My review for the first Robin Hood book was glowing, and not only has lightning struck twice, but I find it hard to believe it will stop striking in the future instalments. I would encourage you to first read that review before going into this one to avoid too many spoilers.
Three months ago, 12-year-old Robin Hood’s father was framed for a crime and arrested for daring to criticize mob boss Guy Gisborne and the corrupt sheriff, Marjorie Kojavecic. Robin and his older brother John were separated, and while John eventually found himself in the actually embracing hands of Marjorie, who it turns out is his real mother, Robin found himself at this abandoned (well, sort of abandoned) shopping mall where a man named Will Scarlock has set it up as a community, of those living off the grid and rebelling against the establishment.
Robin was able to steal over 100,000 pounds in the middle of a police riot, and prevented two corrupt cops from arresting, and possibly injuring or killing some of the protestors. He’s now a legend, loved by most and hated by some. Sheriff Marjorie has this yearly event that allows her special guests and donors to go all Hunger Games and track down and shoot innocent animals in this forestrial dome. Robin believes he could maybe figure out how to get into Marjorie and Gisborne’s main information servers. And that’s all I’ll reveal for now in this second part of Robin’s journey.
In the last book, I had a slight problem with too many short chapters. The format is still here, but I guess maybe because things are more established now in this second book, or the different points of view are more intertwined and fascinating, I didn’t mind it as much.
And honestly, I can’t really think of any criticisms. I was happy in the last book that a lot was left hanging for future instalments, and this one does the same thing while satisfying us with what is able to get done. After all, that’s what life is like, right? Robin’s broken family still has a lot of bad stuff happening, but a little bit of progress is made. Someone we met in the first book goes missing. Robin pulls things off, with a few traps he doesn’t see coming. The rebel community feels even more established. And the book does all of these hijinks while always having the feeling of either too much glamour when we’re in John’s shoes, or muckiness when we’re in Robin’s. Plus, as kid’s books should be, it’s not overwhelmingly long. There’s just enough here for a satisfying entry, and not so much that we don’t want to continue on with the numerous other books. There’s plenty more to happen.
If you’re looking for a book series for your kid or even for you, that is easy to read, pulls you in immediately, and has characters being realistic badasses, I can’t think of a suggestion better than Muchamore’s Robin Hood books.
My grade: 5 stars out of 5
William J. McGinn 
Leave a comment