How the Hangman Lost His Heart

HOW THE HANGMAN LOST HIS HEART: K.M. Grant: Walker: Young Adult: 244 pages

After her Uncle Frank is executed for treason and has his disembodied head displayed in public, Alice steals the head for a proper burial, but her daring deed immediately catches the attention of the royal guard and she only escapes with the help of her uncle’s executioner.

This is a quirky tale inspired by the author’s family history. Grant’s ancestor was drawn, quartered, and beheaded in the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. His head was recovered and passed down through the years until it could be buried with his body in 1950. Despite the fact that the story revolves around a severed head and there are plenty of executions in the story, this is a mild, romantic tale suited for middle school readers.

MBC