Shadows of Sherwood

“One little girl, one little white lie, would never be her downfall.”

Mallet’s confident musings foreshadow her hubris. She believes that Robyn is an insignificant threat and, therefore does not need to be caught or accounted for. Mallet’s underplaying of the danger Robyn represents will prove to be very costly for the sheriff. This represents the theme of The Role of Youth in Social Change. Her reflection is also an example of Magoon’s use of irony, since it will very obviously be proved wrong.

“Many of the people were dark-skinned, some light, and some in-between, like Robyn herself. A whole range of colors, whereas most people in Castle were either quite dark or quite light.”

Robyn’s description of the world of Sherwood reveals vital clues about the contrast between the struggling county and wealthy Castle District. The fact that Castle lacks diversity suggests that the ethos in the district disapproves of inter-race marriages, and may place an unhealthy premium on racial purity. On the other hand, Sherwood’s diversity represents equality and solidarity between communities. Thus, poor Sherwood may fare better than Castle when it comes to liberal ideals.

“She was locked up. Behind bars. In jail. A prisoner. It was the sort of thing that happened in the movies, not in real life.”

In this passage, Magoon uses short, crisp sentences and punchy phrases to highlight Robyn’s disbelief at the sudden and irreversible change in her life. Taken from her mansion to a prison within the span of a night, Robyn registers the monumental passage as a movie sequence. At the same time, she is all too aware that what is happening is very real.

“Robyn’s father had told her about growing up in Sherwood. About how they are people who struggle, who are poor, who live without. But as usual, she hadn’t wanted to listen or believe.”

One of the key thematic elements of the novel is Robyn’s realization about her own privilege and sheltered past. As Robyn is forced to reckon with her new reality, she begins to see that everything her father said about poverty and inequality in the world was right. To Robyn’s credit, she immediately realizes her former mistake in believing the world was a perfect, safe place for everyone. As a self-aware and evolving protagonist, Robyn learns from her mistakes.

“I just expect things to work out. And they usually do, Laurel had said. Maye Robyn could try Laurel’s way of thinking. I expect that my parents are still alive, somehow, she thought. I expect to find out what happened to them. I expect that we’ll all get to go home again. Together.”

Laurel, who is named after an evergreen plant, represents hope, childhood, and optimism in the novel. It stands to reason that meeting Laurel reignites hope in Robyn’s heart. As these lines show, Robyn decides to believe her parents are alive and work toward finding them. Robyn’s resolve underlines the importance of keeping hope alive, a key textual motif.

“The entire footprint of the house was about the size of Robyn’s bedroom in Loxley Manor.”

The narrative often uses juxtaposition as a technique for Robyn to realize the difference between her circumstances and those of the people of Sherwood. Here, Robyn reflects that a home housing several families is no bigger than her bedroom suite, which has a canopied bed and a large bathroom. Robyn’s realization of the inequality around serves as a trigger for her to help the people of Sherwood.

“‘I’m completely out of floss.’ She said this like it was her biggest problem.”

Laurel’s devotion to her teeth is a running joke in the novel. This passage is an example of the text’s humor, which helps lighten its serious themes of oppression and dystopia. When Laurel complains about missing dental floss, Robyn wryly notes that this is the least of her and Laurel’s problems, seeing as that they are on the run from police, having broken out of jail.

“Her father has always talked about the kindness of strangers, but in a fairy tale kind of way. Most people in Castle District would not randomly help each other that way.”

Floyd Bridger’s simple act of giving Robyn and Laurel his bag to use as a stool is a metaphor for the kindness and solidarity Robyn sees in Sherwood. With a keen sense of self-awareness, Robyn contrast Bridger’s actions with the aloofness that is the hallmark of Castle district. Robyn’s growing affinity for Sherwood foreshadows her bond with the county, and also illustrates the text’s important theme of The Importance of Teamwork and Solidarity.

“Nyna Campbell stretched and strained against the MPs’ grip. ‘My blood, my breath, my bone,’ she cried […] ‘Forever yours, Sherwood. The rebellion lives on—’ Mallet sidestepped toward the woman and slashed out with an elbow to her throat, cutting her call. Nyna Campbell’s head dropped forward and she fell still and silent.”

This passage vividly illustrates the dystopian ethos of the novel’s world. Nyna Campbell, a rebel leader, is arrested to be jailed without a trial, and attacked by Mallet in full view of the crowd. This highlights the theme of The Ethics of Resistance Against Tyranny. At the same time, Nyna’s cry is juxtaposed against the silence Mallet forces upon her, suggesting that she cannot be silenced as her words live on in the people of Sherwood. The refrain of blood, breath, bone is an important motif in the novel, suggesting that people are linked with each other just like breath and body.

“Once you let go of hope, you could let go of anything.”

Mallet’s purpose for imprisoning and tormenting rebel leaders like Nyna is to kill the hope for change in people. Her dispassionate words show her calculated approach toward breaking the will of those who dissent. Ironically, Mallet’s approach is once again misguided, since she underestimates the power of hope and the way the Crescent Rebellion works. Mallet believes the rebellion is made up of its leaders, whereas the truth is the rebellion is all its people. People will continue to resist as long as there is even one of them around.

“Robyn’s heart welled up. Would she ever hear Mom say, There’s my smudged-up kiddo, again? Or hug her and feel the warmth of the white stone pendant she always wore around her neck?”

