by Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem & Pat van Biers (translated by John Nieuwenhuizen)
Allen and Unwin, Young Adult, History, paperback rrp $17.99
With a Sword in My Hand tells the story of Marguerite Van Male, fourteen-year-old heiress to the County of Flanders. It is a rich historical narrative of 13th century France with Marguerite’s life dictated by the demands of church versus state, county and castle politics and the arrival of The Plague.
Marguerite’s life isn’t easy despite her privileged position in society. Her mother, suffering the mental and physical strain of failing to produce a male heir, has been sent to rest in a Convent. Marguerite is left in the castle, with her governess and a father who has little patience for the daughter whose birth he sees as the beginning of his bad luck.
Marguerite doesn’t want to be a princess, learning embroidery with her ladies. She is bold, brave and adventurous, roaming the fields playing pranks with the boys and secretly learning to use a sword. Her father becomes increasingly frustrated by his daughter’s wilful behaviour and arranges a marriage to Prince Edward of England. Marguerite refuses to do as she is told and conspires to arrange a marriage of her own choosing.
Father and daughter stand against each other, sword in hand. Ironically Marguerite and her father cannot see they are more similar than different. Flanders has no prince and needs a strong ruler. Feisty Marguerite might be the answer to her father’s prayers after all.
Regardless of how much I enjoy a book, I rarely feel the need for a sequel. But this time is different. I can’t let go of Marguerite’s story.
Finding early readers that are actually interesting can be a huge challenge. Jamie Spy is not only a detective mystery, it’s fun. The adventure begins from Mrs Spy’s first words: ‘Sweet spy cakes! My cookies have all gone.’
But Crystal isn’t there. She has left a note asking Pearlie to look after the park whilst she holidays in Hawaii.
Jacob Hunt has Asperger’s syndrome. His mother Emma believes he isn’t autistic, just a bit quirky. She has single-handedly raised him and his brother while working from home to ensure Jacob’s life has the structure and order he needs to cope. Emma has strict rules for her family. These are the house rules and no-one would dare break them.
With a Sword in My Hand tells the story of Marguerite Van Male, fourteen-year-old heiress to the County of Flanders. It is a rich historical narrative of 13th century France with Marguerite’s life dictated by the demands of church versus state, county and castle politics and the arrival of The Plague.
Edie lives in Cairns and attends high school there. She has spent the last three years scrimping and saving to build her boat. The boat that will take her sailing solo around the world. She is only a few thousand dollars off achieving her dream when she gets sacked from her part-time job.
Nanny Piggins is the world’s most glamorous flying pig and nanny to the Green children – Derrick, Samantha and Michael. As you can immediately see, Nanny Piggins is no ordinary pig and with her adopted brother Boris, a 10 foot dancing bear, she gets up to some very unusual things.
Seven years ago, two young British men (Nazim Jamal and Rafi Hassan) vanished without a trace from their rooms at Bristol University. Nazim’s mother has spent the ensuing years searching for her son and for answers to her questions. No-one wants to help this woman. The police see only two extremist Muslims who have snuck out of the country to fight in Afghanistan. The boys have probably been killed there.
Right Way and Your Way