Valiant Review

Distiller: Doni Faber
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Cure for: Unwarranted Violence




Valiant
by Sarah McGuire
EgmontUSA
April 28, 2015
(384 pages)

Valiant is a re-telling of the Brave Little Tailor with a girl as the protagonist, but it is so much more! Saville is capitalizing on her fate while also fighting it, she is defending her kingdom while the king simpers on her throne, and there is even a good love story that develops thoughtfully and believably.

I tried not to like this book, but in the end, I loved it! What made me resist at first, is that Seville is such an anachronism that it isn't very believable. She is so brave and outspoken in a time when women were pawns in their men's games. But she is a worthy anachronism and in the end, I loved her and those who treat her with the respect that is her due.

One of the things I loved about Saville is that she doesn't have to try to be like a man in order to be strong. She defeats two giants single-handedly, but not by killing them. She does it by outwitting them. But her greatest strength is her compassion. While everyone else assumes the giants are enemies, she recognizes their humanity.

This would be a great book to share with daughters who are looking for strong female role models.