Middle Ages (Medieval Times) Book List II

Clip art from www.teacherfiles.com

This is the second list of Canadian titles that deal with Medieval Times or the Middle Ages, which is generally accepted to have occurred from about 500 to 1500 C.E., after the fall of the Roman Empire until the Renaissance Era (14th c. to 16th c.). Several of these young adult books may be set in the 17th century as well.

Young Adult Fiction

1212: Year of the Journey 
by Kathleen McDonnell
Second Story Press
290 pp.
Ages 12+
2006
Based on a true story of a peaceful crusade in 1212 led by children, 1212 traces the lives of three multi-faith characters who search for answers to their questions about faith.

The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain
by Melanie Little
Annick Press
310 pp.
Ages 12+
2009
In fifteenth century Spain, the Benvenistes, a family of conversos (Jews who converted to Christianity) must keep their secrets well once Queen Isabella comes to power and imposes her intolerance on the country. After Amir, a young man in Muslim attire, is welcomed by the family, shocking events, including the Spanish Inquisition, transpire to divide and destroy the family.

The Battle for Duncragglin
by Andrew H. Vanderwal
Tundra
310 pp.
Ages 11-14
2009
From a mysterious cave in Scotland, a young boy is transported to late 13th century and the time of William Wallace's struggle for Scottish independence.

The Burning Time
by Carol Matas
Orca
106 pp.
Ages 13-15
1994/200
Rose, a fifteen-year-old girl, and her mother are accused of witchcraft in late 1500's France. 

An Earthly Knight
by Janet McNaughton
HarperCollins
255 pp.
Ages 8-15
2003 
After her sister is disgraced,  Lady Jeanette Avenel, the teen  daughter of a Norman nobleman in Scotland, finds herself betrothed to the king's younger brother and heir.

Crusade: The Heretic's Secret, Book 1
by John Wilson
Key Porter
348 pp.
Ages 11-14
2009

Grail: The Heretic's Secret, Book 2
by John Wilson
Key Porter
348 pp.
Ages 11-14
2009
Two teenaged boys, John and Peter, raised in a Catholic orphanage, find themselves on opposite sides of the Roman Catholic Church's crusade against the Cathars in 13th century France.

Nine Days Queen
by Karleen Bradford
Scholastic
200 pp.
Ages 13+
1986
The story of Lady Jane Grey who was forced to become queen of England in 1553 when she was only 15 years of age.

The Sinclair Saga
by Mark Finnan
Formac
154 pp.
Ages 13+
1999
The story of Prince Henry Sinclair of Scotland and his possible voyages to the New World in the late 14th century.

Ingamald
by Gail Sidonie Sobat
Spotted Cow Press
110 pp.
Ages 12-17
2001

A Winter's Tale
by Gail Sidonie Sobat
Great Plains Publications
172 pp.
Ages 12-17
2004

A Glass Darkly
by Gail Sidonie Sobat
Great Plains Publications
192 pp.
Ages 12-17
2006
This fantasy trilogy in a medieval setting tells the story of young Ingamald's battle to rid her homeland of Hinterland from the evil Morton Cornelius Winter, the self-proclaimed lord of the land.

Bleeding Hearts

by Alyxandra Harvey

Bloomsbury US

978-0802722850

304 pp.

Ages 14-17

2011

Bleeding Hearts, the fourth book in Alyxandra Harvey's vampire series The Drake Chronicles, introduces a new character to Violet Hill - Christabel, Lucy's cousin who has come to stay with them while her mom is in rehab for alcoholism. Lucy appreciates her cousin's company (even if Christabel is content to just read), especially when she's barely seen her best friend Solange, a newly-turned vampire, in over a month. Even Solange's boyfriend, Kieran, a Helios Ra vampire hunter, is concerned about Solange's odd behaviour.  Luckily, Lucy is still dating Solange's brother, Nicholas Drake, and is training with Hunter Wild, a student at the Helios Ra Academy and girlfriend of Quinn Drake, Nicholas' older brother, so she knows what's going on around Violet Hill.

And what's going on around Violet Hill is that it's no longer a quiet and safe community.  The dark, blue-skinned Hel Blar continue their nasty attacks, although many seem to be wearing copper collars and responding to a whistle summons now.  But, with a Blood Moon gathering scheduled, vampires, including a few articulate light-skinned Hel Blar, from around the world are converging on Violet Hill.

