Review: Will in Scarlet

By Matthew Cody
Available now from Knopf BFYR (Penguin Random House)
Review copy
Read my review of Super

I enjoy fairytales and folklore retold, so of course I'm a fan of the Robin Hood legend.  Luckily, people retell it all the time.  (See current Robin Hood books SCARLET and LADY THIEF by A.C. Gaughen.)

Matthew Cody's WILL IN SCARLET takes several liberties with the legend, to good effect.  It doesn't just feel like a checking off of rote setpieces.  The eponymous Will is actually William Shackley, a noble heir displaced by the machinations of Guy of Gisbourne.  The first bit, about Will's backstory, goes on a bit too long.  It is good for getting to know Will and his skills, however.

Things really get going when Will comes across the Merry Men - but not as we know them.  Some dude named Gilbert is in charge and Rob is a drunkard in a tent claiming to be a good fighter.  The revelation of Rob's abilities will surprise no one, but the hints of his backstory are curious.  Something went horribly awry with this Rob and Maid Marian, to the point that her name is verboten.  I can only hope that there's a sequel and that she appears.

It is a bit of a tradition for modern Robin Hood retellings to have a crossdresser in order to up the female quotient.  In this case, Much the miller's son is actually the miller's daughter.  She wants to help Will, but not at the cost of her own secrets or her life.  Honestly, it's very reasonable of her.  Meanwhile, Will is struggling with his desire for revenge.

WILL IN SCARLET is a retelling that doesn't tread to closely to the original, but still contains the important elements.  There's plenty of contrast between the lives of the nobles and the peasants, which Will does note.  His time with the bandits, unsheltered, just might allow him to implement real changes if he regains his rightful place.  There is quite a bit of fighting and some death, which might push WILL IN SCARLET towards the upper end of middle grade.  Much and Will's relationship hints at attraction, but there is no romance.

I felt that WILL IN SCARLET had a fairly open ending, and thus think it might not be a standalone.  The Merry Men's first clash with the law comes to a conclusion, but I think there's plenty of meat for a sequel.  I know I'll read it if there is one.

Review: Super

Sequel to POWERLESS
By Matthew Cody
Available now from Knopf (Random House)
Review copy

I love superhero stories, and POWERLESS stood out from the pack to me because of it's brutal first chapter.  Michael's whole life is flying, until he wakes up without his powers or memories, never to fly again.  That's been the fate of the children of Noble's Green for centuries.  Many of them have a superpower, but they lose it and all memory of it on their thirteenth birthday.  Then Daniel Corrigan came to town and helped the Supers find and defeat the culprit.

But something has happened, and the Supers are again losing their powers.  Temporarily, but who knows when they'll be gone forever?  Meanwhile, Daniel is showing evidence of developing powers and the grandnephew of their nemesis the Shroud has come to town.  He's obviously the number one suspect, but Daniel's worried things aren't so simple.

In addition to having a fast and fun storyline, the morality of SUPER is not black and white.  Who deserves power?  Who can decide whether or not someone deserves power?  Daniel may want to help his friends, but some of the super-powered kids aren't as nice or altruistic.  If the local bully didn't have super strength, that would be a good thing.  But would it just stop there?

I liked that there isn't much romance, since the main characters are younger teens.  (They're maybe fourteen during SUPER.)  There are hints of crushes and a quick kiss, but nothing more.  There are a lot of friendships that cross gender lines, which is nice to see.  Molly, a flyer, is one of the toughest characters and always ready to defend her friends.  And Daniel is a good protagonist for the series, since he has no powers - just the ability to think things through and use his head.

I do recommend starting with POWERLESS, since SUPER deals with the fallout from the first book.  Both tell complete stories, however.  Each book has a definite end and can stand on its own if need be.  I'd be happy to read another Noble's Green novel, but SUPER does not require a sequel.  This series is a good choice for kids who love superheroes and are looking for a good read that isn't a graphic novel.