THE LEGEND MUST NEVER DIE!At 16 Gwyn is one determined female protagonist--a brave Innkeeper's Daughter who refuses to watch complacently while the common people--like herself--are bullied and butchered. My major confusion stemmed from the lack of a specific country or time: the novel was set in a nameless land governed by a King, three Earls and their various Lords--a palid prototype of the emerging feudal system. This was a dark and cruel world for most: the Lords kept aloof in their guarded castles, caring nothing for the injustice rampant in their domains. They lived in total disregard and utter contempt for the mere people whose lives they controlled, whose lands and labor they plundered. In this dark time of social and economic despair, only Lords received burial; the people were cremated. Hangings and civil corruption at every level were as natural and inevitable as Spring and Fall tithes. Priests there were though not necessarily of the Church; Lords could perform marriage rites. Thus Fear, Hunger and Avarice stalked the land. People were addressed by their trades and relationship (such as Weaver's Son). At the age of 16 a girl had to marry her family's choice or declare her intention to remain permamently unwed. A man at 45 had to name his heir, who could be only a child. Were these conventions fact or Voigt's creative fiction? All combine to create an alien world wherein almost anything can be believed. Was there no one in all the Kingdom with a compassionate heart for the helpless and oppressed, who offered Hope (even if only in the form of old wives' tales) to those in need? Could no one force the Lords to become accountable to their power base, to avenge atrocities committed upon the people by each other? The Lords were laws unto themselves and often acted above the law. But wait--there was one hero after all: a masked horseman with a cloak and plumed hat, who appeared at odd moments to dispense his own brand of justice. Who dared rob the rich and give to the poor, indefiance of the Lords. Centuries before Robin Hood in England or Zorro in Alta California, there waa JACKAROO, the people's champion! He alone dared to reform the Lords' selfish philosphy, to teach them the meaning of "Noblesse Oblige." Most men scoffed at the idea that this dashing hero ever truly lived, or would return in dire need. But children grew up hearing tales of his exploits and the old cherished childlike faith that one day He would ride again. Gwyn had witnessed enough pillage and wanton destruction of life and property in her 16 years. How could she find meaning for her husbandless future? The day she returned to the family Inn after two weeks' enforced confinement in an empty hut with a young lordling, was the day she realized that she had become a stranger to her family. They all took to wearing masks with each other, rather than admit they were wrong in their quick condemnation of her actions. Thus she turned to subterfuge behind her mask of innocent ignorance, but she would need Jackaroo's help to accomplish her noble goals. She gradually realized that she would sacrifice her future and even her life to preserve the name and fame of the beloved bandit, Jackaroo. A fascinating tale with surprise twists at every turn--the story isn't over until the very last page! (August 23, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
I’ve read another one of the books in this series, Elske, a couple times. It wasn’t necessary to read the other three books in the series to understand what was going on since they’re more companion novels than direct sequels, but I figured it was time to give the other three books a try.One thing Voigt does well with these books is to draw us into the world right away. By the end of the first chapter of Jackaroo, I was fully immersed in the world of the troubled Kingdom, as seen through the eyes of Gwyn, one of the people (commoners). The setting was, for me, the biggest strength of this book.I also liked Gwyn, the main character. We get the sense right away that she’s spirited and determined, and much too big for the menial existence that’s promised her. It also seemed like she had something to prove, being a female in a world where being female is virtually worthless. Between her dissatisfaction with her limited options (getting married at seventeen or being a servant to her father and eventually brother) and her desire to prove herself, it was easy to see why she eventually does the things she does. Additionally, it became increasingly clear through the course of the novel just how alone Gwyn felt. She was a complex character, and I loved her for it.I didn’t feel as strongly for the other characters, aside from Gwyn’s mother, whom I hated. Mother was spiteful and awful for no apparent reason. It probably wouldn’t have bothered me as much if I could see any motivation, but I couldn’t. Maybe Mother hated her limited options and took it out on everyone around her? And as for the other characters, I was pretty indifferent to them. I did really like Burl, though, and the development of the relationship between Gwyn and Gaderian was nice.There was an interesting tension in the plot, between the amount of exposition and the fact the book seemed to be moving right along. This made the book feel slow to me despite the fact that the story moved so fast. I really liked the first half, when Gwyn and Gaderian were stranded in the blizzard. The rest of it, though, was where I stopped turning pages quite so fast. I can’t put my finger on an exact reason; I just wasn’t as into the story in the second half, I guess.I think this might be a good fit for middle school kids who read Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart and liked the storybook feel and plucky heroine. Jackaroo is set in a different world, but it feels like it could easily be a past version of our world, and it has a folk story feel to it.
