It's approachable by any historical fiction fan of about ten and up, although nervous parents should know there are some scenes involving sex - and non-consensual sex to boot. The narrative is flowing and easy to read. It's a wonderful glimpse at the competing cultures of the time. And the sweep of Mel's journey takes us from tenth century Ireland, to England, to Russia, to Iceland.

There's also a wealth of period detail - the Irish wear sweaters knitted in patterns peculiar to their village so their bodies can be identified if they drown the Vikings carried livestock in their longboats. And here, Napoli considers a possible background to the story. It's taken from an old Icelandic folk tale about a silent slave concubine from Ireland, who is discovered talking to her son. And this gives us a vivid picture of tenth-century life. The vow of silence device gives the character her power and strength and requires no unlikely or anachronistic actions on her part. Although a great deal happens externally, the reader will come away from the book with an understanding how things happen to Mel and her extremely limited capacity - both as woman and slave - to respond to them. It can be difficult to write about strong female or slave characters from this period without becoming anachronistic but Napoli has managed wonderfully here.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books Fascinating and compelling, with strong female characters. Summary: An evocative odyssey tale which juxtaposes the lives of princesses and slaves in tenth century society.

Hush by Donna Jo Napoli