The Reluctant Rebel

About the Book: 

There it is again, hope. The defeat and the despair I can stand, but it’s the hope that kills me, as if the Cause wasn’t lost, as if Father hadn’t died in vain. As if any one of us could possibly come out of this alive…

Following the death of his father, 13-year-old Archie MacDonald has lost faith in the Jacobite Cause. Having witnessed their clan’s terrible defeat at the Battle of Culloden, Archie and his feisty cousin Meg flee back to Lochaber to lie low.

Or so they think.

Until the fugitive Prince’s life depends on them.

When Prince Charles Edward Stuart looks to the people of Borrodale for help, will the young stable boy support the rebellion that has cost him so dearly?

With enemies closing in, the Prince’s fate now rests in the hands of a stable boy and a maid with a white cockade.

Who will survive this deadly game of hide-and-seek?

Reviews: 

I loved it! It's a rip-roaring adventure. Meg and Archie are great characters. MAGGIE CRAIG

The intensely personal perspective of our Reluctant Rebel brings the oft-told tale beautifully to life, and I fully expect this novel to become a fixture in upper primary classrooms around Scotland. This is the perfect springboard to a better understanding of a pivotal point in our country’s history. ALAN McCLURE

A breath-takingly exciting plot that is steeped in historical accuracy that can only arise from meticulous research. Ross-Shire Journal

A delightful, unique and original book that you won’t want to put down even as an adult. Shelf Life blog

Information for Teachers:

Barbara's Website

Download Teaching Resources

These resources have been assembled in co-operation with the National Trust for Scotland and come in four parts:
Part 1: Preliminary activities and historical background to the Jacobite Rebellions
Part 2: Novel study The Reluctant Rebel – discussion, reflection, evaluation and analysis questions for each chapter
Part 3: Activities
Part 4: Useful links

They are suitable for use within classes from P4-S1 covering Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes for English and Literacy, Drama, Art and Health and Wellbeing among others. and are perfect for use in a Jacobites Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL) context. 

You are welcome to order class sets through your usual channels. If you are interested in purchasing directly from Luath, please get in touch.

About the Author:

BARBARA HENDERSON is an Inverness-based children’s writer and Drama teacher. Her energetic school visits take her across the length and breadth of Scotland, and sometimes beyond. As a teacher, she loves to get young people on their feet as they respond to stories. ‘Writing is like magic,’ she says. ‘I see something in my imagination, and I try to capture it by writing it down – nothing more than black marks on white paper. Much later, young people see these black marks on white paper and suddenly they see something too, feel something of their own. I cannot think of anything more special than that.’ Scottish by Inclination is Barbara’s first foray into adult non-fiction. She shares her home with her teenage son, her long-suffering husband and a scruffy Schnauzer called Merry.