What worked:
Ash and Splinter each face challenging expectations from the
kingdom. Ash returns from six years of education in a small village to disgruntled
and disrespectful comments from nobles and members of the court. They think she
lacks the qualities of a princess, is an embarrassment, and is out of
touch with how life among nobles should be. Her brother even says she should
go away. Ash’s crippled walk only lowers their thoughts about her. Splinter
dreams of becoming a squire, a knight, and a hero but prospects for girls are
limited. Ash asks her to be her squire but Splinter’s teachers are skeptical of
her abilities and the other squires tease and laugh at her. The queen is leery
of accepting a female squire and Ash must use all of her persuasive talents to
change her mother’s mind. Splinter knows everyone is against her success but
she refuses to leave Ash’s side.
The author includes a couple of twists and turns, adding
intrigue to the plot. Chapters alternate between Ash and Splinter and the first
half of the book mostly describes their challenges adjusting to life in the
castle. The country is being invaded from the north and there are fears some
members of the queen’s court are disloyal. The queen asks her daughter to spy
on a noble family suspected of traitorous activities. Ash’s kidnapping is
unexpected but the reason behind it is shocking. Splinter’s rocky relationship
with the other squires reaches a breaking point with dramatic consequences. She
forms a highly improbable alliance with an enemy as they team up to rescue Ash.
Underlying the whole story is a growing unrest among the
citizens and nobles. The nobles are disgruntled that the queen doesn’t favor
them enough while the people living outside the capital city think she has
turned her back on them. Ash’s time living away from the castle has given her
an appreciation for the commoners and a lack of empathy for the entitled. She’s
learned how to work with her hands and has interests that might not be
considered suitable for a princess. Her difficulty walking has made her tough
and she refuses to show any signs of being dependent on others. Young readers will
admire her kind heart, loyalty, and determination.
What didn’t work as well:
The question of Splinter’s gender comes up throughout the book but
the choice of pronouns used may confuse some readers. Splinter says she’s not a
girl but she’s also not a boy. However, the story continues to use the pronouns
she and her when talking about Splinter. Using those pronouns isn’t terrible
but they may puzzle readers when Splinter tells other characters she’s not a
girl.
The final verdict:
The author creates a captivating story of the friendship between
Ash and Splinter but it morphs into an adventure to save the kingdom. Ash must
learn to exist amid the politics surrounding the crown while Splinter battles
prejudice from her fellow squires and citizens wanting to return to the old
ways. Overall, the book is exciting and engaging and I highly recommend you
give it a shot.
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