Quest for a Maid [Paperback]

Frances Mary Hendry (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Meg Wright is nine when she hides under a table and hears her sister Inge kill the King of Scotland by witchcraft, setting in motion a treacherous power struggle.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nine-year-old Meg dramatically nar rates her tribulations in medieval Scot land. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8-- Adventure, derring-do, and magic keep the plot of this historical novel rolling along at the brisk pace set by the opening sentence--"When I was nine years old, I hid under a table and heard my sister kill a king." The king is Alexander III of Scotland. The time is the late 13th century. How the fight for succession affects Meg's life; her betrothed, who is the youngest son of Sir Patrick Spens; and her family is the heart of this tale that spans seven years. The rightful heir to the throne is an eight-year-old Norwegian princess, known as the Maid of Norway, and Meg is part of the entourage sent to accompany her home. The fateful trip and unnatural storm that climax in death and disaster has been recounted in the famous Scottish ballad. The likable heroine and the two lively men in her life are young, hopeful, and inventive enough to make a fresh start out of their sorrow. Hendry takes a few liberties while vividly recreating a turbulent historical period. The author's note in the beginning puts the story in perspective and the glossary at the end is helpful, but not crucial. An intriguing and well-told tale. --Amy Kellman, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (April 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374461554
• ISBN-13: 978-0374461553
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, June 29, 1999

By 

Indienne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quest for a Maid (Paperback)

What a fabulous book this is! I read it out loud to my eleven-year-old daughter and 54-year old live-in love, and we were all riveted. We stayed up till eleven to finish it the night before my daughter went to camp! Great, complex characters (Inge, Meg, Sir Patrick Spens), gorgeous writing, thrilling plot--the big sorcery scene in the first chapter, the witch trial, the storm, the final struggle. I especially like the way Hendry suggests the medieval mind.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlike any fantasy book I've ever read, January 10, 2000

By 

Sarah E. Morin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quest for a Maid (Hardcover)

This book surprised me and drew me in from the opening line, "When I was nine years old, I hid under the table and heard my sister kill a king." How could anyone resist an opening like that? Quest for a Maid follows its own guidelines about how a fantasy should be written. The evil villainess in this book is also the main character's idol. Our heroine has no magical powers or battle skills, only her wits and courage. Much of the book describes Meg's childhood, which lends the book a kind of innocence to contrast against the elder sister's intrigues. Meg, Davie, and Peem form an adventuresome and loyal trio. You may even find yourself liking the evil villain, though we see little of what she does. Much of this book is written phonetically, but after you get used to it, you'll find yourself thinking in a Scottish accent. This book will make you think twice about love, sin, and redemption. A rare book. Read and enjoy.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating story set it medieval Scotland, November 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Quest for a Maid (Hardcover)

I accidently "rediscovered" this book a couple months ago, and it captivated me the second read as much as it had the first. The first time I read it, it had so much impact that 3 or 4 years and probably 100s of books later (yes, I read a lot) it was one book that I always remembered, even when I couldn't remember the title or author. When I accidently found it again while browsing the library book shelves, it was like finding an old friend! This book has an excellent and realistic portrayl of life in medieval Scotland, and really brings you into a different world. But also, the story is just really interesting and the characters are very well written. I loved seeing several years in Meg's life unfold and whatever was happening to her was always interesting to me, from the whale adventure, to sailing, to the witch sorcery, to living with Davy's family, to the actual 'quest for the maid' itself.

I definatly reccommend this book to anyone interested in medieval times or Scotland, or someone who just likes a good story with adventure and a bit a romance. Though, if you are a reader who only likes really fast-paced books, it might not be for you, since while it does have exciting adventure parts, some parts are slower.