This is an excellent story set in Scotland in the 13th century, from a 12-year-old girl's point of view. Drest is an unlikely hero against huge English and Scottish warriors, and in fact her brother tells her to run and hide when her family, led by her father, the Mad Wolf, a war band chief, are attacked and taken to the local castle to be hung by the lord.
She saves the relatively young man, outwits one of her father's enemies, rescues a young boy, gains an ally in a local witch by saving her from being burned at the stake, and eventually uses her wits to free her brothers and her father from the castle's chains.
We loved her inner dialogue with her brothers, who are introduced and become full-fledged characters in her imagined conversations with them, as they help her find the strength to keep fighting, always keep fighting.
There's a sequel, as well, and we can't wait to read it!
