*Scroll down for English*
Mae'r ci wedi brathu rhywun pwysig -
nawr mi fydd na drwbl...
The dog's bitten someone important -
now there'll be trouble..
Genre: ffuglen hanesyddol / historical fiction
Gwerth addysgiadol/educational value: ◉◉◉◎◎
Negeseuon positif/positive messages: n/a
Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: n/a
Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◉◎◎◎◎
Iaith gref/language: n/a
Rhyw/sex: n/a
Hiwmor/humour: ◎◎◎◎◎
Her darllen/reading difficulty:: ◉◉◉◎◎
Dyfarniad/Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pryd cafodd y stori ei osod?
Yn syml, mae’r llyfr wedi cael ei osod yng Nghymru amser maith yn ôl, yng nghyfnod Y Brenin Hywel Dda. Roedd o’n Frenin oedd yn teyrnasu dros ran fwyaf o Gymru ac roedd e’n gyfrifol am gyflwyno rheolau pwysig o’r enw ‘Cyfraith Hywel Dda.’ Rhain mewn ffordd oedd cyfraith draddodiadol Cymru, cyn i Gymru ddod yn rhan o’r Deyrnas Unedig.
Beth sy’n digwydd yn y llyfr? (Y Plot)
Mae Nest, merch ifanc, yn gorfod dianc gyda’i chi, Griff, oherwydd ei fod o wedi gwneud rhywbeth drwg iawn (yn ôl y gyfraith). Yng nghanol y nos, mae’r hanner ci, hanner blaidd wedi brathu marchog pwysig ac mae hwnnw am ei ladd! Rhaid I’r ddau fynd i guddio rhag y milwyr yn y fynachlog gyda’r Abad Cynwrig rhag ofn.
Roedd Tad Nest yn arfer bod yn ddyn pwysig iawn yn y gymuned gan mai ef oedd y gof. Ond roedd rhaid iddo adael Llangurig mewn cywilydd. Beth oedd o wedi gwneud oedd mor ddrwg â pham fod y ci wedi brathu’r marchog yn y lle cyntaf? Mae rhywbeth o’i le yn rhywle….
Dewch i ddarllen mwy am y dirgelwch a sut ddaeth Griff yn rhan bwysig o stori’r Brenin ei hun!
Beth oedd yn dda am y llyfr?
Yn anffodus, wnes i byth ddysgu am y cyfnod yma yn hanes Cymru pan oeddwn yn yr ysgol, felly roedd hi’n ddiddorol iawn cael dysgu mwy am fy ngwlad ers talwm a sut oedd pethau’n arfer bod.
Yn wahanol i lawer o straeon, mae’r stori i gyd yn cael ei adrodd o safbwynt Griff, y ci, yn hytrach na storïwr arall. Felly, mae’r stori’n cael ei hadrodd yn y person 1af - ond mae’r person yn anifail! Dwi’n meddwl bydd unrhyw un sy’n hoffi anifeiliaid yn poeni’n fawr am beth fydd yn digwydd i Griff druan a byddent eisiau gorffen y llyfr i gael yr atebion.
Mae’r llyfr yn gwneud hanes Cymru yn fwy diddorol drwy greu stori ffuglen gyffrous sydd hefyd yn cynnwys ffeithiau hanesyddol go iawn. Mae’r ffeithiau yn cuddio o fewn y stori – prin eich bod chi’n sylweddoli eich bod yn dysgu pethau Newydd…
Ar ddechrau’r stori ac ar y diwedd, mae ‘na nodiadau diddorol sy’n rhoi dipyn mwy o gyd-destun i’r stori. Mae’r nodiadau yn esbonio pwy oedd y Brenin Hywel ac mae’n esbonio dipyn ar y gyfraith draddodiadol. Fe wnaeth y stori i mi fynd i ddarllen mwy am gyfraith Hywel dda, achos roeddwn i eisiau gwybod mwy am rai o’r rheolau sy’n teimlo’n rhyfedd iawn erbyn heddiw. E.e. fod 'na ddirwy (fine) amrywiol am niwed i wahanol ddarnau o’r corff!
