Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village
Encyclopedia
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village is a 2007 children's book
written by Laura Amy Schlitz
. The book was awarded the 2008 Newbery Medal
for excellence in children's literature.
structure, the book is constructed of a series of monologues, each spoken by a young member of a medieval
village. Each character has a monologue with the exception of Petronella, Jacob, Mariot, and Maud who have dialogues. The book was originally written to be performed by fifth-grade students at the Park School of Baltimore
, where Schlitz is a librarian. It contains nineteen monologues and two dialogues, the characters ranging from a runaway boy, to the lord's daughter.
, called Schlitz a "talented storyteller" and praises the book for its frank depiction of the Middle Ages. Nina Lindsay, chair of the Newbery Medal committee, called the monologues "superb" and stated that as a whole, they "create a pageant that transports readers to a different time and place." In 2008, Anita Silvey described Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village "as a book that most children would find inaccessible." The description was contained in a School Library Journal
article by Silvey, author of 100 Best Books for Children, in which she "criticized the Newbery selections as too difficult for most children." Writing for Slate
, Erica S. Perl responded to this criticism, saying that while her younger self might not have enjoyed the subject matter or archaic language, her "inner drama geek" would have enjoyed the theatrical elements.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
written by Laura Amy Schlitz
Laura Amy Schlitz
Laura Amy Schlitz is an American author of children's literature. She is a librarian and storyteller at Park School in Baltimore County, Maryland....
. The book was awarded the 2008 Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
for excellence in children's literature.
Overview
Instead of the typical narrativeNarrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
structure, the book is constructed of a series of monologues, each spoken by a young member of a medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
village. Each character has a monologue with the exception of Petronella, Jacob, Mariot, and Maud who have dialogues. The book was originally written to be performed by fifth-grade students at the Park School of Baltimore
Park School of Baltimore
The Park School of Baltimore is a private, co-educational K-12 school located in Brooklandville, Maryland, USA, just north of the city of Baltimore. The campus lies to the south of Old Court Road in Baltimore County...
, where Schlitz is a librarian. It contains nineteen monologues and two dialogues, the characters ranging from a runaway boy, to the lord's daughter.
Criticism
John Schwartz, in The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, called Schlitz a "talented storyteller" and praises the book for its frank depiction of the Middle Ages. Nina Lindsay, chair of the Newbery Medal committee, called the monologues "superb" and stated that as a whole, they "create a pageant that transports readers to a different time and place." In 2008, Anita Silvey described Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village "as a book that most children would find inaccessible." The description was contained in a School Library Journal
School Library Journal
The School Library Journal is a monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with a focus on technology and multimedia. Reviews are included for preschool to 4th grade,...
article by Silvey, author of 100 Best Books for Children, in which she "criticized the Newbery selections as too difficult for most children." Writing for Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
, Erica S. Perl responded to this criticism, saying that while her younger self might not have enjoyed the subject matter or archaic language, her "inner drama geek" would have enjoyed the theatrical elements.