Hear ye! Hear ye!
Let it be known that YA Robin Hood retellings are FLETCHING. AWESOME.
(And yes, that was totally an archery pun.)
Don’t even try to deny it:
There’s something about a man in tights stealing from the rich and giving to the poor that’s impossible to resist.
Robin Hood, Little John, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, and the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham…
Mix them all together and you have a recipe for a swashbuckling YA retelling that’ll leave you wishing you knew how to use a bow and arrow.
So get ready to reignite your love for the Prince of Thieves and his Merry Men with these 22 pulse-pounding YA Robin Hood retellings, gender-swapped reimaginings, and clever modern twists.
[BONUS]
Read to the end of this list to unlock an extra 6 Middle Grade books like Robin Hood that are perfect for younger fans of the infamous outlaw.
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The Best YA Robin Hood Retellings That Will Make You Want to Take Up Archery
Are you a diehard archery nerd looking for the best YA Robin Hood books or books like Robin Hood? Rest easy—I’ve got ya covered.
Traditionally Published YA Robin Hood Retellings
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
Jerusalem, 1192. The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud and her sister Zeena are determined to protect the Holy Land from the Faranji invaders and Richard the Lionheart.
Together with a ragtag group of misfits that include a Mongolian warrior, an Andalusian scientist, a frustratingly handsome spy, and an English chaplain, Rahma must use every scrap of cunning (and not a small amount of thievery) to finally restore peace to the land.
Hood by Jenny Elder Moke
Isabelle grew up inside the quiet walls of the Kirklees convent with her mother, Maid Marien. But Isabelle’s simple life comes crashing down when she is arrested for protecting innocent villagers.
Now the target of the infamous Wolf—King John’s ruthless right-hand man—Isabelle must escape the convent and find the one person who can help: her father, Robin Hood.
What do readers say?
“Hood feels almost like the continuation of Robin Hood. Telling the story of what if Marien and Robin Hood had a child, Hood is an action-packed book about Isabelle finding her father and also a place where she belongs.” –Lili @ Utopia State of Mind
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets. His biggest secret of all? That he is actually a she.
But all of Scarlet’s secrets are finally catching up to her.
When Lord Gisbourne arrives in Nottingham to rid the town of Robin Hood and his men for good, Scarlet must decide if she can trust her lawless band of thieves with the truth of her past.
What do readers say?
“Gaughen has taken [the Robin Hood] story and made it seem new. Instead of focusing on the action (though there is plenty), she highlights deeper aspects of the legend—the morality, the relationship among the band members, the search for an identity and a home when you are a criminal living in the woods—and she gives these aspects a unique voice.” –Briana @ Pages Unbound
No Good Deed by Kara Connolly
Ellie Hudson is a front-runner for the U.S. Olympic archery team. All that’s left is qualifying at trials in Nottingham, England.
But when Ellie takes a wrong turn in the caverns under Nottingham Castle, she is mysteriously transported back in time to the Middle Ages.
Can Ellie use her ace archer skills to save the people of Nottingham from an evil sheriff? Or will her next shot disastrously rewrite history?
What do readers say?
“I was really sad when I finished it and I would surely read it again because I’ve had a fantastic time with it and it has been a very refreshing reading.” –Sofii @ A Book. A Thought.
The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell
When sixteen-year-old Sylvie’s brother is named the Sherif of Nottingham, she doesn’t know how to stop him from abusing his newfound power.
As he raises taxes and threatens innocent citizens, Sylvie finally takes a stand. She and her childhood friend, Bird, escape to the woods with nothing but a daring plan to steal from the rich and give to the poor.
What do readers say?
“It’s a quick read and I read it in one sitting so if you’re looking for a quick bit of adventurous fun fantasy I recommend!” – Kay @ Hammock of Books
The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
Ever since his father died, Robin has been working as an apprentice forester in the King’s Forest. But when an archery contest goes south and Robin accidentally kills a man, his apprenticeship is cut short.
To escape punishment for his crime, Robin’s childhood friends Much and Marian convince him to run away to Sherwood Forest.
But can Robin survive the dangers of the forest and become the hero of legend?
