Schlitz, Laura Amy. 2007. GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! VOICES FROM A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE. Ill. by Robert Byrd. Massachusets: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763615789
GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! VOICES FROM A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE is a book of short monologs and two skits for two actors, where the “spacious layout and generous font size facilitate readalouds (Bush).” Winning the 2008 Newbery medal, this book contains skits that portray the feelings and captures a small segment of the character’s life in the medieval village. Schlitz incorporates tid-bits of historical data and word meanings as side notes for each of the skits. Schlitz also interjects sections of historical background on topics such as crusades, pilgrimages, and falconry. “Her language is forceful, and learning slips in on the sly (Schwartz).” These skits would be an interesting way to teach the relationships that existed in these villages and explain how the class structure of the society worked. Many interesting discussions on the social relationships and social structures can be initiated through these skits.
Byrd’s simplistic illustrations portray a small segment of each skit. The penciled cartoon-like characters bring a fantasy or fairy-tale world quality to the stories. The tone of the illustrations is very melancholy, making the reader feel as if the medieval times being portrayed were not happy ones, which goes against the normal “rose colored” world that is often shown.
References:
Bush, Elizabeth. 2007. Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. 61 (1): 51-52. Accessed on-line January 2008.
Schwartz, John. 2007. New York Times Book Review. 112 (50): 21. Accessed on-line January 2008.
GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! VOICES FROM A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE is a book of short monologs and two skits for two actors, where the “spacious layout and generous font size facilitate readalouds (Bush).” Winning the 2008 Newbery medal, this book contains skits that portray the feelings and captures a small segment of the character’s life in the medieval village. Schlitz incorporates tid-bits of historical data and word meanings as side notes for each of the skits. Schlitz also interjects sections of historical background on topics such as crusades, pilgrimages, and falconry. “Her language is forceful, and learning slips in on the sly (Schwartz).” These skits would be an interesting way to teach the relationships that existed in these villages and explain how the class structure of the society worked. Many interesting discussions on the social relationships and social structures can be initiated through these skits.
Byrd’s simplistic illustrations portray a small segment of each skit. The penciled cartoon-like characters bring a fantasy or fairy-tale world quality to the stories. The tone of the illustrations is very melancholy, making the reader feel as if the medieval times being portrayed were not happy ones, which goes against the normal “rose colored” world that is often shown.
References:
Bush, Elizabeth. 2007. Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. 61 (1): 51-52. Accessed on-line January 2008.
Schwartz, John. 2007. New York Times Book Review. 112 (50): 21. Accessed on-line January 2008.
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