Though heroic children are at the forefront of the novel’s action, the text never downplays the fact that they are children who miss a home and a family. Circumstances have forced Robyn to be brave, but passages like this show how acutely she misses the warmth and security her parents represented. The reference to the stone pendant foreshadows its centrality to the moon lore and Robyn’s destiny.

“She ran straight toward the shed and pressed herself against the back wall, the way people did in the movies. The flattened position with hands splayed had always looked silly and overdramatic to Robyn on-screen. Here and now she understood it. She desperately wanted to make herself as small as possible.”

An example of Magoon’s visual writing style, this passage evokes the image of Robyn flattening herself against a wall like a cartoon character. Robyn often perceives of her changed reality as something happening in a movie because of how strange and unbelievable it seems.

“Gather the Elements, as you will:

Earth to ground you, water to fill,

Air to sustain, a Fire to ignite;

Elements gather, all to fight.”

Laurel sings an old song from the moon lore for Robyn, once again igniting hope and new life in her. Laurel’s song completes the words lost in Dad’s broken hologram and reveals the elements to Robyn. The fact that Laurel finishes her father’s words shows to Robyn the power of teamwork and community.

“The nature of such a destiny is for it to be uncovered […] I cannot give you the answers any more than I can tell you what has happened to your parents.”

Eveline’s words to Robyn suggest that she does not want to force Robyn into a destiny. In fact, she wants Robyn to create her own destiny by putting together clues and undertaking a journey. What may seem a deliberate obfuscation is actually an act of faith; Eveline trusts Robyn will find her way without relying on prophecies. This shows Eveline’s deep wisdom.

“Helping the wayward is a pretty-much full-time job.”

Tucker’s words establish that he is an ideal minister. He does not judge the wayward or those who have strayed off the mainstream path. Instead, as his lighthearted, humorous utterance shows, he believes helping such people is his full-time employment.

“Laurel’s spindly frame belied her strength; the hug was like a vise around Robyn’s torso. The almost-violent affection felt strange and lovely. […] The truth sunk in for Robyn: she had been missed.”

Laurel’s fierce love for Robyn is a poignant reminder of the younger girl’s desire for a family. On Robyn’s part, Laurel’s affection is proof that she has found new kinship beyond her parents. In the same passage, Robyn compares Laurel’s love for her to that of her mother; this suggests that Robyn is learning the power of friendship and community.

“Key’s expression turned cold. ‘Right. You don’t care about us, or anyone else. All you care about is yourself.’”

This passage presents a realistic view of new friendship between people who differ from each other. Key and Robyn do not become each other’s supporters on autopilot; instead, Key thinks Robyn is selfish for ditching her team’s plans on an impulse. For her part, Robyn thinks Key is too rigid. By setting up tension in the Key-Robyn dynamic, the text makes the friendship relatable and real.

“The children of Light, unable to see the missing half of themselves, developed an insatiable craving for power. The children of Shadows craved unity, but this hope only led them deeper into despair. They fought back.”

Robyn finds the moon lore in the book recommended by Eveline. The moon lore is described as a love story. The love story, however, is not just between Light and Shadows, but between also the children of Light and Shadows, struggling to see each other as their missing halves, yet yearning for what they have lost. The lore foreshadows that the only way for the yearning and struggle to end is for the children to unite as one family.

“‘I don’t think friends should leave each other behind,’ Laurel said. ‘Next time you try to follow the clues, don’t leave me behind.’”

Though Laurel loves Robyn like an older sister, the younger girl also corrects Robyn for being too brash and self-centered. Laurel’s simple words remind Robyn of the meaning of true friendship. Earlier in the text, Robyn reflects that she does not have many friends. Laurel’s words show that Robyn is just now discovering the implications of working as a team, emphasizing the text’s theme of The Importance of Teamwork and Solidarity.

“Dear Sherwood Clinic,

Looking for the Stingbug antibiotics? People needed them. You must be so happy to have been able to help.

Sincerely

Robyn.”

An example of Robyn’s calling card with her signature “sincerely Robyn” sign-off, this message, left behind after the Sherwood pharmacy heist, highlights her cheeky, mischievous side. Robyn comes into her element as Robyn Hoodlum, showing a spark of daredevilry and humor.

“I always thought churches were meant for whoever needed to come to them.”

When Robyn asks Tucker if she and Laurel can stay at the church while the younger girl recuperates, Tucker simply replies that churches are open to anyone who needs them. The words capture Tucker’s kindheartedness, and also show what an ideal place of worship should be like.

“Offspring of darkness, daughter of light

Gifting the people, beacon in the night

Emerge after shadows, hiding her face

Hope of the ancients, discover her place

Breath, blood, bone, all elements unite

Blaze from within, inspire their fight

Sun finds home, in ancient rune

Deep in the cradle, of the Crescent moon.”

The moon verse contains six words in each line, with shorter words like “in” and “the” compressed to make a single word in some lines. The structure emphasizes the importance of the number six in moon lore. According to Eveline, the moon verse does not aim to prophesize, but to explain. Thus, rather than prophesize that Robyn is the moon child, the verse explains what makes Robyn a leader: her ability to be a child of both Light and Shadows and bring together various elements. The full import of the moon verse is not revealed in Shadows of Sherwood, suggesting that its complete meaning will be excavated in the novel’s sequels.

“‘You are definitely going in my paper,’ Tucker said.”

When Robyn commands the attention and loyalty of all of tent city with her powerful, poetic speech, Tucker responds with dry humor that she is now a major inclusion in his thesis on the moon lore. Tucker’s wry statement helps break some of the tension of the intense sequence where Robyn finally accepts her destiny as a moon child.