Sherwood by Meagan Spooner
After Robin of Locksley is killed, Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on. But the people of Locksley town need a protector, and only Marian can take up the hood.
But can she step into Robin’s shoes and defeat the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and the dreadful Guy of Gisborne?
What do readers say?
“There is some lovely lyrical writing, realistic dialogue, and a good amount of world-building. I could really picture Sherwood forest and I particularly liked the sensory detail that was included, such as the autumn smells of rain and bonfires (heart eyes everywhere!)” –Alex @ Reading Between the Notes
Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer
“The idea for this book started when I said to myself, ‘What if I took Robin Hood … and put him in a modern-day high school?'” –Brigid Kemmerer
Rob was the Big Man on Campus until his dad was caught embezzling funds from half the town. Now, nobody thinks of Rob as anything more than the son of a criminal.
Maegan was Ms. Perfect until she cheated on her SATs and got hundreds of other students’ tests canceled. Now, everybody thinks she’s nothing but a liar and a nasty cheat.
But when Rob and Maegan get paired together for a calculus project, together they start to question the labels others have given them.
Reading this book is like having your soul scrubbed clean with a handful of steel wool—it rubs you raw and leaves your heart totally ravaged. But in a strangely cathartic way.
As I’ve come to expect from Brigid Kemmerer, this was an emotionally charged coming-of-age story filled with evocative scenes that had my heart aching and my tears flowing.
Maid Marian by Elsa Watson
When seventeen-year-old Marian Fitzwater is promised in marriage to a man she doesn’t love, Marian seeks out the help of Robin Hood, the notorious Saxon outlaw of Sherwood Forest.
On the eve of her wedding, Robin spirits Marian away to the forest, where she begins a new life with his infamous outlaws.
With the help of Robin, can Marian regain her fortune and expose the treachery of her enemies?
Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
For as long as fifteen-year-old Willa Fox can remember, she and her artist mother have struggled to make ends meet. But when her mom suddenly makes it big as a painter, they can finally settle down and live the comfortable life they’ve always dreamed of.
For the first time, Willa is living in a fancy house and attending an elite private school. But it doesn’t take long for her to realize that some students at Valley Prep have it all, while others have nothing.
So Willa hatches a secret plan: take from the rich kids and give to the poor ones.
The Forestwife by Theresa Tomlinson
When fifteen-year-old Mary discovers she is promised to be married to a much older man, she does the only logical thing.
She flees into Sherwood Forest.
There, Mary meets a community of heroic outlaws, a prince of thieves, and a mysterious woman with near-magical healing abilities.
But will Mary be able to carve out a place for herself among these dangerous bandits?
Wanted by Betsy Schow
The Storymakers #2
Rexi is the daughter of the infamous Robin Hood and the best friend of Princess Dorthea of Emerald.
And although she loves Dorthea dearly, Rexi is sick of being the overshadowed, forgotten sidekick.
Determined to rewrite her story, Rexi sets out to steal the sword Excalibur and use it to change her fate.
A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund
Three years ago, Lord Wessex and his daughter, Juliana, were killed in a mysterious accident.
Or so everyone thinks.
But the truth is that Juliana survived. Now, she masquerades as the Cloaked Bandit, a wanted outlaw who robs the nobility with a well-placed arrow.
When Juliana’s true identity is discovered by the dashing Lord Collin Goodrich, only time will tell if Juliana’s secret is safe in his hands.
What do readers say?
“A strong heroine. A cheeky hero. Electric chemistry. A bit of Robin Hood-esque adventure. Add these to Jody Hedlund’s talent, and you have a fantastic new read for young adults!” -Carrie @ Reading Is My Superpower
The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn
It’s been sixteen years since Robin Hood and Maid Marian defeated the devious Sheriff of Nottingham and rode off into the sunset.
Now they live happily with their three children, Mary, John, and Eleanor, who have inherited their father’s knack for trouble.
But when Mary, John, and Eleanor are kidnapped, they’re going to need all the help they can get to escape their mysterious captors—perhaps even the ghosts that are said to reside deep within Sherwood Forest.
What do readers say?
