A Slave's Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard

Hakon of Rogen's Saga #2

by Erik Christian Haugaard

The slave girl Helga stows away as Hakon sails for Brittany to return Rark to his homeland and to trade northern skins for southern wares. But the Vikings are now hated, not feared in France, as a new religion emerges from the south.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published June 1, 1965

About the author

Erik Haugaard was born in Denmark and has traveled extensively in the United States, Italy, Spain, and Japan. Called "a writer gifted in the art of the storyteller" by the BOSTON GLOBE, he is internationally known for his accomplishments as a playwright, poet, and translator.

Haugaard has written a number of acclaimed works for young adults that transport readers back to a time and place in history that placed upon children burdens nearly unimaginable to the contemporary North American adolescent. Religious strife, World War II, and feudal Japan are just some of the settings Haugaard has explored in his books, which usually feature a child whose hardships are made all the worse due to the loss of parents or other guardians.

Reviews

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follows right on from Hakon of Rogen's Saga. It's a bit longer than the first book and is told from the perspective of Helga. The events of the earlier book are summarized in the first chapter and I suppose you don't need to have read it, but I would definitely encourage anyone to read both.

While the first book is set entirely on the island of Rogen, there's quite a bit of travel in this one. We meet different characters, and these are good and bad. Sometimes plans work out, but sometimes they don't. Part of me wanted another book to continue things, but I do like the way Haugaard left things alone.

I found it curious how the author thwarted the reader's expectations - there were several situations that were set up, and I was ready for the consequences. That's usually how things work in children's books. But then things moved along without that other shoe dropping, and I sort of forgot about the lack of resolution. Then I was reminded, and I thought maybe the comeuppance would be delayed - which sometimes happens in books, and it's extremely satisfying to have the author tie up the loose ends in an unpredictable but tidy way. But then that didn't happen. Instead some other things did. Maybe some would view this as "karma," but I think it's more like real life where things are more random.

Same great illustrations by the Dillons.

[Colin Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Haugaard tale. Meaningful for all ages. Mature content for young readers but provided with great touch and great moral filters without ever hitting you over the head with it.

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Year read is approximate. I read a lot of Haugaard's books in Junior High.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

C. historical fiction, YA, Norse, Mom's stash, discard