BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schlitz, Laura Amy. 2007. GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! VOICES FROM A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE. Ill. by Robert Byrd. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763615789.
PLOT SUMMARY
Set in England in 1255, twenty-three different young villagers introduce themselves to readers through monologues and dialogues and give details of their life in medieval times. Schlitz offers this collection of one person plays to be performed by middle school students. These monologues are written in prose, rhyme and a few are written in two voices. Readers learn about farming, pilgrimages, marriages, religion, freedom and the crusades of the Middle Ages.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! is a Newbery Medal-winning book contains a series of monologues written to be performed by school children and tells of an individual child from the middle ages. The readers learn about people such as Lord of the Manor’s nephew, who risks his life in a boar hunt and Edgar, the falconer’s son who plots to keep his bird from the real owners grasp. Each story is told in first person so the readers can understand the lives of these twenty three young people who lived in Medieval Times. In between monologues, Schlitz offers short factual background on things like “The Crusades”. Footnotes are presented in sidebars and explain various phrases, terms, and factual pieces of medieval customs and history.
Byrd illustrates each monologue with pen and ink drawings. At the beginning of the book, he maps out an English Village known as “Medieval Manor” where every character appears. It shows where these young English boys and girls would have lived on a typical manor during medieval times.
This collection of monologues will be fun for young students to perform. As each person takes on a character, they will start to think what might have happened to these young people.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review from Booklist: This unusually fine collection of related monologues and dialogues promises to be a rewarding choice for performance or for reading aloud in the classroom.
Starred review from Publishers Weekly: Bolstered by lively asides and unobtrusive notes, and illuminated by Byrd’s (Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer) stunningly atmospheric watercolors, they bring to life a prototypical English village in 1255.
CONNECTIONS
Have students perform monologues.
Other books by Laura Amy Schlitz:
The Hero Schliemann
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair
More Books about the Middle Ages:
The Middle Ages: A Watts Guide for Children by William Chester Jordan
Knights: Warriors of the Middle Ages by Aileen Weintraub
Outrageous Women of the Middle Ages by Vicki Leon
Story of the Middle Ages by Michael McHugh
The Middle Ages by Sarah McNeill
Children and Games in the Middle Ages by Lynne Elliott
Women and Girls in the Middle Ages by Kay Eastwood
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395071143.
PLOT SUMMARY
In the late 1600’s a young girl named Kit travels from Barbados to the Puritan Colony of Connecticut after her grandfather’s death. She must transition from a life of freedom she had with her grandfather to a strict and religious life with her aunt and uncle. Kit is befriended by Hannah, an old Quaker woman known in the community as “The Witch”. Kit’s free and spirited-nature causes some residents to believe she is also a witch. Kit puts her life in danger to protect Hannah when the community suddenly embarks on a witch hunt.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The classic story of The Witch of Blackbird Pond gives readers a glimpse of Early Colonial America which details people’s beliefs and religious doctrines in the late 17th century. Kit, a sixteen year old, who’s wealthy and prosperous lifestyle, is short-lived once she moves from Barbados to New England to live with her religious Puritanical relatives after the death of her grandfather. Because of her impulsivity, harmless gestures and friendships, she must deal with the town targeting her as a witch. Amidst the politics and religion of the colonial world, Speares also presents a little romance with Kit and Nathaniel Eaton, the Captain’s son.
This book is full of information about life in a Puritan Colony. The reader gets a sense of the difficulties faced by early settlers such as religious persecution, political unrest, illness, and work in the late 1600’s. Young readers will enjoy this compelling story of Early Colonial America.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review from Horn Book: The New England of colonial times…is realistically drawn as background for a solidly written character study.
Review from New York Times: the book has a lively plot and excellent characterizations. The background has every dimension of reality.
CONNECTIONS
Discuss Puritanism in New England with students:
What’s a Puritan? Why did they come to America? What’s the difference between a Puritan and a Pilgrim? What would it be like to live in a family of Puritans? What is a Quaker?
Elizabeth Speare’s other Newbery Award Books:
The Bronze Bow
The Sign of the Beaver
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395071143.
PLOT SUMMARY
In the late 1600’s a young girl named Kit travels from Barbados to the Puritan Colony of Connecticut after her grandfather’s death. She must transition from a life of freedom she had with her grandfather to a strict and religious life with her aunt and uncle. Kit is befriended by Hannah, an old Quaker woman known in the community as “The Witch”. Kit’s free and spirited-nature causes some residents to believe she is also a witch. Kit puts her life in danger to protect Hannah when the community suddenly embarks on a witch hunt.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The classic story of The Witch of Blackbird Pond gives readers a glimpse of Early Colonial America which details people’s beliefs and religious doctrines in the late 17th century. Kit, a sixteen year old, who’s wealthy and prosperous lifestyle, is short-lived once she moves from Barbados to New England to live with her religious Puritanical relatives after the death of her grandfather. Because of her impulsivity, harmless gestures and friendships, she must deal with the town targeting her as a witch. Amidst the politics and religion of the colonial world, Speares also presents a little romance with Kit and Nathaniel Eaton, the Captain’s son.
