to Robin, with the help of his friend Kit, to liberate the manor from the baron’s oppressive rule.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Robin Goodfellow is both a legend and a boy, destined to search for where he belongs as the son of a wise woman. It turns out that he is also the son of the Elvish King, and must resist being caught by the evil and ruthless Baron Drogo de Malodeur. The Legend of Robin Goodfellow offers a twist on the source material that is equal parts poignant and cheeky.
Prose: The Legend of Robin Goodfellow is a pleasure to fall into, buoyed by consistently fine writing.
Originality: While this novel hits its coming-of-age marks, the story gets an exciting twist by centering on folk legend Robin Goodfellow.
Character/Execution: Robin Goodfellow has been fully formed for centuries, but Cricket adds layers of humanity that make the character spring to life.
Date Submitted: August 22, 2024
On his surprise return, Robin discovers that his mother’s health is ailing. Soon, bereft, Robin returns to the woods that debut author Cricket describes with era-appropriate awe and mystery—“the old trees keep what they know to themselves.” Robin is heartsick, believing his mother’s spirit now inhabits a bird, and soon encounters three fairies, whom he endeavors to trick into telling him who his father is. Debut author Cricket excels at fae play, at riddling logic, and at magic moments like Robin worrying, as he peers into “the wavy moonlit water,” that he sees “ not the eyes of a boy at all, but of some creature a thousand years old”.
The plot turns on Robin helping the villagers against a cruel baron, despite his belief that they don’t care a “fig” for the Witch’s Boy. But what lingers is this world. In clear, brisk prose, The Legend of Robin Goodfellow exults in a world of magic circles, “blurry mist”s, fairy tricks, and the conflict between paganism and the cosmology of the village’s Father Tom, who warns Robin that without prayer Mam may languish in Purgatory.
Takeaway: A healer’s shunned son must save the village in 12th Century England.
Comparable Titles: Pat Walsh’s Crowfield Abbey series; Donna Jo Napoli’s Breath.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B
"Cricket’s lighthearted novel of magic for tweens and teens looks at the humble beginnings of a famous figure of English mythology... A charming origin story for young readers and lovers of folktales." — Kirkus Reviews
