Overview and Outcomes:

This three-week Writing Root is based on Riddle of the Runes by Janina Ramirez. Children start as investigators, working alongside the Viking protagonist, Alva, to solve the mystery unfolding within her Norse community. They make predictions, describe characters and settings, and focus on writing high-quality dialogue by creating imaginary conversations between characters. Children also write instructions to provide clues to the characters and use the maps and runes from the book to create their own versions of events. The Writing Root culminates with children becoming historical fiction authors, writing an alternative ending to the mystery. They create their own riddles, villains and conclusion to this gripping saga based on the evidence they have so far. Throughout the process, grammar is explicit and drama techniques and visual images play a key role.

Synopsis of Text:

Alva rushes through the trees in the dead of night with her sniffer wolf, Fen. Being out alone when there's a kidnapper on the loose is reckless, but if she ever wants to be an investigator like her Uncle Magnus, she'll need to be first to the crime scene. But what Alva discovers raises more questions than it answers, drawing her into a dangerous search for truth, and for treasure...

Text rationale:

Riddle of the Runes is set in the Viking Age in the fictional village of Kilsgard, Scandinavia, and so is an excellent companion for the wider history curriculum. Rich in historical detail of Viking life, the novel follows the adventurous Alva as she is thrown into solving a puzzle with extremely high stakes. With a strong female protagonist, this novel brings historical fiction and mystery together, touching upon the Viking raids in Northumberland and their impact on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. It is the first in a series about the young Viking detective and her Uncle Magnus by historian Dr Janina Ramirez. Illustrations are by David Wyatt, who has also illustrated classics by Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman and J.R.R Tolkien. Themes covered include courage, truth, teamwork, family ,hope and exploration.

Links and themes:

Courage, truth, teamwork, family, hope and exploration, Vikings

Date written: January 2025