The Ravenmaster’s Boy
Mary Hoffman
The Greystones Press, 2017
Paperback, 224 pages, £8.99
ISBN 9781911122135
The Ravenmaster’s Boy is a nuanced and dark tale, and Hoffman casts a new perspective on the Tudor legacy. The
book centres on Kit Wagstaffe and his ability to communicate with the Ravens. When we are first introduced to Kit, he
is trapped beneath the bodies of his mother and father on the plague cart. He is rescued and adopted by the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. As Kit grows up, he learns the language of the Ravens and becomes highly skilled in his communication with them. As he attempts to save Queen Anne Boleyn from prosecution, Kit’s relationship with the Ravens is imperative.
This is a majestic book in many ways. Hoffman’s anthropomorphic Ravens are deeply symbolic as they represent prophecy and insight. Their ability to be all-knowing deepens our interaction with the characters and the inevitable downfall of Anne Boleyn. Kit’s increasing anxiety and dismay is quite poignant as a reader — given the contextual knowledge of the Boleyn-Tudor events, we know that Kit will be unsuccessful despite his best efforts. However,
Hoffman frames the scenes with beautifully descriptive images that are evocative and appealing. There is a darkness that echoes under the watchful eyes of Kit’s Ravens, a haunting quality that lingers throughout the narrative.
Overall, this is an enchanting read that embraces history in a fresh and nuanced manner.
Jade Dillon
(This book may be difficult to purchase, so if you have difficulty we encourage
you to check your local library.)
striking allegory for the harsh reality behind Communism. However, throughout the book powerful insights are made about the truth behind various forms of political power, including capitalism, and imperialism. One aspect I liked about the book was the accessible language. Orwell is able to break these very complex ideas down into simple English so that a wide audience can understand the points he is trying to make.
This is an emotional page-turning tale about the passions of youth and friendship and the bitter disappointments of betrayal. Roberts is a powerful storyteller with incredible imagination bringing to life a period of history steeped in myth and fable. The reader will get lost in this fascinating tale which the author has created weaving the scraps of surviving poetry with her own powerful vision. Perfect for fans of Celine Kiernan, Finbar Hawkins and V. E. Schwab.
The way Garrett writes about family, race and sexuality is so real and heartfelt. Each character has a unique set of circumstances which are handled delicately. There is so much diversity in this book, be it through race or sexuality. Representation of minorities is really important, especially at a YA level. Having someone to relate to in the content that we consume helps us realise that we are not alone. If anything else, it’s educational too. There is a character in this book who is asexual and has a girlfriend, and though the situation isn’t always pretty, it’s handled so honestly and openly that it teaches people what it’s like to struggle with this. The main character’s illness also does a lot to teach about HIV and what the stereotypes are around it and how that perception can be harmful. But instead, people should be looking to educate themselves. The book has some resources at the end about HIV which I found to be incredibly useful.
