[MR] 2008 Newbery Award--book on Medieval Village life

[Sharon Gordon]

This sounds as though it might be just the book for young bards.  The author
is a librarian in Maryland.

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberymedal.htm

The 2008 Newbery Medal winner is Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a
Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz , published by Candlewick.

In "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village,"
thirteenth-century England springs to life using 21 dramatic individual
narratives that introduce young inhabitants of village and manor; from Hugo,
the lord's nephew, to Nelly, the sniggler. Schlitz's elegant monologues and
dialogues draw back the curtain on the period, revealing character and
relationships, hinting at stories untold. Explanatory interludes add
information and round out this historical and theatrical presentation.

"Schlitz adds a new dimension to books for young readers - performance,"
said Committee Chair Nina Lindsay. "Varied poetic forms and styles offer
humor, pathos and true insight into the human condition. Each entry is
superb in itself, and together the pieces create a pageant that transports
readers to a different time and place."