3 1/2 starsNoelle mailed me the second book in this series last year for my birthday and then challenged me to actually get off my butt and read it this month for She Made Me Do It. And then, she also sent me the description for this book – the first in the series – by email like a juicy little lure. A description which contains mention of a feisty innkeeper’s daughter who’s independent and strong and doesn’t want to get married and who stumbles across a disguise for the legendary Robin Hood typ...

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I picked up this book. Even the reviews I read didn't seem to prepare me, maybe because it is not an easy book to review. Although the Jackaroo stories in this book definitely mimic Robin Hood tales, this is not a Robin Hood story. More than anything else, this is a coming of age story about Gwyn the Innkeeper's daughter. Gwyn lives in the Kingdom which could be in any European or imaginary area that has mountains, forests, a river and a coast. The feud...

I vaguely remembering picking this off the YA shelf in the library sometime around eighth grade, but somehow my brain categorized it as "sad" a la Westmark (read around the same time) and I never revisited this until now.I'm glad I did, because it turns out that Jackaroo is a coming-of-age story. The exciting thing about it, though, is that it's only ultimately one; for most of the novel it reads as a fantasy uniquely marked by a pervasive sense of doom. Where poverty and desperation hem everyon...

I guess so many people have this shelved as a fantasy because of the "alternate history" aspect to the story. We never really know it takes place in OUR past and no real-world names that I know of are given for places. But there isn't any magic or sorcery. The School Library Journal calls this "an intense and elegantly written historical adventure-romance ." There really isn't even much of a romantic aspect to the story unless you count the romantic, swashbuckling legend of the Jackaroo, who is

Gwyn, the Innkeeper's daughter, is 16 and does not plan to marry. After witnessing multiple acts of cruelty against the Inn's neighbors, Gwyn decides the myth of the Jackaroo might be of more use than she first thought. 1. I've been so anxiety-plagued and numb these last few months that I've been struggling to read anything at all, especially new-to-me books; I read somewhere, once, that a person needs to be in a position of comfort in order to explore new vistas and I think there may be some tr...

A favorite I've reread a bunch of times, and a nice comforting read for winter break.

A fascinating idea for a fairy tale with a disappointingly Tolkien-esque ending.Gwyn is the spirited daughter of the village innkeeper who dreams of something outside the mold. Her family doesn't understand her because she doesn't want to marry but instead wants to run her father's inn, which will legally go to her useless little brother instead. While traversing the mountains with the Lord and his son and the enigmatic stablehand Burl, she is separated from the party and winds up having to spen...

june 2015: need to read again to fully understand. over all, brilliant. May 2020: Five-years-younger me was right. Revisiting this story gave me a lot more insight and understanding than the first go-round. Voigt's subtle but effective worldbuilding is spectacular, and where I was focused on the personal narratives the first time through, on this re-read I observed how much Voigt tells the reader about the political/social landscape of her world through personal interactions. The only other auth...

3.5 I read this twice, probably first in middle school and then again while I was in high school. I really like that the heroine dressed as a male and was able to help people, like Robin Hood. I love stories of girls dressing as boys and taking on other roles.The hero liked her sister, but her sister married someone else. So I had a real problem that he liked her sister. The heroine liked a guy but he didn't like her. I really didn't like that they both liked other people, and it felt like they

I came across this book in a thrift store and bought it because I enjoyed a few other books by the author. I ended up really loving it and read it several times as a young adult.

I read this book a very long time ago, and despite its non-magical origins, it stuck with me. And the slow start made me wonder if I were really remembering something wonderful, or if the glow of a childhood read was overcoming the flaws. But once Gwyn discovers part of the truth behind the tales of the outlaw Jackaroo (the former title of the book), the story catches fire and becomes the tale of expanding horizons, and how changes within can make you look at the world differently.Now that I hav...

As I started reading this I realized I had started it before and never finished. I suppose that is what kept me at it this time. My expectations were a bit too high, I had heard this compared to Robin Hood or even Scarlet Pimpernel, so as I read I was a little disappointed in the story. I think it had a lot of promise, but it was a little lacking for me. Gwyn was a pretty good heroin, and she grows a lot throughout the story. I think Burl (her good friend, and father’s servant) was under used an...

***2018***I'm so glad I asked a local library to order these. It's been long enough that I only slightly remember the feeling of the book, so it had the lovely experience of being new yet as comfortable as an old friend.***2009***I'm not sure what I expected, but this book both met and exceeded what I was looking for.Sigh. I hate being vague. I'm looking forward to getting the next book in the series.

