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Adventures in The Middle Ages

 

These titles can be found in the YA section unless otherwise noted.

 

Adler, E.          THE KING’S SHADOW:  After he is orphaned and has his tongue cut out in a clash, Evyn is sold as a slave and serves many masters.

 

J Fic Avi          CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD:  Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy flees his village and meets a juggler with a secret.

 

J Fic Barrett.    ANNA OF BYZANTIUM:  Teenage princess Anna Comnena fights for her birthright, the throne to the Byzantine Empire, which she fears will be taken from her by her younger brother John because he is a boy.

 

Cadnum, M.     THE BOOK OF THE LION:  After his master is brutally punished for alleged cheating, seventeen-year-old Edmund finds himself traveling to the Holy Land as squire to a knight crusader on his way to join the forces of Richard Lionheart.

 

Cadnum, M.     FORBIDDEN FOREST:  The story of Little John and Robin Hood: Profiles Little John, from his quiet life before joining Robin Hood through his adventures protecting a beautiful lady wrongfully accused of murder.

 

Crossley-Holland, K.    AT THE CROSSING-PLACES:  In late 12th century England, 13 year-old Arthur goes to begin his new life as a squire, where crusaders ready themselves.

 

Crossley-Holland, K.    THE SEEING STONE:  In late twelfth-century England, 13 year-old  Arthur recounts how Merlin gives him a magical seeing stone.

 

Cushman, K.    CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY:  The 13 year-old daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures and her efforts to avoid being married off.

 

Cushman, K.    THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE:  In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.

 

Cushman, K.    MATILDA BONE:  Fourteen-year-old Matilda, an apprentice bonesetter and practitioner of medicine in a village in medieval England, tries to reconcile the various aspects of her life, both spiritual and practical.

 

Dana, B.           YOUNG JOAN:  Joan, a girl growing up in the French countryside during the Hundred Years' War, begins to hear voices telling her she is destined to reunite her torn country in opposition to the English invaders.

 

Doyle, D.         KNIGHT’S WYRD:  Will Odosson sets out on a series of dangerous adventures after a wizard predicts that he will meet his death before a year has passed.

 

Garden, N.       DOVE AND SWORD: A novel of Joan of Arc:  In 1455, in France, a brother of Joan of Arc reminisces about his childhood with Joan and her subsequent trial and burning at the stake at Rouen twenty-four years before.

 

Goodman, J.     THE WINTER HARE:  In 1140, with England divided between the supporters of King Stephen and those of the Empress Matilda, 12 year-old Will soon finds himself involved in dangerous intrigues and adventures.

 

Hunter, M.       THE KING’S SWIFT RIDER:  Unwilling to fight but feeling a sense of duty, sixteen-year-old Martin joins Scotland's rebel army as a swift rider and master of espionage for the leader, Robert the Bruce.

 

Konigsburg       PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER  While waiting in heaven for divine judgment to be passed on her second husband, Eleanor of Aquitaine and three of the people who knew her well recall the events of her life.

 

Leighton, M.     JUDITH OF FRANCE:  The story of one of history’s most fascinating princesses.  Her life as a queen is full of danger as she flees the Vikings and later defends herself against the hostile Saxons after her husband dies.

 

Levitin, S.         THE CURE:  A boy in 2407 collides with the past when he finds himself in 1348 facing the anti-Semitism that sweeps through Europe during the Black Plague.

 

Morressy, J.     THE JUGGLER:  Beran makes a pact with the devil to become the greatest juggler in the world.

 

Morris, G.        PARSIFAL’S PAGE:  In medieval England, Piers' dream comes true when he becomes page to Parsifal, a peasant whose quest for knighthood reveals important secrets about both of their families.

 

O’Dell, S.         ROAD TO DAMIETTA:  Cecilia, a young noblewoman of Assisi, watches as Francis turns from his life of wealth and privilege, takes vows of poverty, and devotes himself to serving God by helping all those around him.

 

Pierce, T.         SONG OF THE LIONESS SERIES:  Book One in the series is Alanna: the first adventure.  Eleven-year-old Alanna, who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl, disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, learning many hard lessons along her path to high adventure.

 

Skurzynski        MANWOLF:  Only when he finally reaches adolescence does a boy, living in medieval Poland, realize people think he is a werewolf.    

  

Skurzynski        SPIDER’S VOICE: Because he is a young mute person who can hear, Aran becomes involved in the adventures of Eloise and Abelard, France's most famous lovers, who lived during the twelfth century.

 

Springer, N.     I AM MORDRED:  a tale from Camelot:  When Mordred learns the identity of his father, he struggles with feelings of hatred, but also fights the fate which determines that he kill the good and gracious king.

 

Springer, N.     I AM MORGAN le FAY:  a tale from Camelot:  In a war-torn England where her half-brother Arthur will eventually become king, the young Morgan le Fay comes to realizes that she has magic powers and links to the faerie world.

 

Springer, N.     LIONCLAW: a tale of Rowan Hood: Lionel, minstrel in the outlaw band of Rowan Hood, daughter of Robin, tries to find his courage when she is abducted.

 

Strauss, V.       THE LADY OF RHUDDESMERE:  Geraint is sent from his father's castle to live in a household in which the practices of an ancient heresy have survived into the fifteenth century.

 

J Fic Sutcliffe, R.          SWORD SONG:  At sixteen, Bjarni is cast out of the Norse settlement in the Angles' Land for an act of oath-breaking and spends five years sailing the west coast of Scotland and witnessing the feuds of the clan chiefs living there.

 

Sutcliffe, R.       DAWN WIND:  A story of 6th-century Britain and the grueling 12-year odyssey of a farm boy who survives the Saxon victory at the great battle at Aquae Sulis.

 

Sutcliffe, R.       KNIGHT’S FEE:  Tells the story of Randal, a half-Saxon half-Breton lad in Norman England, an orphan left to fend for himself as a dog-boy in Arundel castle, and details his gradual rise to knighthood and freedom, at a terrible price.

 

Sutcliffe, R.       SHINING COMPANY:  Britain in 600 A.D. forms a vibrant backdrop for this gripping action-adventure tale concerning the son of a feudal chieftain.

 

Sutcliffe, R.       SUN HORSE, MOON HORSE:  A young boy in pre-Roman England becomes chieftain of his tribe and learns just how much he must sacrifice for his people.

 

Temple, F.        THE RAMSAY SCALLOP:  At the turn of the fourteenth century in England fourteen-year-old Elenor finds her betrothal to an ambitious lord's son launching her on a memorable pilgrimage to far-off Spain.

 

Tomlinson, T.   CHILD OF THE MAY:  Young Magda helps Robin Hood's men rescue Matilda and her daughter from the clutches of the Sheriff of Nothingham's evil henchman.

 

Vining, E.         ADAM OF THE ROAD:  The adventures of Adam, as he travels the open roads of 13th century England searching for his missing father, a minstrel, and his dog.

 

Voigt, C.          JACKAROO:  When hard times among the People revive the old stories of the          hero Jackaroo, an innkeeper's daughter follows her own quest to unlock the secret reality behind the legend.

 

Willard, B.        THE LARK AND THE LAUTEL: When her father goes into exile after the fall of Richard III, a sheltered girl is sent to stay with an unconventional aunt.

 

Williams, L.      THE EXECUTIONER’S DAUGHTER:  Thirteen-year-old Lily, daughter of the town's executioner living in 15th century Europe, decides whether to fight against her destiny or to rise above her fate.

 

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