April Morning by Howard Fast  (120)
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Shadows On A Sword, The Second Book of the Crusades by Karleen Bradford  (2)
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of historical fiction may yawn at the prospect of yet another tale about a high-spirited heroine who is accused of being a witch mainly because she can read. But the heroine's conviction for witchcraft serves a startling purpose?as a plot device to get 16-year-old healer Ursula and her apothecary father away from 11th-century Cologne to join the People's Crusade. Bradford, who won the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award for this novel, stumbles a bit with the dialogue, which is an odd pastiche of prim archaisms and modern English. But she shines at portraying the often brutal lives of common people in medieval Europe. Focusing on the Crusaders' slaughter of Rhineland Jews, she demonstrates that intolerance and savagery toward "outsiders" was as unconscionable then as it is now. Ursula and her stonecutter companion, Bruno, are horrified at the carnage; later, they refuse to join their fellow crusaders in pillaging and plundering the villages en route to Constantinople. Although Ursula's safe return to Cologne and marriage to Bruno end the story on a happy note, the preponderance of the novel hangs heavily with woe and suffering. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8?Set in 1096, this light historical novel follows the adventures of Ursula, an apothecary's daughter from Cologne, into, through, and out of the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit. Ursula has thoroughly modern sensibilities. She reads, practices healing, saves animals, bathes frequently, talks openly to strange young men, talks back to her father's customers, opposes the aristocracy, and openly supports Jewish families. It is therefore no wonder that she is accused of witchcraft; sent on the Crusade; takes on the medical care of the haughty Count Emil; comes to the aid of an abused mother and her child; "adopts" the child upon the death of her mother; and, with the help of her friend Bruno, gets safely back to Cologne where she reopens the apothecary and marries Bruno. While there is plenty of action, there is little supporting detail. Bradford presents her characters, setting, and historical events by means of direct statements. This moves the story along quickly but gives readers no strong sense of place, time, or emotion. The author's narrative style also contributes to the fast pace of the plot. Sentences tend to be short, dialogue limited and terse, and descriptive passages few and simple. Characters are drawn very sketchily. Mad Peter the Hermit, for instance, is portrayed only as a distant figure who has no real impact on the plot. Ursula, herself, although not entirely believable, is a likable character and will appeal to readers who are content with a surface look at a girl growing to womanhood during this period.?Wendy D. Caldiero, New York Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
Fans of historical fiction may yawn at the prospect of yet another tale about a high-spirited heroine who is accused of being a witch mainly because she can read. But the heroine's conviction for witchcraft serves a startling purpose?as a plot device to get 16-year-old healer Ursula and her apothecary father away from 11th-century Cologne to join the People's Crusade. Bradford, who won the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award for this novel, stumbles a bit with the dialogue, which is an odd pastiche of prim archaisms and modern English. But she shines at portraying the often brutal lives of common people in medieval Europe. Focusing on the Crusaders' slaughter of Rhineland Jews, she demonstrates that intolerance and savagery toward "outsiders" was as unconscionable then as it is now. Ursula and her stonecutter companion, Bruno, are horrified at the carnage; later, they refuse to join their fellow crusaders in pillaging and plundering the villages en route to Constantinople. Although Ursula's safe return to Cologne and marriage to Bruno end the story on a happy note, the preponderance of the novel hangs heavily with woe and suffering. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8?Set in 1096, this light historical novel follows the adventures of Ursula, an apothecary's daughter from Cologne, into, through, and out of the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit. Ursula has thoroughly modern sensibilities. She reads, practices healing, saves animals, bathes frequently, talks openly to strange young men, talks back to her father's customers, opposes the aristocracy, and openly supports Jewish families. It is therefore no wonder that she is accused of witchcraft; sent on the Crusade; takes on the medical care of the haughty Count Emil; comes to the aid of an abused mother and her child; "adopts" the child upon the death of her mother; and, with the help of her friend Bruno, gets safely back to Cologne where she reopens the apothecary and marries Bruno. While there is plenty of action, there is little supporting detail. Bradford presents her characters, setting, and historical events by means of direct statements. This moves the story along quickly but gives readers no strong sense of place, time, or emotion. The author's narrative style also contributes to the fast pace of the plot. Sentences tend to be short, dialogue limited and terse, and descriptive passages few and simple. Characters are drawn very sketchily. Mad Peter the Hermit, for instance, is portrayed only as a distant figure who has no real impact on the plot. Ursula, herself, although not entirely believable, is a likable character and will appeal to readers who are content with a surface look at a girl growing to womanhood during this period.?Wendy D. Caldiero, New York Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
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Citations
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5
books
cite this book:
- Terrific Connections with Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers: Real Space and Virtual Links by Toni Buzzeo on page 114, page 121, and Back Matter
- More Rip-Roaring Reads for Reluctant Teen Readers: by Bette D. Ammon on page 78
- Archers, Alchemists, and 98 Other Medieval Jobs You Might Have Loved or Loathed by Priscilla Galloway in Back Matter
- The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood in Front Matter
- Children's Books About Religion: by Patricia Pearl Dole on page 108