Spindle and Dagger — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
This rich literary novel follows Elen, who must live a precarious lie in order to survive among the medieval Welsh warband that killed her family.
Wales, 1109. Three years ago, a warband raided Elen’s home. Her baby sister could not escape the flames. Her older sister fought back and almost killed the warband’s leader, Owain ap Cadwgan, before being killed herself. Despite Elen’s own sexual assault at the hands of the raiders, she saw a chance to live and took it. She healed Owain’s wound and spun a lie: Owain ap Cadwgan, son of the king of Powys, cannot be killed, not by blade nor blow nor poison. Owain ap Cadwgan has the protection of Saint Elen, as long as he keeps her namesake safe from harm and near him always.
For three years, Elen has had plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in that she shares with the man who brought that warband to her door. Then Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her three children, triggering full-out war. As war rages, and her careful lies threaten to unravel, Elen begins to look to Nest and see a different life — if she can decide, once and for all, where her loyalties lie. J. Anderson Coats’s evocative prose immerses the reader in a dark but ultimately affirming tale of power and survival.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spindle and Dagger appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book includes themes of trauma, PTSD, and violence, specifically mentioning murder and a character's experience of sexual assault. These elements are central to the narrative. No content that would be classified as scary is detected in the search results for 'Spindle and Dagger'.
Does Spindle and Dagger have violence?
The book includes themes of trauma, PTSD, and violence, specifically mentioning murder and a character's experience of sexual assault. These elements are central to the narrative.
Does Spindle and Dagger have scary content?
No content that would be classified as scary is detected in the search results for 'Spindle and Dagger'.
Does Spindle and Dagger have religious themes?
No religious content or themes are detected in the search results for 'Spindle and Dagger'.
Does Spindle and Dagger have racial/cultural content?
No themes of race or racism are present in the search results for 'Spindle and Dagger'.
Does Spindle and Dagger have profanity?
No profanity is mentioned in the search results for 'Spindle and Dagger'.
Does Spindle and Dagger have climate change?
No climate-related themes or content are detected in the search results for 'Spindle and Dagger'.
Does Spindle and Dagger have sexual identity?
The narrative involves a character's experience of sexual assault, which is a significant plot element. The book addresses the psychological impact of this event on the character.
Does Spindle and Dagger have gender roles?
The book explores themes of agency and feminism, particularly through the character Elen, who navigates a male-dominated world. This framing suggests a critique of traditional gender roles.
Does Spindle and Dagger have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the search results related to 'Spindle and Dagger'.
