User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
The Good Hawk is a YA historical book set in the days when Clans ruled parts of the world. The book opens with fifteen-year-old Agatha who has Down Syndrome. She lives at the north of the Isle of Skye with her clan, ‘Clann-a-Tuath’ and her role in the clan is that she is a Hawk, they guard the wall to the enclave and watch for anyone coming to attack them.
We then meet fifteen-year-old Jaime who is an Angler, although not a very capable one as he doesn’t like the sea and he gets sick whilst onboard the boats. He wants to be a Wasp, the people who make the boats, but all professions are given to the members and they can not be changed.
The clan lives a quiet life but they decide to try and keep the peace with the clan from the Isle of Raasay after Clann-na-bruthaich is wiped out by the aggressive Deamhain. In trade for them receiving long-range weapons, they agree for Jaime to marry one of the girls from Raasay, against his wishes.
After the wedding, Jaime and his new bride Lileas are to spend their first night out at sea, however, waiting on board is Agatha who wants to help Jaime get away from his new wife. He knows that Agatha will be in trouble if he sends her back to land immediately so he decides to try and sneak her back in the morning and all three bed down for the night. Unfortunately, the Clan-a-Tuath have been double-crossed by the Raasay as they get them drunk and then open the gates to let in the Deamhain.
With all the clan elders murdered and the others taken as slaves, it is up to Agatha, Jaime, and Lileas to work out a plan to get their members back and to make sure they are not captured or killed in the process.
The Good Hawk is a fascinating book. It contains adventure, mystery, magic, and action. I have heard it being referred to as a YA version of Game of Thrones. I haven’t read the books and only watched one episode of the series, so I can’t comment on the likeness, but I think being set in some old world with clans fighting and a few mystical moments thrown in does sound similar to me.
The book is told in dual narrative from Agatha and Jaime. Agatha’s sections did take me a few chapters to get used to as they are written in quite a basic, young way, but once you realise that Agatha has Down Syndrome you start to understand why and embrace it. I’m not normally a fan of dual or multiple narratives but the writing felt so different for each character that I quite enjoyed it.
The story is split into three sections; Skye, Scotia, Norveg and a map at the beginning lets you know where these places are in relation to one another. In Scotia, the people have been killed by a plague and we also get our first proper look at Agatha’s abilities to communicate with animals.
Overall, this was a book I flew threw as I enjoyed it so much. I am just glad that it is the first in a trilogy as I will get to read more about our two amazing characters who are both so different from one another, yet work well together.
Rating: really liked it
This book has nothing to do with hawks! I feel this is an important disclaimer as I assumed from the cover and title that it was about animals. It's actually a magic-tinged adventure set in a Scotland of the far past, where two children have to travel across the country to save their kidnapped clan. It's brutally dark and scary in places, and it also has a plague plot that feels creepily relevant in 2020 - I thought it was very well written and exciting, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. 11+
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
Rating: really liked it
The Good Hawk is an incredibly special and important book and I was so genuinely excited to keep diving back into this fantastical world. Elliott is a master in characterisation and voice; I fell in love with Agatha after just two sentences in her head and then I struggled to put the book down because I just HAD to know what would happen to her and Jaime. Not only is this a heart-warming story about friendship and courage and what it means to truly be a hero, the plot is so gripping and compelling that I could hardly turn the pages fast enough to keep up with it. And when you do turn the page, there are some genuinely shocking twists and turns lying in wait. The Good Hawk feels like something new and bold; a journey that is both thrilling and moving. Be prepared to be totally captivated by this amazing adventure and its unlikely heroes until the very last page . . . and even beyond that.
Rating: really liked it
The Good Hawk is set in the Isle of Skye. Agatha is a hawk once made a plan and climb up the wall . The waves went on Agatha's legs and her face , then the waves got bigger and she couldn't hold on anymore and fell. You stupid girl. Lucky one of the Hawks see her and saved her.
Jamie is a reluctant Angler and is afraid of the sea, with all that deep dark water, his mind rattles of all the possibilities that could be lurking beneath the surface like a giant squid, killer rays .
I always love to find out how an author came up with an idea to write their books. Joseph Elliott came up with the idea for the heroine of The Good Hawk as he was inspired by some of the incredible children he taught during the time he worked at Westminster Special Schools, particularly those with Down's syndrome.
This is a splendid story where the author has captured voices in an excellent animal fashion. This story is one clever idea, that sits at top of my list for recommendation.
