Peace Weavers [Paperback]

The PEACE WEAVERS has a provocative edge and asks the reader to make some hard hitting moral choices. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The story of two feisty young heroines ... blending history, politics and romance in a story of immense topicality. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

...skilfully blends history, politics, and romance in a story of immense topicality. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

... has a provocative edge and asks the reader to make hard hitting moral choices... a timely novel. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

gripping ... a must-read book ... fascinating...a terrific read for the youth of today - writes 15year old Clare Fielder. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"My favourite book this year on a topic I feel strongly on, another MUST READ!"
Jasmine, Sheffield Girls High School --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

*****
Jarman's book tackles the hard stuff for young people ..... should be read by both young people and their parents. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

It's a great book. I was hooked from the first line ... and I hope you will too. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Hilde is furious when her peace-campaigner mother sends her to live with her father on a USAF base. Refusing to go to school, she joins an archaeological dig ("not really her scene"), where she meets Friedman ("definitely not her type"). He's the son of an American fighter pilot. War with Iraq looks inevitable, and Hilde is against it, but believes that protesting is futile. That is, unil she steals a gold brooch from the grave of a sixth-century woman - a peace weaver - and suddenly, her feelings begin to change...

The inspiration for this book was a feeling of indignation -firstly that so much publicity was given to an Anglo Saxon warrior and his horse, found on an American airbase in Suffolk,and so little to the skeleton of a very tall woman discovered at the same time, secondly that I had never heard about Peace Weaving till I started to do my own research. I wanted to know what sort of life this woman would have lived. I discovered that she would have had high status and that men would have consulted her about how to avoid war and create peace. Her main role would have been as weaver, both literally, weaving all the cloth for her family's clothes and furnishing, and metaphorically as word weaver and peace weaver. My main but not sole source was Kathleen Herbert's book, Peace-Weavers and Shield Maidens from which I learned that women could be warriors too. Why had I learned none of this at school? Why had I learned only that the Anglo-Saxons were invaders and settlers and that they massacred the indigent population, the Celts and Romano-Celts, when there was no evidence at all for this claim? I grew determined to put the record straight and revive the concept of Peace Weaving. I started to write a historical novel, but couldn't ignore the build up to war with Iraq that I heard about every day. I wondered - what would a 21st century Peace Weaver do? And Hilde Brown came into my head ...I'm thrilled to say that adults as well as young people are enjoying my novel. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"a fine book"
Kevin Crossley-Holland --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Hilde's furious when she's sent to live with her father on a United states Air Force base. She's surrounded by preparations for the war with Iraq - a war with which she ttoally disagrees - and now she has to put up with Friedman, the annoying American son of a fighter pilot whose views couldn't be more different.

But when Hilde begins to unearth the history that lies beneath the airbase, and steals a clasp from the grave of a sixth century Peace Weaver, she becomes caught up in a tragic love story. A story that bears a powerful message about peace, freedom and the price of war ...

"a brave story" Independent. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Had he seen the brooch? Back in her pocket now, it felt warm to her fingers. And her face was burning. He was staring at her and she was staring at him. Why couldn't she move? It was as if they were held together by invisible bonds. Something passed overhead though whether it was a bird or a jet she couldn't have said. Then another voice broke the spell.
"Don't you two want to see what we've found next door?"
Hilde wrenched her head round to see Beth and a crowd of people round the other trench. When had they turned up?
"It's very exciting. Come and see." Beth turned back to the trench behind them.
"Wanna hand?" Friedman offered his.
"NO!" She clambered out but not before their fingers had touched and her pulse rate tripled. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.