Isabel - Jewel of Castilla by Carolyn Meyer

Length: 204, Journal Entries written over 3 years

I have taken this book review from: www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol7/no1/isabel.html and was written by Ruth Scales McMahon .

Isabel: Jewel of Castilla traces the life of Isabel of Castilla from Ash Wednesday, February, 1466, to her wedding day in October, 1469. Isabel was a devout Catholic. At the request of her confessor, she uses the journal to record and reflect on her commission of the Deadly Sins. The purpose of the journal quickly broadens and becomes a record of Isabel's life. These are turbulent times. Isabel's brothers Enrique and Alfonso are at war over the lands that comprise modern day Spain and Portugal. Isabel is used as a pawn. Her brother Enrique has the power to marry her off to whomever he pleases. He also controls her cash flow, which he promises and then does not follow through. After the death of Alfonso, Enrique double-crosses Isabel, and she sides with Archbishop Carrillo who masterminds her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon. It is important to know that Isabel is an ardent Catholic for she and her husband reigned over the Spanish Inquisition. This point, which is made early in the book as Isabel records her Deadly Sins, may slow down some readers' entry into this book. However, once the opening pages are read, the book takes off, and it is hard to put down. Isabel is a strong and resourceful woman, as are many of the women in her court. The volume is attractively bound with a painting of Isabel on the front cover and gold edging on the pages. In addition to the fictionalized journal entries, the book includes: an epilogue, historical notes, a family tree, reproductions of historical artwork, a note about the author, something about the Spanish language, and a glossary of characters. The inclusion of a "further reading" list with these appendices would have enhanced the work's value, however. Not only is this an interesting look at a fascinating time in history, but it is an exciting, captivating read, independent of the subject matter.

Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach

Length: 243 pages, 31 Chapters

This review is taken from the website: http://www.bookmoot.com/2005/09/shakespeares-secret.html

Hero and her older sister Beatrice were named for characters in Shakespeare's play Much Ado about Nothing. Arriving in a new town, Hero is facing a school year as a new kid with jokes and questions about her name. Unlike Beatrice, Hero is not socially adept and does not make friends easily. She does become acquainted with their older next-door neighbor, Mrs. Roth who tells her about the Murphy Diamond, a valuable gem that might be hidden in Hero's house. Surprisingly she is also befriended by a popular 8th grader, Danny who is the son of the city's police chief and also fascinated by the diamond's where-abouts.Hero discovers a mysterious connection between the diamond, Anne Boleyn and Shakespeare's plays which fires her imagination.This plot is cleverly drawn with historical details and intrigue. Hero and Danny are searching for more than a diamond and the reader is hoping they find their heart's desire.I truly enjoyed this novel. The mystery is very satisfying. One can hope it would also excite a reader's interest in Shakespeare.

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood

Length: 216 Pages, 27 Chapters

This review is taken from the website:
http://www.lookingglassreview.com/html/
the_shakespeare_stealer.html

Widge has had a tough life so far. After years in an orphanage he is apprenticed to a rector who needs someone to help him work on the shorthand that he's developed. Widge learns the shorthand and becomes proficient in it. In fact he becomes so good at using the shorthand that he is bought from the rector for price of ten pounds and is taken away by a tall, dark, frightening bearded man who calls himself Falconer. After a long journey Widge gets to meet his new master, a Mr. Bass. From this man Widge learns that he has been bought to provide a very important service. Mr. Bass wants Widge to go to see William Shakespeare's new play in London. More importantly he wants Widge to write down the entire play as it is being performed without any of the Chamberlain's Men, as Shakespeare's group is called, knowing what he is doing. In short Mr. Bass wants Widge to steal Shakespeare's play. The task should be an easy one but then things start to get complicated. First Widge gets so involved in the wonderful play that he ends up leaving out many of the speeches made by the actors. He goes back to listen to the play again and this time he gets caught and has to run away as fast as he can. Unfortunately Widge has his pockets picked and his precious notebook with his notations in it is lost. Now what is he going to do? Widge knows that Falconer will be most displeased with him unless he recopies the play or steals the actual playbook. As luck would have it Widge meets some of the theatre folk and before he quite knows what is happening he is taken in by them and given a job. Perhaps now he can steal the playbook after all. The problem is that Widge is finding it harder and harder to accept the idea of betraying the theatre people. They are so kind to him, and they make him feel as if he is one of them, that he has real friends for the first time in his life. This superbly written story is gripping, exciting and it gives one a remarkably lifelike picture of what Elizabethan England was like in general and what theatre life was like in particular. Widge's dilemma of being caught between the demands of his master and the affection that he has for his new "family" is poignant and easily understandable. We cannot help hoping that Widge will be released from his dangerous and illegal task so that he can at last have a safe and happy life. This is the first book in a series of stories about Widge and his life in the theatre.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Length: 310 Pages, 58 Chapters