Rating: really liked it
I received this book from Harper Collins in exchange for my honest review.
To start with the positives, I was elated to find a book where the main character has down syndrome. I think it's incredibly amazing that Joseph Elliott has embraced all walks of life in this book, and has given them a chance to shine in their own light. Having Agatha as the main character - a hero when even her own clan does not appreciate her is powerful. She has a strong moral compass that leads her to always do the right thing even when she knows that people around her don't appreciate her. She does what's right, puts herself at risk because it's the right thing to do. She is a very compelling character.
I do find myself though unable to fully review her as a character because I'm not sure if she has been portrayed properly as a young woman with down syndrome.
The setting of The Good Hawk has heavily inspired themes from medieval Europe when there were distinct and often varied border lines that ran between different clans and kingdoms. Scotia, Ingalnd, Sky and Norveg are just a few of these clans/kingdoms. There is also mention of the black plague that ripped through Europe at the time. The bits of history that were thrown into this book enhanced the overall feel of the world.
However, the dual narrative between Jamie and Agatha was one aspect that didn't gel well with the story. While I understand why Agatha's chapters were written the way they were, it was Jamie's chapters that I found incomplete. He sounded too much like Agatha, in fact, all of the characters sounded the same. There was no distinction to their voice. Without the use of the words, 'he said' 'she said' then I would have had no idea who was speaking. A few of the characters as well felt like they were added in just for the purpose of adding them in rather than anything crucial to the plot, they just existed.
The plot itself had everything it needed to be a punchy YA novel, action, drama, comedy, bloody death - but it was predictable. There were a lot of instances where I knew what was going to happen before it happened. The predictability took all the fun out of the plot. Even the fight scenes were lacklustre and lacked the depth of reality.
The first few chapters were enjoyable and rich with descriptions but the further the book progresses, the less detail there is. The second half of this book feels like a first draft rather than a completed book.
I was also very underwhelmed and a little annoyed when it came to the only LGBTQI+ character in this book. When his sexuality became known, it was met with open hostility from Jamie, who would not look at him, touch him, and to an extent, Jamie wouldn't speak to him. Then after a brief talk that said nothing on the matter, they were buddy buddy again - as if nothing happened. This struck me quite negatively because with so much thought going into Agatha's character and her portrayal, there was little to no thought taken to the portray of this LGBTQI+ character. I felt like it wasn't thought through and it was just added for the purpose of adding something interesting to the plot.
Overall, while there is a positive message around Agatha's character and the portrayal of young woman with down syndrome, there is a lot about this book that fell short in terms of detail, character depth and plot.
Rating: really liked it
This is a genuinely exciting book! I have about twenty pages left to read and I'm trying my best to slow myself down, because it's so good and I don't want it to end! The author described it as "Game of Thrones for kids" at a recent event. I'm one of the few people on the planet who hasn't seen or read Games of Thrones (I know!) so I can't comment on that, but what I do know is that it's filled with a cast of weird and wonderful characters who have the most incredible adventures and that I can't wait for the book to publish early next year.
Rating: really liked it
What a unique and brilliant book this is! Each character's voice was so beautifully written, none more so than Agatha (a soon to be iconic character in my opinion).
The story is set on the isle of Skye in a mythic era where clans live and battle, we follow Agatha a "Hawk" whose job it is to walk the walls that surround the home of her clan. We also follow Jaime a reluctant Angler and even more reluctant groom! Jaime and Agatha are thrust into action as their clan are brutally attacked.
This book is original, heartwarming, funny, full of action and intrigue, and perfectly paced. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Rating: really liked it
This was one of those impulse library checkouts, and I have zero regrets. The pacing is just right. Elliott keeps the action moving at a strong clip, so there is never a chance to get bogged down in details, while at the same time building an interesting and complex world and characters. I adore that one of the main protagonists is a girl with Down's Syndrome, and the other has paralyzing anxiety attacks. Both of their voices and struggles were clearly conveyed, and Elliot does a really good job of switching between their points of view. I will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy now!
Rating: really liked it
The Good Hawk is a fantastical medieval children's book set on the Isle of Skye and Scotland, following two children as they take on a dangerous journey to save their clan. It's dark at times--there is death and battle--but also lots of brightness and friendship.
