Bibliographical information:

McKinley, Robin. The Hero and the Crown. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1984.

McKinley, Robin. The Hero and the Crown. 1984. New York: Penguin, 2002.

1985 Newberry Medal

Brief summary:

Though Aerin's father is the king of Damar, Aerin feels at odds with the court. Rumors that her mother bewitched her father into marrying her, then died with despair because Aerin was a daughter, not a son, hang over her, and to make matters worse she is clumsy and seems to lack the magical Gift that most of Damar's royalty have. Not interested in fashion and flirtation, she'd rather practice swordplay, ride horses, and develop a fire-proofing ointment that will allow her to fight dragons. She learns, however, that the dragons that menace Damar have been sent by a more dangerous force, and that she may be the only person who can defeat it.

Comments:

This is a very good read. Aerin is an engaging hero, and her adventures are exciting and entertaining. I found McKinley's descriptions of Aerin's painful recovery from injuries interesting--they made Aerin seem more real, without jarring against the magic of her world.

Ages:

Grades 5 and up

Cautions:

If you like this book, you might also like . . .

Robin McKinley, The Blue Sword

--Lisa Gordis

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