The Horn Book Guide

THE ARTS

Schlitz, Laura Amy

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village

85 pp. | Candlewick | August, 2007 | Trade ISBN 978-0-7636-1578-9 $18.99

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Robert Byrd. Schlitz presents seventeen monologues and two dialogues about life in the Middle Ages. Rhythm and style vary, from breathless phrases describing a boar hunt to more lighthearted rhymes. Schlitz conveys information about class, attitudes, and social practices through the monologues, footnote-like sidebars, and six spreads titled "A Little Background." Byrd's pen-and-ink illustrations in opulent colors are pristine and elegant.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2007