This book is more of a 2.5 star read. I read the second book of the series back in high school and loved it; however, I did not realize it was part of a series until years later. I do not know if I would have given this book such a low rating had I read it back in high-school with the other one or if the second book really is that much better. Overall, this book bored me until the last 100 pages and then confused me for the last 50. I thought Gwyn was an interesting character and I did like how

A Robin Hood tale, centered on a girl named Gwyn, who one day has the injustice of the system driven home for her... and decides to try to make a difference. Fast, compelling read, with well-developed characters that unfold over the course of the book, showing hidden depths. The world building is peppered throughout, woven in seamlessly, which means some areas aren't complete, but all the vital framework is explained. Looking forward to the new main character in book 2!

Evil would be done, that was the nature of the world; that was bearable if good could also be done. 3.5 stars. The pacing of this book is really, really slow. Or at least, it feels that way. This is a great story about a headstrong girl who defies pretty much every standard of the land and does what she believes she should do and what she believes is right. At times, Gwyn seems pretty dull. Other times, she's plotted out this whole plan on the move and you really don't know what she's going to

This was a great read. Light & fun. Interesting characters. The main character Gwyn is a gutsy young girl who tries to right every wrong

It took me a while to read this book, but I truly enjoyed the story and especially loved Burl. Without him, the book wouldn't have been the same.

Five stars from Teen Me, who was obsesssssssed with the Kingdom books by Cynthia Voigt. I haven't re-read them as an adult, though.

I love books set in the middle ages. This book had a very medieval feel to it and the author describes life as seen through the eyes of the main character, Gwyn, very realistically. The world system is hierarchial, with the kings down to the people. There is a lot of political unrest as well as famine in the land. The people are desperate and Gwyn thinks that their tales of Jackaroo are only that--tales made by desperate people who need some hope to cling on to. Gwyn is also troubled by what she...

I used to love this book as a middle-schooler, when I first found it. It was like Robin Hood meets all the wuxia stories I heard about as I grew up, where girls disguised themselves as guys and explored, and made differences in the world where they could. It was refreshing to read a story like this, in English. ^_^ But then I read the other Kingdom novels. And eventually, a few months ago, I reread Jackaroo. And all of a sudden, though it was still a refreshing scenario, the story, the writing,

This book started out a little slow, but halfway through things started to get interesting, and by the end I discovered that I had absolutely fallen in love with the book! It was thoughtful, vivid, full of unique and interesting characters, realistic and yet hopeful, portraying the hardships of life without at all diminishing the fantastic moments of adventure. And the ending! It was a legitimate, beautiful happy ending, one that leaves you grinning from ear to ear at the end. I highly recommend...

The Tale of Gwyn- I wish I would've noticed this was Jackaroo under a new name BEFORE I ordered it from Amazon!I am not sure why they renamed it. That being said, Gwyn is my all-time favorite fictional character, and Jackaroo is one of the best books ever written. Gwyn is infinitely herself- wanting to help others, feeling stuck in her role as the daughter of a wealthy innkeeper. She is short-tempered, sometimes short sighted. A very real character.I love the way the society's rules are interwov...

I don't know why I just recently discovered Cynthia Voigt. I've been deprived these many years. Her writing is a little bare, but I've discovered that she is saying a lot by saying a little. Her main character is so strong and sure of her capabilities. I hoped that the love story would resolve itself just the way that it did, which made me happy! I was greatly intrigued by her "kingdom." It is a very interesting place to discover and explore.

I first read this book in jr. high and loved it. I re-read it every year or two and still find it wonderful every time. The story of a young woman who decides to make a difference in her community by taking on the persona of a folk hero. That decision changes her future in more ways than she could imagine.

I've probably read and re-read this book a hundred times. I used to read it once a year as a child. And it's so wonderful to discover that it is still every bit as good as it ever was. I love fierce, soft-hearted Gwyn. Strong, steady Burl. Feisty Tad, who gets to grow up. And the stories and secrets and switcheroos. They are good characters in a thoughtful, well-composed world.

Imagine “Robin Hood” revisited with a twist. Throw in a soul-searching main character, a butterfly flapping its wings sort of turn of events, and watch what you think is going to be a slow book turn into one of your favorites. At least this is what happened to me…

i just bought and reread this book. i so love it!

Yup. Right in the nostalgia.

O HOW I LOVED THESE BOOKS, I CANNOT EVEN SAY.So, so high up on the list of "things I hope do not seem crappy now that I'm an adult."