Rowan of Rin

"Seven hearts the journey make.
Seven ways the hearts will break.
Bravest heart will carry on
When sleep is death, and hope is gone.
Look in the fiery jaws of fear
And see the answer white and clear,
Then throw away all thoughts of home,
For only then your quest is done."

The villagers of Rin see Rowan as a weakling, only fit to tend the gentle Bukshah.  But when the river they depend on runs dry the wise woman's prophecy points to Rowan as the only one that can save them all.  Follow Rowan on his Hero's Journey as he learns what it really means to be brave.

Why I Love It

The Hero's Journey is such a classic story line and this book makes a great introduction to the genre of High Fantasy.  I love the cryptic messages from the map and how their fall into place as you progress through the story.  Though not surprising, I love that Rowan is the bravest heart, not because he's smart or strong but because he never gives up.  In the words of one of my fourth graders, "He has to be the bravest and make it to the top because what he fears most is failing Star and his family."

You Should Know

This book has a high guided reading level (T) related to it's lexile level (660).  That means that the actual words and sentence structure are easier than it's content and story line.  This makes it both an ideal book for older struggling readers who get to read more complex content without going beyond their ability level and also a great push for younger readers who are ready to share a more complex story with adult help.

I find that the hardest part of this book for students to understand is keeping track of all of the characters.  We keep a chart of the seven explorers that go on the quest and note on our hand-drawn versions of Rowan's map when the different characters turn back.  I've also found this graphic organizer of all the characters to be helpful for students.

There are more books in this series about Rowan, but I haven't read them... yet.

Talking Points

• What is a bukshah?  What clues does the book give that make you think that?
• Tell me about Rowan.  What is he like?  What’s Rowan’s job in the village?
• What is the problem in the village?  How did the villagers decide to solve the problem?
• Who is Sheba?  What is she like?
• Sheba said that each of the seven hearts would break.  When does each character's heart break?What are the fears that cause the heart breaks?
• What was the magic of the swamp?  What did it make them see and hear?
• What were Rowan's qualities that made him the "bravest heart?" Do you think Rowan was changed by his journey? Did the perceptions the other villagers had about Rowan change? How did Rowan change?