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is set in 14th century England --It is a descriptive account from a young boy's point of view what the feudal system of the middle ages was like to actually live in. the story is historically accurate and set when Catholicism was the strong belief of most people in Europe.
I've taken this except about the book from the following website as I feel it accurately records what the book is about better then I can describe:

http://www.whippersnapperbooks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Crispin&Category_Code=SN&Product_Count=8

"The story is told in the first person by a young boy. As it opens, he and the village priest are burying his mother. There is some mystery about her: she lived in poverty but somehow apart from the other villagers. She was called Asta, but never told her son his name: he was known only as "Asta's son." With her death, the fragile protection she provided for him begins to crumble and he is suddenly attacked by the steward of the land, who razes (sets fire to) Asta's house, accuses her son of thievery and labels him a Wolf's head (someone who can be killed on sight like an animal). The village priest, Father Quinel, hides the boy and is planning to reveal something to him when he is murdered. Before his death, he manages to tell the boy that his mother could read and write and that she had christened him Crispin; he gives Crispin her lead cross, which bears an inscription. This is all that Crispin has, and all he knows, when he flees his village.
Crispin is in a deadly race with his persuers. Can he survive on his own? Can he trust anyone? Can he discover why he is being hunted before someone finds him and kills him for the Wolf's head bounty? We won't reveal more, but this book will keep both kids and adults up late reading -- maybe with a flashlight."

Graphic Classics-The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, Retold by Michael Ford

Length: 48 Pages, Graphic Novel

This graphic novel takes Victor Hugo's favorite story and retells it using pictures and in a graphic format. Unlike the other graphic novels each picture has writing underneath it to fully explain each graphic. The story has several main characters but centers around the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda and the men who fall in love with her. It is set in the Renaissance time period. Esmeralda is wrongfully convicted of a murder she didn't commit. She is rescued by the Hunchback who takes her to Notre Dame Cathedral. Unlike the Disney version this one is true to the original novel and doesn't have a happy ending. The story is grim but still very interesting. The last several pages of the book are filled with information about the author and about the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

Encounter by Jane Yolen

Length: 30 Pages, Picture Book

This book is about the Taino people who came into contact with Christopher Columbus when he landed on their shores. It's told from a young boy's point of view and how he tries to warn the people around him that bad things will happen to them as a result of their contact with the Europeans. It is beautifully illustrated and explains how the age of exploration impacted the natives.

Starry Messenger by Peter Sis

Length: 33 Pages, Picture Book

This book describes Galileo Galilei's interest in the stars and his theory's from a child to an adult. The book describes what Italy was like in illustrations during the time period. There are some large pictures that take some time to locate where Galileo is in the picture. It is a good children's book that describes Galileo's life and the trouble he faced against the Church.

Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press by Bruce Koscielniak

Length: 29 Pages, Picture Book

This book does a good job explaining how books came into being and who was responsible for creating the printing press. It explains how the Chinese and Koreans had a similar process to the one created by Gutenberg. It also explains how books were copied during the Renaissance and Middle Ages by Monks in monasteries. This picture book explains in kid friendly terms how the process of book making began and the different types of methods that were used.

Columbus's Chart by Gerry Bailey & Karen Foster

Length: 39 Pages, Picture Book, Stories of Great People Series

I read this book after Shakespeare's Quill. In this book the brother and sister visit Mr. Rummage at the Knicknack Market. This week Digby buys a chart that belonged to the explorer Columbus. The book again switches between the story and actual facts and information about the time period. It makes the time period relevant and interesting for students learning about the Renaissance and Medieval time period. It has lots of color illustrations and narration. At the end it also includes some facts and fiction and glossary to help students out with the difficult words.

