BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
When a gentle monk finds a girl asleep in the barn with Answelica the goat, he takes her to the monastery to recover. The girl can remember her name, Beatryce, but not much else. However, as Edik nurses her back to health, he discovers that she may be the girl a prophecy refers to, and that her life may be in danger - the King is looking for her. So, disguising her looks by shaving her head, dressing her in monk's robes and warning her not to speak is not enough. When a boy comes from the village looking for someone who can write down a confession - the other brothers at the monastery are anxious to send Beatryce away (for their protection) and reveal that she can read and write. Now, Beatryce finds herself on an adventure, with the boy, the monk and a man who used to be a King.
As much as I love books set in the middle ages (Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale, Cushman's Midwife's Apprentice) I have a hard time getting the kids interested. Hopefully DiCamillo's reputation will help, as I think she has given us a well-told story with a bit of action, and a lot of suspense. Also, the goat, Answelica, was my favorite.
Lisa Librarian
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1 comment:
Also find it hard to get students interested in books like this. Will probably pass even though there are a few students who like The Tale of Desperaux.
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