Roedd o’n cŵl darllen fod gan ferched fwy o hawliau yng Nghymru ers talwm na mewn llawer o wledydd eraill! Cymru yn arwain y ffordd - wrth gwrs!
Oedd ‘na gymeriadau da?
Dwi’n meddwl fod llyfr ble mae’r prif gymeriad yn gi yn rhywbeth gwahanol iawn ac roeddwn i’n hoffi gweld y byd drwy lygaid anifail. Fe wnaeth hi gymryd ‘chydig o ddarllen cyn i mi sylweddoli pwy oedd yn adrodd yr hanes.
Mae’r marchog yn ddyn drwg iawn – tybed beth fydd yn digwydd iddo?
Fysa rhywbeth yn gallu cael ei wella/newid?
Dwi’n meddwl byddai’r llyfr wedi gallu gwneud gyda lluniau tu fewn er mwyn helpu i gyfleu’r stori. Dwi’n gwybod mai geiriau yw’r prif beth mewn llyfr, ond mae gan y lluniau ran bwysig i chwarae. Dwi’n meddwl byddai ambell lun wedi helpu darllenwyr iau i ddychmygu rhai o’r sefyllfaoedd.
Ar gyfer pa oedran mae’r llyfr?
Hmmm. Mae hwn wastad yn gwestiwn anodd. Mae’n dibynnu ar lot o bethau. Yn sicr byddwn i’n argymell y llyfr yma i bobl sy’n mwynhau darllen am hanes (ac anifeiliaid!) Tydi’r iaith yn y llyfr ddim yn anodd anodd, ond tydi o ddim yn hawdd chwaith felly yn fy marn i, mae o ar gyfer darllenwyr hyderus, aeddfed. Os faswn i’n gorfod rhoi oedran, mi fyddwn i’n dweud Bl.5/6 ac ymlaen i’r uwchradd.
Wrth gwrs, mi all hwn fod yn llyfr byddai oedolyn yn gallu darllen i blentyn ac felly dwi’n meddwl byddai plant iau yn gallu ei mwynhau hi hefyd wedyn.
Darn ar gyfer y rhieni (ac athrawon)
Dwi am fod yn onest, fydd y llyfr yma ddim i bawb. Dwi’n meddwl y bydd o’n fwy tebygol o apelio at blant sy’n darllen dipyn yn barod. Efallai faswn i ddim yn dewis y llyfr yma ar gyfer rhywun sydd ddim yn darllen fel rheol, achos nad oes digon o ‘action’ neu hiwmor ynddo i gadw diddordeb darllenwyr anfoddog.
Ond, o safbwynt athro, dwi MOR falch fod cwmni fel Gwasg Carreg Gwalch yn cyhoeddi nofelau hanesyddol sydd â gogwydd Cymreig. Mae’n bwysig iawn fod ein plant yn cael cyfleoedd i ddysgu am hanes Cymru yn hytrach na dim ond hanes Lloegr fel cefais i yn yr ysgol gynradd. Athrawon - mi fydd y llyfr yma’n ticio sawl bocs ar gyfer y Cwricwlwm Newydd ac maen berffaith fel llyfr i fwynhau gyda’r dosbarth ddiwedd y prynhawn.
Ambell syniad trawsgwricwlaidd yn deillio o’r llyfr:
· Gwaith ymchwil ar fleiddiaid
· Ysgrifennu – ymson y ci, neu ddyddiadur Nest
· Gwaith ymchwil rheolau Hywel Dda – cyfleoedd trafod/mynegi barn
· Daearyddiaeth – edrych ar deyrnas Hywel Dda (Seisyllwg, Dyfed, Brycheiniog, Gwynedd a Phowys
· Rhifedd yn deillio o’r hen arian (e.e. 240 ceiniog mewn punt)
When was the story set?
