Rowan of Rin (Hippo Fantasy) [Import] [Paperback]

Emily Rodda (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Hippo (April 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590556576
• ISBN-13: 978-0590556576
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rowan of Rin, December 23, 2005

By 

A Mom (Mississippi, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rowan of Rin (Hardcover)

I whole-heartedly agree with the parent from NY who's 8-year old son is a voracious reader.....because I have one too! It is so difficult to find quality books for young boys -- but this series is definitely one that you will want to buy. My son first read this series not long after he turned 9. He's now almost 11 and has reread them so many times that the covers are about to fall off. They are suspenseful without being scary....a great first fantasy series for kids. My only thought with regard to the child reviewers who didn't like them.... maybe they were too old for these books.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rowan of Rin Is Wonderful, October 7, 2004

By 

J. Moosmann "Mom of BOYS!!" (Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rowan of Rin (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my 11 year old son. When he had to do a book report on it and asked me to help him, I decided I'd better read it myself to know what happens in the book. I almost couldn't put it down. I stayed up until 2:00 am to finish it. I loved the riddles and how they had to figure them out to continue their quest. I also loved how the tormented child became the HERO of the Village. When all the big tough villagers became to scared or weak to go on, Young Rowan the Keeper of the Bukshah, (because he was too scared to do and thing elso, saved Rin.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, February 27, 2002

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rowan of Rin (Hardcover)

Emily Rodda pens a charming tale, apparently the first in a series (as we speak, three of these books are out and a fourth is coming, I think). Her hero Rowan will win over the earnest bullied kids, or the people who once were.

Rowan is the most timid child in the village of Rin, and so he is often teased and bullied by other children. Adults pity him or dislike him for his apparent weakness. He is also is a herder of the bukshah (buffalo-like creatures who provide milk and wool), who are fed by a certain stream coming down from a nearby mountain. And, it is said, a dragon lives at the top of the mountain. One day it's discovered that the mountain stream is drying up. Without it, the bukshah and the village will both die. They consult old Sheba, a clearsighted wise woman who utters a cryptic rhyme: Seven hearts the journey make/Seven ways the hearts will break/Bravest heart will carry on/When sleep is death and hope is gone...

The village sends six of their strongest, bravest men and woman - and Rowan, who is the only one who can use their map. Coming along is Strong Jonn, half-Traveller Allun, inseparable companions Val and Ellis, Marlie, and Bromden. More prophetic verses crop up in the map, leading the way through dens of enormous spiders, bogs where they hear their loved ones' voices, right to the cold summit of the mountain. But Rowan and his companions will learn some lessons about fear and courage...

Reading this book, one sees so many ways that it could have gone wrong. The adults could have remained one-dimensional and snobbish - but they don't, they grow and change as Rowan does. Rowan could have been a little twit - but he wasn't, instead being a thoroughly believable young boy who WANTS to be brave. I liked how he was not bitter about being pitied or teased by the others, but merely needed a chance to prove himself.

This is probably too "young" a book for most 9-12 readers, as the inside flap describes it as 7-up. But despite being a very straightforward story of about 150 pages, it's also tightly plotted and well-interspersed with fantasy elements, though not too many. Rodda's descriptive style ranges from poetic to sparse, and she includes hints of the the adventures to come.

On to read "Rowan and the Travellers." I'm sure it won't disappoint.