10+: Crusade - Linda Press Wulf

Release Date: 04/01/11

BOOK BLURB:

Robert: Left on the steps of a church as a baby, Robert was often hungry but never stole food like the other orphans in town. Introverted and extraordinarily intelligent, he knew all the Latin prayers and hymns by heart by the time he was five years old. Georgette: Her own mother died in childbirth, leaving Georgette with a father who, seventeen at the time, had neither experience nor aptitude as a nurturing parent, and a brother known in town as Le Fuer - The Spitfire - for his terrible temper. Perhaps to replace something missing from their own lives, both Robert and Georgette are drawn to the news of a crusader, twelve or thirteen, no older than themselves, travelling down through France with thousands of followers - all, unbelievably, children too. Of those thousands, this is the incredible story of two. A story of hardship, loss and of love.


REVIEW:

With older readers fascinated with the Crusade, there are very few titles aimed at the younger market to allow them to get a flavour of the time. Here within this title, Linda explores the famed Children’s Crusade and brings to life this journey of thousands of miles to the reader. Each word is carefully sculpted to help bring this time period to life, each sentence beautifully constructed to allow the descriptiveness of the time to be brought to them. Back that up with some great characters that the reader can understand as well as care about you know that this story is one that deserves the young adults reading time. A real gem and one that I completely loved.

TEEN: The Owl Killers - Karen Maitland

BOOK BLURB:

England, 1321. Welcome to the Dark Ages. In the heart of the countryside lies an isolated village, where pagan Owl Masters rule through fear, superstition and murder. When a group of religious women ill-advisedly settles outside the village, they awaken dangerous jealousies. Why do their crops succeed? How do their cattle survive the plague? Are they concealing a holy relic which protects them from harm? The Owl Masters cry 'Witchcraft' and sharpen their talons. As torment and hellfire rain down, the women must look to their faith to save them from the darkness spreading across the land. Fear is a question of what you believe. And death alone the answer.


REVIEW:

With many readers wanting something a little different to whet their appetites and to flavour their dreams its always something special when something new arrives. What occurs within this offering, is a story set within the 14th Century with a touch of the supernatural making this a pretty unique beast. Add to the mix characters that just jump off the page backed up with an almost unique voice behind each one for when they’re telling their part makes this more of a community book rather than an individual. I’ll definitely be reading Maitland again.