“I really liked how Robin’s three children are the center of this book. I liked seeing how they worked together to get out of a sticky situation. And I liked how they seemed to have gotten all the best parts of their father.” –Maja @ BibliophiliaDK
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Indie and Self-Published YA Robin Hood Retellings
Curse Painter by Jordan Rivet
Briar can curse with the flick of a paintbrush. Her magical paintings maim, bewitch, and destroy.
When Briar’s destructive powers catch the eye of a charismatic young outlaw named Archer, he immediately hires her to help him pull off a dangerous heist against a ruthless baron.
But can Briar earn the trust of Archer and his men, or will her violent past finally catch up to her?
What doES THE AUTHOR say?
“Curse Painter is about a girl whose powerful art magic can only destroy. I was intrigued by the idea of something beautiful being used for evil and what would happen to a character who wants to use something evil for good.
When our heroine meets an outlaw on a rescue mission, she gets a chance to wield her deadly curses to save innocent lives. This book is for readers who want to be swept away on a magical adventure with two characters, both inspired by Robin Hood, who use any means necessary to help the vulnerable.” –Jordan Rivet
Everything I Do by M.C. Frank
Marian was once a princess. Now she’s a prisoner with no choice but to obey the wishes of a tyrannical Sheriff.
Forced by the Sheriff to become an assassin, Marian dons male clothes and sets out to kill the greatest criminal in the kingdom: Robin Hood.
But things don’t go to plan. Instead of killing him, Marion ends up saving Robin Hood’s life.
What happens when the assassin falls in love with her victim?
Robin: Lady of Legend by R.M. ArceJaeger
Eighteen-year-old Robin of Locksley is young, headstrong, and balks at the idea of marriage and raising children.
Robin takes her future into her own hands, but the consequences of her rebellion prove deadly.
Hunted by both her father and the Sheriff, Robin is forced to hide her identity and seek refuge as an outlaw in Sherwood Forest.
What doES THE AUTHOR say?
“Robin Hood is one of the few heroes truly worth emulating — fast, smart, good-humored, cunning, a superb archer, and above all honorable — yet like all classic heroes, he is a guy. No matter how strong a Maid Marian or rebellious a daughter a screenwriter or author might invent, the women in such stories are still ultimately second fiddle in people’s minds to the titular man.
My book was the first to treat the historic legends as true in themselves but to ask what if the person behind them — the Robin Hood of history — had actually been a girl? Robin: Lady of Legend is about making you truly believe that Robin Hood could have been a woman, and more importantly, giving girls today an empowering classic heroine of their very own.” –R.M. ArceJaeger
Shadow of the Wolf by Tim Hall
Robin Loxley was just seven years old when his parents abandoned him. Left to fend for himself, he finds refuge in the magical Sherwood Forest. There, he meets the young Maid Marian, a feisty young woman who quickly becomes his only friend and the love of his life.
But when Marian mysteriously disappears, Robin must enter a dark, dangerous world of gods and monsters to bring her back.
Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman
After Lady Merry Ellison’s parents are murdered by the King of England, she will go to any lengths to protect the poor orphaned children of her former village.
Dubbed “The Ghosts of Farthingale Forest,” her band of young followers does what it must to survive, even if that means stealing the king’s gold.
Robyn Hood: A Girl’s Tale by K.M. Shea
King Richard has been captured and is being held for ransom, but Prince John refuses to pay.
To free the King, Robyn must team up with Little John and Will Scarlet to steal the funds from Prince John and his legions of soldiers herself.
But will Robyn survive the heist of her life, or will she swing from the gallows?
Outlawed by Hayley Osborn
When Maryanne Warren is magically sent back in time against her will, the only way to return to the present is to make sure Robin of Woodhurst becomes the legendary Robin Hood.
It should be simple. A quick trip through time, instigate a carriage robbery or two, then back to life as she knows it.
Easier said than done.
Woods of Silver and Light by Victoria McCombs
Storyteller’s Series #2
Anika is a newly-appointed lady with lands bordering a magical forest. She will do anything to help her poor tenants rebuild, even befriend a mischievous band of thieves called the Silver Raiders.
