FIRST REACTIONS TO THE YOUNG CHIEFTAIN
21 September 2010
FIRST REACTIONS TO THE YOUNG CHIEFTAIN
A book you won't want to put down.
Felicity Weitzel (Harmony)
The Young Chieftain seems to me to have the right mix of adventure, magic, secrets, and suspense and interaction between adult and young adult lives. I love the mix of the contemporary and the heritage.
(Black Book News)
A self assured , skilfully written debut with mystery, adventure, a satisfactorily nasty villain and a very likeable hero in Jamie.
(Joy Court, YLG Librarian)
A very remarkable book. I hope that it will sell well - it certainly should do so - it is unique.
(Lord Janner of Braunstone Q.C.)
A thought provoking read with a series of layers to be uncovered by the reader. In other words a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
(Margaret Pemberton, YLG Librarian)
The Young Chieftain is at heart an adventure mystery story. And a successful one, too. There's some double-dealing going on in the clan and a villain to be unmasked by a reluctant hero, and Howard obliges with a page-turning book in which the action moves along at a rollicking pace. I was quite breathless by the end! But the book has a little more about it than simple boy's own adventure. There's a fascinating conflict between tradition and modernity underlying the action and Howard also deals with racism, bereavement, personal identity, and puts forward some quite sophisticated socio-political thoughts about what makes a leader and how power corrupts.
Best of all, it's an unusual story, outside of the piles of genre fodder making its way into Bookbag's review stack, and we commend it for this.
(Bookbag)
Ken Howard is a screenwriter and it shows in this novel. The action moves quickly, never allowing for a dull moment. The story ends with a dramatic flourish that is expected and yet the exact way it works out is unexpected. The author is determined to make sure the reader gets a feel for Scotland, emphasising how old the island of Doran is, and yet it's very beautiful with its lochs, boats and Scottish Games. He doesn't tell the reader, he shows the reader.… This story does not grow tedious…it flies by, so sit back and enjoy your trip to the island of Doran, in Scotland.
(Reading in Color)
Media stuff:
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