What I loved most is that a lead characters, Agatha, has Down's Syndrome. It's never explicitly stated, of course, as this is a fantasy tinged with history (an author's note makes the influence clear), but you know from the first paragraph that she thinks differently than everyone else and she knows she's different, too. She's resilient, smart, and as the title says, a "Good Hawk." She's devoted to her people, even if they aren't truly sure what to make of her. The other child is a boy, Jaime, who is kind and smart. When their clan is attacked and enslaved by raiders, the two follow in pursuit, braving dangers and making diverse friends along the way.
It's a fun book and a great start to a new series. As much as I enjoy the whole cast, I'm fully there for Agatha.
Rating: really liked it
I was so incredibly excited when I first heard about The Good Hawk. Not only is it a middle-grade fantasy set in Scotland, but it also features a main character with Down Syndrome. I added it to my disability release masterlist and to my own TBR instantly.
I want to preface this by saying I can’t comment on the representation of Down Syndrome itself—I don’t have any experience with it so I don’t know whether certain situations are representative or not. I did, however, read this through my own experiences with disability. There’s definitely a good deal of ableism in here—Agatha is referred to as stupid, what I assume is the Scottish Gaelic r-word, and a vast range of other not-so-nice language. As awful and uncomfortable that is to read, I believe it is challenged by certain characters—I hope the rest of the series will continue to do so. I do think that when it comes to Agatha herself, Elliot has taken the time to write her in a way that is more than two-dimensional and doesn’t fall into common stereotypes. Again, I can’t comment for anyone in the DS community, these are just my personal opinions.
I did really enjoy reading from both Agatha and Jaime’s perspective. They have very distinct voices, and it was really interesting to see the way they perceived things differently. The world surrounding them is very captivating. Like many people, I think Scotland is a beautiful country and it’s one of my favourite places to read about. I loved seeing this fantastical and historical representation of it—there are parts that are recognisable, which makes the fantasy elements were more engrossing.
I think this is a great first book in a series, and I’m very intrigued to see where it’s going to go from here.
SECOND READING
This was my eighth read for Eurovisionathon and my pick for Norway. This was actually a reread for me and scarily enough, it was almost two years to the day since I read it for the first time—isn’t it creepy when things work out like that? Anyway, this is set in a sort of historical/fantastical world and we follow two characters, Agatha and Jaime. Agatha is meant to have down syndrome, though of course, it’s never labelled as such. I wrote a full review of this last time, but in that, I mentioned that she faces a lot of ableism that is challenged both by her and a number of other characters around her. I found it incredibly painful to read this time, in the sense that it feels so real so I just want to throw out a trigger warning for that. As I said, it’s challenged by the characters but it’s still tough to read. Despite that, I still really enjoyed this. I’d honestly forgotten how creepy this is in places, but I loved rediscovering this world.
Rating: really liked it
This felt extremely bad. One of the two main characters, according to the author's site, has Down Syndrome, and I have never seen a more infantilized internal monologue than her sections. The story was about how great and special she is because of her magic powers but like - none of it sat right and I do not feel good about it.
Next day edit: Thought about it more. Here's what feels bad:
1. Main character with developmental disability is infantilized, only valued for special magic powers and not for, you know, all the cool shit she does extremely competently.
2. (view spoiler)
[Of the three people who die in gross explicit ways, two are women. (hide spoiler)]3. Male main character has a gay panic and never fucking apologizes, is simply forgiven for no damn reason when he makes the barest attempt at "oh I still think you're a person I guess."
4. Child marriage is gross.
5. Of the main players, five of seven are female - (view spoiler)
[two of those die horribly, (hide spoiler)] two are infantilized horribly, one barely exists, and it just sits badly.
6. Book tries to pretend the disabled girl is the protagonist but the plot is driven by the boy (view spoiler)
[and he gets the climax and resolution too. (hide spoiler)] Disabled girl becomes feel-good poster child and everyone's prejudices suddenly disappear.
7. Slurs.
Rating: really liked it
Agatha is a good hawk! In mythical Scotland, a hawk is like a sentinel. They watch for intruders. Agatha is 15 years old with Downs Syndrome and has a special talent. She can communicate with animals, and they with her. When the Norsemen invade her village and take her clan as slaves, Agatha and Jayme (an angler forced to marry outside of his clan) are the only two to escape death or abduction. They set across the mainland to Norway in an attempt to rescue them. Along the way, their friendship forges a strong bond and they endure many difficulties.
