1. The Hero and the Crown by Robin
McKinley
A New Fairy Tale
From childhood, Aerin had been haunted by the story of her mother-a
witchwoman who enspelled the king and then died in childbirth, leaving
behind a newborn daughter and an heirless land. Left to her own devices,
Aerin grew up wild, doing her best to live up to her reputation as the
disappointment of the realm. But little did the young princess know the
long-dormant powers of her mother would wield their own destiny, and
leave Aerin with a duty to her scornful homeland that she couldnt refuse.
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Winner of the Newbery Award, this story is basically a new fairy tale. It has
all classic elements: a princess, a dragon, a kingdom on the verge of
destruction, and an evil which will destroy the world. Why is it new?
Because the hero is the princess, and shes the one who fights the dragon,
and attempts to save her kingdom.
As simple as the story may sound, McKinley has written it masterfully.
Aerin, the main character, is a strong woman, trying to find her place in the
world. She follows her dreams, regardless of what others think of her; but
at the same time she learns that sometimes the cost of following your
dreams is high.
I can understand why some people might think this books style of writing is
slow. The book is divided into two parts. Part one begins in the storys
present, with Aerin as a young woman, but then easily shifts into her
childhood, explaining and chronicalling how and why Aerin became
Dragon-slayer. Part two is where most of the action takes place - she
confronts the last of the Great Dragons, faces the most powerful evil mage
ever known, and returns home where her kingdom is facing destruction

2. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that even though Aerin suffers
for what she does, she never wishes it away. For instance, when she faces
the Great Dragon, she comes out of the fight barely alive; half of her body
badly burned, scorched throat and lungs, broken ankle, etc. She faces
death and a long recovery time, but as soon as she was well enough, she
did not sit around feeling sorry for herself, but instead got back to work.
This book is not set in an unrealistic world, where everyone is happy and
thinngs go exactly according to plan. Instead, McKinley infuses the story
with realism. There are characters you dont like, even though you can
understand their motivations. And there are situations that are true to life -
more real than the movies. For example, when Aerin breaks out in a rash
while preparing to face the evil mage, she thinks, This is typical. On my
way to ... unspeakable doom, and I break out in a rash.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales, or
adventure stories, or even coming-of-age stories. The plot is intriguing, the
main characters likable, and the writing quite good. Although labeled as a
Young Adult fiction book, I think it is also very good for adults.
-- Quote taken from pg. 181
Awarded Newbery Medal in 1985
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