Shakespeare's Quill by Gerry Bailey & Karen Foster

Length: 39 Pages, Picture Book, Stories of Great People Series

I read this book after Marco Polo's Purse and found the same characters are used in this series. Each story begins with a brother and sister that like to visit Mr. Rummage at the Knicknack Market every week. This week Digby buys a feather which is called a quill and holds great significance because it supposedly belonged to the famous playwright Shakespeare. The book again switches between the story and actual facts and information about the time period. It makes the time period relevant and interesting for students learning about the Renaissance and Medieval time period. It has lots of color illustrations and narration. At the end it also includes some facts and fiction and glossary to help students out with the difficult words.

Marco Polo's Silk Purse by Gerry Bailey & Karen Foster

Length: 39 Pages, Picture book, Stories of Great People Series

This book has several main characters that are used in this series. Each story begins with a brother and sister that like to visit Mr. Rummage at the Knicknack Market every week. Mr. Rummage sells the boy who is named Digby Platt a different object each week that has some historical significance. This book is about Marco Polo, an early explorer that recorded his travels throughout the early Asia. The book switches between the story and actual facts and information about the time period. It makes the time period relevant and interesting for students learning about the Renaissance and Medieval time period. It has lots of color illustrations and narration.

The Paint Box by Maxine Trottier

Length: 27 Pages, Picture Book

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book that tells of a famous artist's daughter and how she dresses like a boy so she can go around Venice with her father. She meets a servant boy from a far away country and hear's how his family sold him for food to eat. He has come to Venice and his master is being painted by the artist. The story follows the relationship between the two children and what happens to the two of them. The last page of the book has a description of the artist and the Renaissance time period.

The Second Mrs. Gioconda by E.L. Konigsburg

Length: 138 Pages, 22 Chapters

This book centers around Leonardo da Vinci's work in
Milan and the boy that he comes into contact with and offers him work as an apprentice. The boy's name is Salai and he is the direct opposite of Leonardo's character. Salai is a petty thief and is good at entertaining people around him especially Leonardo. One of the characters in the story is the Duke of Milan and the girl that he marries who he is not in love with because she is plain looking. Through Leonardo's and Salai's help the girl named Beatrice gets the Duke to fall in love with her by showing him her inner self and her appreciation for beauty and art around her. The book ends with the explanation of why da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa also known as The Second Mrs. Gioconda.

Elizabeth I- The Life of England's Renaissance Queen by Rob Shone & Anita Ganeri

Length: 48 pages, 8 sections, Graphic Novel

Like the previous graphic novel of the same topic it is similar but is more of an in depth look at Elizabeth I's life. The beginning is full of explanations of the Elizabethan time period, who the Tudors were and what their clothing was like. The book explains the Reign of the Queen and the murder attempts that were made on her life. It is very factual and true to the time period.

The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci by Susie Hodge

Length: 48 Pages, 8 Sections, Graphic Novel

This book is created by the same publishing company and has the same appearance as the Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada. Before students start reading the story it explains who the main characters are and what their importance is in the story. It also provides a map to explain where the major cities and states were located in Italy. The illustrations are very colorful and will help students to understand what it was like during the time period of the Renaissance. It explains everything from Leonardo's birth to his death and provides a timeline at the back of the book as well as some facts about his life. These graphic novels are a great way to get students to understand the history and time period of famous individuals of the Renaissance.

Johan Gutenberg and the Printing Press by Kay Melchisedech Olsen

Length: 32 pages, 4 Chapters, Graphic Novel

This graphic novel was easier to read than the previous Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada. The book was able to go into more detail than I have found in my other reading of Gutenberg. It explains how Gutenberg went about inventing the printing press and the troubles he went through to achieve his dream. The illustrations are very bright and colourful and there are great little facts in the back of the book and suggested reading and websites students can visit for further information.

Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada by Colin Hynson

Length: 47 Pages, 6 Sections, Graphic Novel

I found this graphic novel to be a very accurate historical account of Elizabeth I of England and her success against foiling Spain's plans for invading her country. It gives a detailed description of the important characters in this time period that were relevant to these events. I found the graphics great for visually explaining things like the "fireships". I think this is another great way for students to absorb historical fact in a new and interesting way. I would encourage students to take their time reading to this to really absorb the facts and enjoy the story.