Although Lucy's parents have imposed an incredibly early curfew on the girls if they are unescorted, to keep them safe from the increased Hel Blar attacks, Christabel knows nothing of the paranormal activity and is convinced that she's street-wise enough to take care of herself. That's how she first encounters Connor Drake, Quinn's more modest twin, as she sneaks out for a walk.  There's obviously some subtle chemistry between them, but Christabel doesn't know he's a vampire.  That is, until she is kidnapped by the light-skinned Hel Blar, called Na-Foir, who believe she is Lucy and she can't explain away all the weirdness she sees.  Luckily, Connor has become familiar with Christabel's scent (how romantic!) and gets involved in her rescue, but not before he has to reveal his vampire-ness to her, negotiate with a Wendat and a pirate Na-Foir, and fight more nasty Hel Blar.

The requisite romance, Christabel and Connor's, will please teen readers of The Drake Chronicles, especially as both characters demonstrate an endearing modesty and the awkwardness of the first serious relationship.  But, by introducing Aidan and Saga as representatives of the new sub-species (I'm not sure if that is correct taxonomically), the Na-Foir, and Christabel who leaps from the naive human to something which you will need to read the book to learn, Alyxandra Harvey has enriched the series.  The impending Blood Moon gathering (and Book #5 in the series) is sure to create more conflicts from the developments in Bleeding Hearts, particularly as there may be every reason to believe that not all the romantic pairings will survive.

Alas, if there ever was a single-word sentence to end a book that could leave the reader dangling over a crevasse of trepidation, Bleeding Hearts has it.  Luckily, Blood Moon was released in June.

Nobody's Dog

by Ria Voros

Scholastic Canada

978-1-4431-1913-9

150 pp.

Ages 8-12

Available September 2012

Reviewed from uncorrected proof

Jakob Nebedy, almost 14, must feel like a star (the celestial kind) just hanging in the sky, without any connections.  Well, at least not anymore and very few.  Six months earlier his parents were killed in a car crash that has left him without any memory of the event.  Although he still lives in the family home, his mother's sister, Aunt Laura, an ER nurse, is his guardian, and she's barely managing herself.  Luckily before his parents died, Jakob had made a great friend, Grant, who had given him the guts to be J-man or J, rather than Nobody, a nickname given to him at school.  But Grant has moved to England, and it's the beginning of summer.  If Jakob had had a dog, like he'd begged for year after year, he wouldn't feel so alone.  But his dad had always said Jakob wasn't responsible enough to care for a dog.

Not surprising Jakob gets recruited to hang out with Libby, the eleven-year-old living with her mom Soleil in the basement apartment, when her mom's at work.   While eager to earn a few bucks to save towards getting a dog, Jakob is very conscious of Libby's relentless drawing and her knowing watchfulness.  Late one night, when Jakob sees a husky wandering outside his house, he follows the dog for hours, even feeding it, but being sure to tell Libby it was only a raccoon.  The husky, who Jakob learns later is Chilko, the pet of Soleil's new boyfriend, returns night after night.  Jakob, who feels like Chilko "gets him", discovers that roaming with the dog provides him with opportunities to connect with others, recall times watching the stars with his dad, experience his bolder J-man persona again, and even trigger his memories about the accident.

In Nobody's Dog, her first children's novel, Ria Voros has managed to create a perfect middle grade read attractive to junior readers: eleven- and thirteen-year-old protagonists, an engaging dog, secret outings, learning about oneself, and an uncomplicated and satisfying resolution.  Nobody's Dog lacks the saccharine nature of so many animal stories:  the heroic feats, the gushy love between child and animal, the evil pet-hater from whom the animal must escape, and the requisite happy reunion at the end.  Nobody's Dog is nobody's 101 Dalmatians. Nobody's Dog is a sophisticated story of survival and friendship layered with memories, youthful judgements and everyday living, with a noteworthy canine presence.

Sean Cassidy presents . . . August 27, 2012

* Celebrate *
the YoungIFOA
(Young International Festival of Authors)
and 

the Blue Spruce™ Award
 

with

author and illustrator
Sean Cassidy

on
Monday, August 27, 2012

at 1:15 p.m.

Kid's World
Exhibition Place
CNE

with a presentation and special reading of his picture book
Kazaak!

Outlaw in India

by Philip Roy

Ronsdale Press

978-1-55380-177-1

212 pp.

Ages 8-14

September, 2012

Since he was 14, Alfred has travelled in his twenty-foot, diesel-electric submarine (built by junkyard genius Ziegfried) from his home in Newfoundland around the Maritimes (Submarine Outlaw, Ronsdale Press, 2008); across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean (Journey to Atlantis, Ronsdale Press, 2009); down the St. Lawrence River (River Odyssey, Ronsdale Press, 2010); and into the Pacific and Mariana Islands (Ghosts of the Pacific, Ronsdale Press, 2011; reviewed here).  In his fifth adventure, Outlaw in India, Alfred and his crew (Hollie, the dog, and Seaweed, the seagull) have continued on from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and into the Arabian Sea, heading for India.