This is such an amazing book with a protagonist and supporting characters that I could not help but fall in love with. I'm thrilled that their journey is not over and that there will be future books.
I loved the audiobook. Listening to the Scottish accents was such a treat.
Rating: really liked it
So, to put it in simple terms, THE GOOD HAWK is a book that will make you feel things.
(Thank you, you say. That is not helpful.)
It follows the story of Jaime, an anxious boy with a heavy role to play in his clan, and Agatha, a girl with Down Syndrome and an extraordinary gift that enables her to communicate with animals. When their clan is betrayed and captured by enemy forces, they set out together on a rescue mission. But this mission takes them to mainland Scotia, where the people have been all but annihilated by a plague, and limb-ripping shadows haunt the ruins of the land.
I'm not *entirely* certain how I'd classify this book, age-wise. The characters are young teenagers, so I'd say YA, but the plot/writing feels more on par with upper MG, and that's how it's shelved on Netgalley, but ... I don't know, it's one of those books that laughs in the face of your categorical binaries. And I kinda loved that about it. However, I should mention that there are some genuinely gruesome & scary moments in this book (*ahem* limb-ripping shadows) so I'd caution readers at the younger end of the MG spectrum to be aware of this.
Personally, I LOVED this sinister atmosphere. I loved how Elliott didn't shy away from darkness. I keep thinking about Queen Nathara's castle, empty and haunted on the edge of the water, and I still get shivers. It's a great setup for future books, too, since it's obvious Jaime & Agatha haven't even begun to understand the extent of the darkness lurking in Scotia and Ingland. But intertwined with this heaviness was a genuine joy, with some great moment of humour and characters who are impossible not to root for. Agatha has my entire heart. Jaime's chapters felt a little weaker, a little more 'meh' on the enjoyment scale, but I was equally invested in his growth throughout the book. Elliott has a wonderfully fluid writing style, not too flashy, but able to perfectly capture the different voices of Jaime, Agatha, and Nathara.
I would like to have seen a little more deviation from the typical Us vs Them conflict. The deamhains were all bad, the Scotians were essentially all good, and that whole 'evil foreigner' trope is just a bit too tired for me. And, to be honest, it was the less interesting subplot when compared to Agatha's abilities, and the dark-magic rivalry of the Scotian and Inglish kings, and the concept of a land laid bare by plague. I'm hoping that's where the next books will focus.
But, overall, an outstanding debut. A touch of fantasy, a dash of historical, with A PROTAGONIST WHO ISN'T NEUROTYPICAL! Yay! Perfect for 13-15yo readers who don't mind a little menace, and definitely one I can see becoming a classic. 4/5,
Rating: really liked it
Reading Rush challenge 1 finished!
Honestly, I don’t really know how I feel about this book, so I’m going with 2.5 stars.
I really like that it’s a book with representation of Down Syndrome. And I do understand that it’s not mentioned in the book, as it’s likely the clan doesn’t know the name for it. I just didn’t like that it’s something you have to assume from the way Agatha is described? I knew before I read this book that there was a character with Down Syndrome, so then it makes sense who it is. But if I hadn’t known that, I might not have come to the conclusion. I don’t know a lot about it, so the way someone talks and thinks doesn’t necessarily ring a bell for me like ‘oh that must be Down Syndrome’. That is just my uneducated opinion though, and I fully respect everyone else’s opinion! And don’t get me wrong, I really do like that it’s Down Syndrome representation and there should be more books doing that!
On another note, I don’t know if the representation is accurate. Like I said, I don’t know a lot about it, so I don’t know if the way Agatha is written is accurate. If it is, then great!
And on a final note, the story was okay, but it wasn’t fantastic in my eyes. I’m guessing it’s written towards a younger audience, which can very well be why it didn’t resonate with me as much.
Rating: really liked it
ARC provided by Candlewick Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliot is the compelling start to a trilogy set in a mythic Scotland.
It revolves around two members of the Clann a Tuath, set on the island of Skye. Agatha is a Hawk, a sentinel, considered incapable because of her birth condition, and Jaime is an Angler, an anxious teen who isn’t fond of the sea, chosen by the clan’s elders for a long-unneeded ritual. Unexpectedly, the clan is kidnapped by the barbaric deamhain and Jaime and Agatha set up on a tortuous journey to save them.
I’m really looking forward to knowing how this incredible story will continue. I was fascinated by the pace, which kept me biting my nails, and the nuanced characters the author created. I loved every second of it.
