2.5 Stars.

Well that was a bit of fun in tights!

It started quite strongly but sort of petered off quite a bit for an action adventure middle school novel. I also think the main character read more like an early teen than a 12 year old. Still an enjoyable and clever reimagining. ( )

Not a bad idea which takes the reader through the Robin Hood story using the background of a dystopian world where people hide in the ruined buildings of old shopping centers in the woods to escape the wrath of Guy of Gisborne, and where the Sheriff of Nottingham is a woman. Robin's father is thrown in jail on a trumped up charge and while resisting this ,Robin and Little John injure Guy of Gisborne but manage to escape and flee to the forest. They are separated and Little John finds himself in the care of the Sherriff of Nottingham who turns out to be his mother. Meanwhile, Robin is taken in by a gang of misfits living in the forest and on the edge of society - all enemies of the powers that be.
Characters such as Friar Tuck and Maid Marion also appear and Robin is still an expert marksman with a bow and arrow, so Muchamore stays true to some elements of the old story but puts a new spin on it.
I thoroughly enjoyed coming across the old characters as I read through and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series, as this one ended on a cliff hanger. ( )

Think you know the tale of Robin Hood? Think again. Robert Muchamore is back with a brand new series and a modern telling of the story we all thought we knew.

Like CHERUB and Henderson Boys this looks to the start of an action packed series. This is a strong start to the series and you are left wanting more - with lots of unanswered questions.

For those reluctant readers who like action, this may be the series for them.

Age: 8-12