What do You think about Jackaroo (2003)?
A fascinating idea for a fairy tale with a disappointingly Tolkien-esque ending.Gwyn is the spirited daughter of the village innkeeper who dreams of something outside the mold. Her family doesn't understand her because she doesn't want to marry but instead wants to run her father's inn, which will legally go to her useless little brother instead. While traversing the mountains with the Lord and his son and the enigmatic stablehand Burl, she is separated from the party and winds up having to spen
—Allison
The harvest has been spare and still the earls taxes more than ever, leaving the people hungry and victim to lawlessness, and fueling their talk of the legendary bandit and protector of the poor, Jackaroo. As an innkeeper’s daughter, Gwyn notices the burgeoning whispers of his reappearance, but considers them merely beautiful stories. That is until a mysterious pair of Lords come to the inn and draft her to serve them on a mapmaking sojourn North and she is faced with the mask of Jackaroo herself.From before I bothered to read series books in any particular sequence, I recall really appreciating Cynthia Voigt’s titular character Elske (Kingdom #4) for being crazy awesomebadass. Like seriously, she was a child wolf sacrifice bride, but instead of being doomed to that fate, she escaped, went South, and aligned herself as the right-hand woman to the female heir to the throne and helped said heir leverage politically to the top—in the sort of sordidly exciting tale that leaves an impression, even without its “Girl with a Pearl Earring” cover.As the first book in the Kingdom series, Jackaroo doesn’t really show the same confidence in its fantasy surroundings to tell such an involving story… and in fact, the Kingdom itself doesn’t seem to be more than the usual generic medieval Europe setting. Even given its centerpiece in the inn, there’s a lot of stew and getting drunk on tankards of ale. But given these limitations, I found Jackaroo largely enjoyable, comfortable even. And while it may not make me run to continue the series, its a respectable entry in the Robin-Hood-esque genre, with nice believable characters, a plot that has some nice ideas about the heroism, and a satisfying, if slightly pat, ending. Rating: 3 stars
—Kaion
For some reason I was not expecting much from this book. I don't really know why, since I've loved pretty much every book from this author I've read… The combination of the Middle-Age style universe, the Robin Hood type of story and the target audience being quite younger than I am... It just didn’t sound like something I’d enjoy.Well how happy I am that I read it despite my initial doubts. I absolutely loved the book. This is so much more than another simple “steal the rich to feed the poor” adventure.The setting took some getting used to but once the scene was set, it really was an amazing backdrop for the story. Tired of the usual dystopia with its futuristic despotic government? This makes for a refreshing change.And the character of Gwyn is just amazing. Think The Hunger Games’ Katniss or Divergent’s Tris are the cream of the crop? Well Gwyn is as strong a female character as those two, and what’s great is that we actually witness her getting stronger but also doubting her choices and making mistakes. It’s a nice change to finally see a character that’s not the absolutely perfect heroine in a universe that’s not all black & white.PS. For those who might be wondering, this book was first entitled Jackaroo and then renamed Tale of Gwyn to make it more obvious that it’s part of a serie... I love the new cover but wish they had kept the title.Well, I’m not sure my TBR need yet another serie added, but I’m really curious to try Kingdom #2 The Tale of Birle which was previously named On Fortune's Wheel (confusing!). Someday...
—Dewlanna