But when the other nobles put a hefty ransom on the heads of the Silver Raiders, Anika must make a deadly choice. Will she expose the thieves or keep their secret?
What do readers say?
“Woods of Silver and Light is a fun young adult fantasy that anyone can fly through…I found it to be an enjoyable and quick read. It was easy to follow along, as it wasn’t a complicated read.” -Mary @ Tea Time Lit
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BONUS: 6 Middle Grade Robin Hood Retellings
League of Archers by Eva Howard
Twelve-year-old novice nun Elinor Dray has always idolized Robin Hood.
She and her friends even try to be like him by sneaking out to hunt on the lands belonging to the village Baron, stealing from him to feed their poor neighbors.
But everything goes wrong late one night when Elinor finds a wounded man in the forest. Shot with a poisoned arrow, Elinor tries and fails to save him. Only in his final moments does Ellie realize that the man is Robin Hood.
Will Ellie be able to uncover Robin Hood’s killer and keep his legacy alive?
Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street by Peter Abrahams
Robbie Forester always knew life wasn’t fair, but she never thought she could do anything about it.
But all of that changes when she and her friends discover a strange charm bracelet that gives them special powers.
Armed with the magic of the bracelet, Robbie makes it her goal to take from the rich (a money-hungry real estate tycoon) and give to the poor (local business owners struggling to pay rent).
Will in Scarlet by Matthew Cody
As the son of a Lord and heir to Shackley House, thirteen-year-old Will has led a charmed life.
But when disaster strikes, Will is driven out of the only home he’s ever known.
Alone, Will flees into the dangerous Sherwood Forest, where he joins an elusive gang of bandits. But can Will help a drunkard named Rob to become the hero that England needs him to be?
Hacking, Heists & Flaming Arrows by Robert Muchamore
When his dad is framed for robbery, Robin and his little brother, John, have no choice but to flee the crime-ridden town of Locksley and take refuge in Sherwood Forest.
Determined to clear his father’s name, Robin teams up with Marian Maid to strike a blow against the underworld boss Guy Gisborne.
Hawksmaid by Kathryn Lasky
Matty was raised to dance well, embroider exquisitely, and marry a noble. But when Matty’s mother is murdered before her very eyes, Matty’s carefully planned future unravels.
Reduced to poverty, Matty and her father, Nottingham’s most famous falconer, struggle to make ends meet.
But when Matty learns that her friend Fynn is Robin Hood, Matty wants to do more than just fight to survive. She wants to help fight back against the evil sheriff of Nottingham.
Shadows of Sherwood by Kekla Magoon
When twelve-year-old Robyn Loxley’s parents go missing, she’s determined to find them.
But when Nott City is taken over by a cruel governor and Robyn is branded as an outlaw, she has no choice but to team up with a rag-tag band of misfits.
Working together, they must solve the disappearance of Robyn’s parents, while also pulling off grand heists to undermine the governor’s rule.
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Have You Read Any of These YA Robin Hood Retellings?
From time-traveling Olympic archers to brooding high school has-beens, these YA Robin Hood retellings have something for every reader.
So whether you grew up watching Disney’s animated movie, the Mel Brooks cult classic, or Kevin Costner’s 1991 blockbuster, get ready to experience the legend of Robin Hood and the outlaws of Sherwood Forest like you never have before.
Now over to you:
In the comments, share one YA Robin Hood retelling from this list that you’ve already read and one that you just added to your TBR!
KAT what that heck, my TBR cannot handle all of these new additions but I am such a fan of Robin Hood retellings and I cannot be stopped. Great list & I just loveloveLOVE your new book blog
OH MY GOODNESS KAL! You have no idea how much this comment means to me! I am so happy you love this post and that you enjoy The Bibliosmile so much! Thank you endlessly for all of your support 🙂 🙂 🙂
I LOVE this post, you did an amazing job!!!! 😍✨ I can’t believe I hadn’t commented! I could have sworn I did 😅. I definitely need to try more retellings in the future so this post is perfect for me!!!! 👏🏻
Hey, Sofi! Thank you SO much for this lovely comment! Your support means soooooo much to me! I hope that this list helps you find some new favorite books!