The sub's unregistered status has Alfred trying to stay under the radar and sonar of the authorities, but selecting to follow a ship that turns out to be a navy frigate (their first destination Kochi is home to a naval base) makes the submarine a target for three depth charges sent out to disable them and force them to surface.  The sub loses its power and Alfred loses his hearing but is able to safely manoeuvre to a deserted boathouse connected to a series of old warehouses.  With the help of a ten-year-old boy who Alfred discovers living in the warehouse, Alfred is able to get medical help for his loss of hearing, to get money at the bank, and to get food.  As helpful as the young boy is, he is turned away from many places and Alfred learns the boy is Dalit, an Untouchable.  Though he shows the boy the submarine, cooks dinner for him, and teaches him to play chess, Alfred doesn't learn the boy's name, Radji, until a kindly electrician speaks to the boy and writes down his name for the hearing-impaired sailor.

The discrimination which Radji endures as normal behaviour has Alfred buying him sneakers, clothes, sunglasses and a hat to help hide his Untouchable appearance, but Radji is determined that he will have a happy life if he uses the skin-whitening cream advertised everywhere.  It is this same determination that has Radji stowing away on the sub when Alfred leaves.  Luckily Radji becomes Alfred's ears and helps them evade those tracking the sub.

In agreeing to take Radji to Varanasi so that he may cleanse himself of his sins in the Ganges River, Alfred must find a place to hide the sub in Goa, from which they will travel by train to Varanasi.  A fortuitous encounter with an elderly woman, Melissa Honeychurch, who has lived in India all her life, changes everything - their travel plans, their futures, their ideas - and shows Alfred another side of India.

While Radji and Melissa Honeychurch become two significant characters in the Submarine Outlaw series, perhaps the most imposing character in Outlaw in India is not a character at all.  It is India.  The country, as Alfred experiences it, is a living entity, a complicated being of the expected (e.g., the heat and amazing foods) and the surprising (e.g., discrimination and kindness).

"Every country smells different, feels different, and looks different.  India was the most beautiful country I ever saw.  If you think of a country as being like an animal then India was the animal with the most colour, the softest fur, the shiniest eyes, the sharpest claws, the longest tail, and the prettiest face.  She also smelled the nicest . . . and the worst." (pg.76)

I am convinced that for Philip Roy to create a character such as Alfred, one of such compassion, wonder and insight, Roy must be such a person himself for the character to be so real.  Alfred cannot  be a creation of the imagination.  I also suspect that Alfred's experiences in India are those of Philip Roy, demonstrating the fullness of his own experiences there, probably making him an excellent choice for an author visit to a school or library.

Though the series could easily be promoted as a great adventure series for boys, the Submarine Outlaw books will continue to garner fans of both genders for its great characters and adventure with a frisson of the impossible and the hope for everything working out well (a.k.a. the happy ending). Readers will continue to find all that here in Outlaw in India, fresh and engrossing, just as each new book in the series has offered.  With Africa set to be the location of the next book in the series, there is even more to anticipate.

New Releases for Fall 2012

I've spent hours perusing catalogues from Canadian publishers, looking for new releases for my MUST READ pile.  I look for my favourite authors, new books in series, illustrators whose work I adore, and books with just something a little different that grabs my attention.  While not a complete list, the books I've included below are ones for which there will be much anticipation, at least from me.

Picture Books

• Maggie's Chopsticks by Alan Woo, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant (Kids Can Press)
• Mr. King's Things by Geneviève Côté (Kids Can Press)
• Mr. Zinger's Hat by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Tundra)

Fiction

• Nobody Knows by Shelley Tanaka (Groundwood Books)
• Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy (Bloomsbury/Penguin)

Young Adult

• And Nothing But the Truth by Kit Pearson (HarperCollins) >>> sequel to The Whole Truth reviewed here
  
• Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers (Scholastic Canada)
• Starling by Lesley Livingston (HarperCollins)
• Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada) >>> sequel to This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor of Frankenstein reviewed here
• Through Indigo's Eyes: Why Two Little Words Mean So Much by Tara Taylor and Lorna Schultz Nicholson (Hay House Visions)
  

Non-Fiction 

• Mimi's Village: And How Basic Health Care Transformed it by Kate Smith Milway, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes (Kids Can Press) >>>  part of the CitizenKids series
• Robbers! True Stories of the World’s Most Notorious Thieves by Andreas Schroeder, illustrated by Rémy Simard (Annick Press)

   