This book is full of information about life in a Puritan Colony. The reader gets a sense of the difficulties faced by early settlers such as religious persecution, political unrest, illness, and work in the late 1600’s. Young readers will enjoy this compelling story of Early Colonial America.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review from Horn Book: The New England of colonial times…is realistically drawn as background for a solidly written character study.
Review from New York Times: the book has a lively plot and excellent characterizations. The background has every dimension of reality.
CONNECTIONS
Discuss Puritanism in New England with students:
What’s a Puritan? Why did they come to America? What’s the difference between a Puritan and a Pilgrim? What would it be like to live in a family of Puritans? What is a Quaker?
Elizabeth Speare’s other Newbery Award Books:
The Bronze Bow
The Sign of the Beaver
THE LAND
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Taylor, Mildred D. 2001. THE LAND. New York. Phylis Fogelman Books. ISBN 0803719507.
PLOT SUMMARY
This prequel to the Newbery Award winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the story of Paul-Edward Logan, the Grandfather of Cassie Logan. Paul-Edward is the son of a white plantation owner and a former slave. Although his father acknowledges him and his siblings, they are still unable to sit at the dinner table when there are white guests. As Paul gets older, he feels confused and resentment towards his father and is unable to fit into either the black world or the white world. At fourteen, he decides to run away to seek the one fortune he so desires, land. Taylor takes readers on a journey through Paul’s struggles and triumphs of acquiring his cherished land and finally making his dream a reality.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This 2002 Coretta Scott King Award-winning book tells an inspiring story of Paul-Edwards heart-breaking adventures of acquiring his dream of possessing his own land. The story is set in Mississippi during the late 1800’s after the Civil War. Taylor poignantly describes the aftermath of slavery in the Deep South. She brings history to life by her remarkable storytelling. Readers will feel a sense of sadness when Paul runs away and is unable to return home. They will also cheer when he overcomes many obstacles and fulfills his life-long dream of obtaining his land. The characters are well-developed and the well-rounded storyline helps readers understand the trials and tribulations people had to endure at that time. Taylor’s depiction of Paul’s determination and resiliency will have readers wanting to know more about his complete journey of hope and resolve.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review from Booklist: Readers…will grab this and be astonished by its powerful story.
Review from Publishers Weekly: Taylor’s gift for combining history and storytelling are as evident here as in her other stories about the Logan family. Taylor fans should hasten to read this latest contribution to the Logan family history, and newcomers will eagerly lap this up and plunge into the author’s other titles.
Review from School Library Journal: This historical novel brings this period of American history to life.
CONNECTIONS
Other books by Mildred D. Taylor:
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
The Road to Memphis
The Friendship
Let the Circle be Unbroken
Song of the Trees
The Well: David’s Story
Mississippi Bridge
The Gold Cadillac
Taylor, Mildred D. 2001. THE LAND. New York. Phylis Fogelman Books. ISBN 0803719507.
PLOT SUMMARY
This prequel to the Newbery Award winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the story of Paul-Edward Logan, the Grandfather of Cassie Logan. Paul-Edward is the son of a white plantation owner and a former slave. Although his father acknowledges him and his siblings, they are still unable to sit at the dinner table when there are white guests. As Paul gets older, he feels confused and resentment towards his father and is unable to fit into either the black world or the white world. At fourteen, he decides to run away to seek the one fortune he so desires, land. Taylor takes readers on a journey through Paul’s struggles and triumphs of acquiring his cherished land and finally making his dream a reality.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This 2002 Coretta Scott King Award-winning book tells an inspiring story of Paul-Edwards heart-breaking adventures of acquiring his dream of possessing his own land. The story is set in Mississippi during the late 1800’s after the Civil War. Taylor poignantly describes the aftermath of slavery in the Deep South. She brings history to life by her remarkable storytelling. Readers will feel a sense of sadness when Paul runs away and is unable to return home. They will also cheer when he overcomes many obstacles and fulfills his life-long dream of obtaining his land. The characters are well-developed and the well-rounded storyline helps readers understand the trials and tribulations people had to endure at that time. Taylor’s depiction of Paul’s determination and resiliency will have readers wanting to know more about his complete journey of hope and resolve.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review from Booklist: Readers…will grab this and be astonished by its powerful story.
Review from Publishers Weekly: Taylor’s gift for combining history and storytelling are as evident here as in her other stories about the Logan family. Taylor fans should hasten to read this latest contribution to the Logan family history, and newcomers will eagerly lap this up and plunge into the author’s other titles.
Review from School Library Journal: This historical novel brings this period of American history to life.
CONNECTIONS
Other books by Mildred D. Taylor:
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
The Road to Memphis
The Friendship
Let the Circle be Unbroken
Song of the Trees
The Well: David’s Story
Mississippi Bridge
The Gold Cadillac
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