Spindle and Dagger by J. Anderson Coats

  Spindle and Dagger by J. Anderson Coats. Candlewick Press, 2020. Fiction.        The teen heroine of this medieval tale, set in 1109 Wales, will need both spindle and dagger in order to  survive and make a life. A warband has set upon her home and killed her family. Elen is taken away to become the property of Owain, the son of the leader,  a son who longs to be recognized for bravery and prowess. Elen treats a wound that would have killed Owain and spins a lie to protect herself. Owain thinks if he keeps Elen near and safe that she will ensure that Saint Elen protects him.

So Elen has a home travelling with the violent band of brigands, but longs to get away and find a real and safe home. When Owain abducts Nest, a beautiful mother and her three small children who is the wife of a Norman warlord, Elen begins to see that she might have a better future.

The Welsh names are a bit confusing, but readers of medieval tales will relish this Welsh tale. The sexual nature of Elen's kidnapping and life make this at least a young adult tale, but her story is well written. It is refreshing that Elen is not a superheroine, uses no magic, and thinks much like a typical teenager might. A historical note in the back talks about the Middle Ages and the actual historical fighting and skirmishes that are the basis for these events.