The book is set in Wales a long, long time ago, during the reign of the King, known in Welsh as Hywel Dda. (Howel the Good, or Hywel ap Cadell) He was King who reigned over most of Wales and was responsible for introducing important rules called the Laws of Hywel Dda. These were the traditional laws of Wales, before Wales had to become part of the United Kingdom.
What happens in the book? (The Plot)
Nest, a young girl, has to escape with her dog, Griff, because he has done something very bad (in the eyes of the law). In the middle of the night, the half-dog, half wolf, has bitten an important knight and he wants revenge! They must escape and hide from the troops so they seek refuge in the monastery with the Abbot Cynwrig.
Nest’s father, Gronw, used to be a very important man in the community as he was the blacksmith but he had to leave Llangurig in self-imposed exile. What had he done that was so bad as why did the dog bite in the first place? Things are not as they seem…
Come and read more about this mystery and how Griff became an important part of the King's own story!
What was good about the book?
Unfortunately, I never learned about this period in Welsh history when I was in school so it was fascinating to learn more about my country long ago and how things used to be.
Unlike many stories, the story is all told from the perspective of Griff, the dog, rather than another narrator. So, the story is told in the 1st person but that person is an animal! I think anyone who likes animals will be very concerned about poor Griff and will want to finish the book to know what happens to him.
The book makes Welsh history more interesting by creating an exciting fictional story around true facts. These are scattered cleverly amongst the story – you hardly realise you are learning new things…
At the beginning of the story and at the end, there are interesting notes that give the story a bit more context. The notes explain who King Hywel was and explains more about his laws. The story made me go and find out more about these laws – some seem quite strange to us today. For example – did you know there were different fines for damage done to different limbs of the body?
It was pretty cool to read that women had more rights in Wales long ago than they had in many other countries! A fine example of Wales leading the way, even back then!
Were there good characters?
I think a book where the main character is a dog is something rather different and I enjoyed seeing the world through the eyes of an animal. It took me awhile to realise what was going on though!
The knight is a very naughty man – I wonder what will happen to him?
What would you improve/change?
I think the book could have done with illustrations to help communicate the story. I know that words are the main part of a book, but the pictures have an important part to play too. I think some pictures would have broken up the story and helped younger readers imagine some of the situations (seeing as it is from an unfamiliar time period)
For which age is this book appropriate?
Hmmm. This is always a difficult question. It depends on a lot of things. I would certainly recommend this book for people who enjoy reading about history (and animals!) The language in the book isn’t difficult, difficult, but its not that easy either so in my opinion it’s better for more confident, mature readers. If I were forced to put an age on it, I would say Yrs.5/6 and upwards. (Up to Yr.9 possibly)
Of course, adults could read this book to a child too, then slightly younger readers could enjoy it also.
For the parents (and teachers)
I want to be honest; this book will not be for everyone. I think it will be more likely to appeal to children who are already reading a lot. I probably wouldn’t suggest this book for someone who doesn't normally read a lot, because there may not be enough ‘action’ or humour to sustain the interest of reluctant readers.
However, from a teacher's perspective, I am SO pleased that a company like Gwasg Carreg Gwalch is publishing historical novels with a Welsh orientation and flavour. It is very important that our children are given opportunities to learn about Welsh history not just the history of England. Teachers – this book will tick a number of boxes for the new curriculum and it’s one you could read to the class at the end of the day.
A few cross-curricular ideas derived from the book:
· Research on Wolves/dogs. Report writing.
· Writing – A dog’s monologue, or Nest’s diary
· Cartoon strips of the events or even ICT animation
· Hywel Dda Laws research – opportunities for discussion/opinion.
· Geography – looking at the kingdoms of Hywel Dda (Seisyllwg, Dyfed, Brycheiniog, Gwynedd and Powys)
· Numeracy from the old money (e.g. 240 pence in a pound)
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