triscuit807's review
3.0
2.5-3.0 stars. Set during the Renaissance, the story follows a young farmboy, Agenore, on his initial search for his father who had been an agent for a wealthy Florentian silk trader. The teenager, nicknamed Neno, (when unable to locate his father) is is taken on as an apprentice. The story is simply one of following him through his days, first in Florence, then later in Constantinople. That could be boring, but given what actually happens during this time period, notsomuch; there are the Medicis, the arts, foreign travel,plague, and the siege of Constantinople. But this is one of the Newberys that would never be published for children today. It would be deemed too complicated and additionally the author uses too many non-English words. I read this for my 2018 Reading Challenge and for my Newbery Challenge.
scaifea's review
2.0
A young boy leaves home to seeks news of his father in Florence, but ends up as an apprentice to a silk merchant instead, and travels with him to Constantinople.
Hm. This one seems a bit all over the place, and I'm not certain at all what it was really meant to be about, I'm afraid. Not one of my favorite Newbery Honor Books; it really hasn't aged well, I think.
Hm. This one seems a bit all over the place, and I'm not certain at all what it was really meant to be about, I'm afraid. Not one of my favorite Newbery Honor Books; it really hasn't aged well, I think.
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