Rebels, riots, robberies and revenge: Review of Robin Hood by Robert Muchamore

Robert Muchamore is one of our favourite authors, most notable for his best-selling “Cherub” series. He has visited Australia numerous times to appear at writer’s festivals and other events and he has a special place in our heart, as demonstrated by his loyal Australian fans. Robert finished the Cherub spy series when he felt that there were no further adventures possible to imagine for those characters.

Obviously his imagination has gone into overdrive for this new series, as he takes us into new territory – a dystopian future where social order has broken down and rebels, riots, robberies and revenge are part of the landscape for our twelve-year-old hero, Robin Hood. Set in the 2020’s this tale introduces us to a host of new characters, paints the back story to the current situation and explains the motivation behind behaviours that drive the tale forward.

“I’ve always enjoyed writing books set in the present day and rooted in reality and my version of Robin Hood is as modern and real as the agents in CHERUB!

He lives in 2020, and besides being an ace shot with his carbon fiber bow and titanium tipped arrows, Robin can hack computers and escape using his parkour skills. His enemies are modern too: corrupt cops, crooked politicians and greedy billionaires.” Robert Muchamore, author.

Robin Hood is a twelve-year-old high school student, who enjoys tinkering with his PC and perfecting his archery skills. He is not cool, popular or topping his grades. But he is a very competent parkour athlete, can shoot an arrow right into the bullseye from 50 metres and break into his grade teacher’s office and hack the computer. His father is a gentle and altruistic computer expert, his half-brother is a lumbering slow-witted giant and the family is still grieving his mother’s death.

When his father is framed for computer theft, Robin defends him and unleashes a chain of events that put him and his half-brother in mortal danger. Robin is being pursued by the  Sheriff of Nottingham, her police force, plus the local underworld boss and his brutal mob, so he escapes into the depths of Sherwood Forest, a frightening place filled with desperate people living on the fringe of society.

Robin’s concern for the safety of his father and half-brother drive him to take decisive action, and along the way he finds allies and friends in unexpected places.

Don’t expect a frolic through medieval forests with maypole dancers! This is a deeply serious story that touches on themes of homelessness, asylum seekers, inequity of wealth and education, social outcasts and the misuse of power by authority. The writing is fast-paced and the car chases and dirt bike escapades are explosively described. This is a real page turner, with a good deal of suspense and numerous twists to keep the reader guessing.

I highly recommend this first book in the Robin Hood series and I’m keenly awaiting the next one, which is already written and will be published before Christmas. Readers from 10+ will enjoy this adventure story and find a new adventure hero in Robin Hood.