kstring's review against another edition
3.0
Only marked as DNF because the audiobook expired before I could finish it (I made it about halfway through). I loved the story, though--very cute. The writing style/POV was a little difficult to get used to, but once I figured out how the story was being told, I liked it, and it all came together wonderfully. Plus, never hurts when there's more than one reader. I don't think this book was full cast audio, but it was close. There were quite a few readers. I'd like to come back and finish this book some day.
madisonboboltz's review against another edition
5.0
Tempted to reread this immediately after finishing
shanshantastic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rcliffordolson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
halschrieve's review against another edition
5.0
In 1242, in the area that would one day be France but was at the moment sort of a collection of kingdoms only kind of under the control of a king, live three eleven-year-old children who are all in horrible danger.
Black monk William, the son of a Spanish aristocrat and a North African woman, has been sent away from his monastery after getting into an argument with another monk and smashing a marble bench in what can only be described as a miracle. Peasant girl Jeanne, who sees visions of the future, has to flee her hometown after she witnesses the resurrection of a heroic dog that the townspeople revere as a saint, and promptly saves it from agents of the Church who have been sent to destroy it. Meanwhile, a boy named Jacob, equipped with healing powers, sets off alone to find his uncle, the Rabbi Yehuda, after the Jewish quarter of town he lives in is burned to the ground.
Tracking all three children is an Inquisitor (someone who works for the Church and decides if people should be persecuted by it). He hears their tale from a group of strangers at an inn who have each independently had contact with one or another of the children at different points along their journey. As each new person tells a story, readers get a better picture of everything that has happened—of course, that’s assuming that any one of these people is telling the truth.
This book is fun to read and full of bloody battles, witty arguments about religion, magical dreams, evil men with very sad backstories, and a diverse, thriving, artistic, funny, dirty, bloody society. It includes murderous Crusaders, piles of dung, farting dragons, stinky cheese, fools, bandits, and weak ale. It also includes prophetic dreams, friendships across religious lines, intelligent women and girls, efforts to rescue books from burning, brave warriors, a magic dog, and a great deal of hope about what we can make the world if we work together. As an added bonus, there are beautiful “illuminations”–tiny illustrations–by artist Hatem Aly, which trace the edges of each page just like they would in an old medieval book. Great for fans of The Tale of Despereaux, Jane Yolen’s The Young Merlin trilogy, or Serafina and the Black Cloak.
Black monk William, the son of a Spanish aristocrat and a North African woman, has been sent away from his monastery after getting into an argument with another monk and smashing a marble bench in what can only be described as a miracle. Peasant girl Jeanne, who sees visions of the future, has to flee her hometown after she witnesses the resurrection of a heroic dog that the townspeople revere as a saint, and promptly saves it from agents of the Church who have been sent to destroy it. Meanwhile, a boy named Jacob, equipped with healing powers, sets off alone to find his uncle, the Rabbi Yehuda, after the Jewish quarter of town he lives in is burned to the ground.
Tracking all three children is an Inquisitor (someone who works for the Church and decides if people should be persecuted by it). He hears their tale from a group of strangers at an inn who have each independently had contact with one or another of the children at different points along their journey. As each new person tells a story, readers get a better picture of everything that has happened—of course, that’s assuming that any one of these people is telling the truth.
This book is fun to read and full of bloody battles, witty arguments about religion, magical dreams, evil men with very sad backstories, and a diverse, thriving, artistic, funny, dirty, bloody society. It includes murderous Crusaders, piles of dung, farting dragons, stinky cheese, fools, bandits, and weak ale. It also includes prophetic dreams, friendships across religious lines, intelligent women and girls, efforts to rescue books from burning, brave warriors, a magic dog, and a great deal of hope about what we can make the world if we work together. As an added bonus, there are beautiful “illuminations”–tiny illustrations–by artist Hatem Aly, which trace the edges of each page just like they would in an old medieval book. Great for fans of The Tale of Despereaux, Jane Yolen’s The Young Merlin trilogy, or Serafina and the Black Cloak.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
4.0
What an odd little book! I'd heard mixed reviews from adults, and glowing praise from 5th graders, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
The narrative structure is excitingly different for middle grade novels: the story is chronological, but each chapter is narrated by a different speaker at an inn. The revelation of the "I" identity during these inn interruptions was juicy, with just enough tantalizing clues parsed out before the big reveal.
The genre is also enjoyably difficult to pinpoint: Is it historical fiction, set in the high Middle Ages? Is it magical realism, albeit where the "magic" and mysticism is based in religion and possible saintliness? The story certainly does not consider itself Very Quite Serious (dragon fart jokes, I'm looking at you), or even Somewhat Moralistic Preachy, although there were opportunities for didacticism. It made me feel like Wrinkle in Time, the feelings and morals are right there for taking. But I think that's a good thing - kids of this age group are OK with things, especially feelings and morals, being spelled out if the story is good enough to hold it. And this adventurous, heartfelt, sometimes quirky-weird, story is.
Well deserved Newbery medal, you.
The narrative structure is excitingly different for middle grade novels: the story is chronological, but each chapter is narrated by a different speaker at an inn. The revelation of the "I" identity during these inn interruptions was juicy, with just enough tantalizing clues parsed out before the big reveal.
The genre is also enjoyably difficult to pinpoint: Is it historical fiction, set in the high Middle Ages? Is it magical realism, albeit where the "magic" and mysticism is based in religion and possible saintliness? The story certainly does not consider itself Very Quite Serious (dragon fart jokes, I'm looking at you), or even Somewhat Moralistic Preachy, although there were opportunities for didacticism. It made me feel like Wrinkle in Time, the feelings and morals are right there for taking. But I think that's a good thing - kids of this age group are OK with things, especially feelings and morals, being spelled out if the story is good enough to hold it. And this adventurous, heartfelt, sometimes quirky-weird, story is.
Well deserved Newbery medal, you.
rsopher's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
darwinreads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0