Picture Books 

• The Big Game by Gilles Tibo, illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin (Scholastic Canada) >>> sequel to Where's My Hockey Sweater? and The Best Goalie Ever
• A Few Bites by Cybèle Young (Groundwood) >>> sequel to A Few Blocks
•  Finding Christmas by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko (Scholastic Canada)
•  Goodnight, Canada by Andrea Beck (Scholastic Canada)
• I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Simon & Schuster)
•  Last Leaf First Snowflake to Fall by Leo Yerxa (Groundwood)
•  Toads on Toast by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack (Kids Can Press)
•  Wishes by Jean Little, illustrated by Geneviève Côté (Scholastic Canada)

Graphic 

•  Binky Takes Charge by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press) >>> sequel to Binky the Space Cat, Binky to the Rescue, Binky Under Pressure reviewed here
  
•  The Captive Prince by Scott Chantler (Kids Can Press) >>> third book in Three Thieves series

Fiction 

• Bookweirdest by Paul Glennon (Random House) >>> sequel to Bookweird and Bookweirder 
• The Boy in the Box by Cary Fagan (Puffin)
• Breakaway by Maureen Ulrich (Coteau) 
• Hunter by Eric Walters (Orca) >>> sequel to Catboy
• I am Canada: A Call to Battle, War of 1812, Alexander MacKay, Upper Canada 1812 by Gillian Chan (Scholastic Canada)
  
• Little Jane Silver and the Nameless Isle by Adira Rotstein (Dundurn) >>> sequel to Little Jane Silver reviewed here
• My Name is Parvana by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books) >>> sequel to The Breadwinner Trilogy
• Nobody's Dog by Ria Voros (Scholastic Canada) 
• The One Spooky Night by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by David Huyck (Kids Can Press)
• One Year in Coal Harbour by Polly Horvath (Groundwood) >>> sequel to Everything on a Waffle
• Outlaw in India by Philip Roy (Ronsdale Press) >>> reviewed here; fifth book in the Submarine Outlaw series;  Ghosts of the Pacific (#4) reviewed here
• The Piper of Shadonia by Linda Smith (Coteau) >>>  reviewed here
• The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen (Tundra)
• A Sea of Sorrows: The Typhus Epidemic of Johanna Leary, Canada East 1847 by Norah McClintock (Scholastic Canada) >>> Dear Canada volume on escaping the Irish Potato Famine
• A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag by Gordon Korman (Scholastic Canada)
• Shade and the Sorceress: The Last Days of Ti Dian by Catherine Egan (Coteau)
• Time Flies When You're Chasing Spies: A Halifax Mystery by Allison Mahar (Nimbus)
• Ungifted by Gordon Korman (Scholastic Canada)

Young Adult 

• Bright's Light by Susan Juby (HarperTrophy Canada)
• The Darkest Corner of the Universe by Urve Tamberg (Dancing Cat Books) >>> WW2 historical fiction
• I'll Be Home Soon by Luanne Armstrong (Ronsdale Press) >>>  reviewed here 
• Live to Tell by Lisa Harrington (Dancing Cat Books)
• My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt (Groundwood Books) >>> verse novel
• Not With a Bang by Gail Sidonie Sobat (Magpie)
• Pieces of Me by Darlene Ryan (Orca) 
• Rebel Heart (Dustlands 2) by Moira Young (Random House) >>> sequel to Blood Red Road reviewed here
  
• Redwing by Holly Bennett (Orca)
• Yesterday by C. K. Kelly Martin (Random House)
• (You) Set Me On Fire by Mariko Tamaki (Razorbill)

Non-Fiction

• A Long Way from Home by Alice Walsh (Second Story Press) >>> about those stranded in Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11

Picture Books 

• Checkers and Dot by J. Torres, illustrated by J. Lum (Tundra) 
• Checkers and Dot at the Zoo by J. Torres, illustrated by J. Lum (Tundra) 
• A Good Trade by Alma Fullerton, illustrated by Karen Patkau (Pajama Press) >>> a special story about a special day for a boy in a Ugandan village
• Lumpito and the Painter from Spain by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Dean Griffiths (Pajama Press) >>> based on the true story of Pablo Picasso's special relationship with a dachshund
• Miss Mousie's Blind Date by Tim Beiser, illustrated by Rachel Berman (Tundra) >>> from team that brought us Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog  
• Murilla Gorilla by Jennifer Lloyd, illustrated by Jacqui Lee (Simply Read Books)
  
• Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas by Mélanie Watt (Kids Can Press) >>> fifth book in the Scaredy Squirrel series
• That Night's Train Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Groundwood)
• Uncle Wally's Old Brown Shoe by Wallace Edwards (Orca) >>> more hidden objects and meanings from the master

Fiction

• Neil Flambé and the Tokyo Treasure by Kevin Sylvester (Simon & Schuster) >>> fourth book in the award-winning Neil Flambé series; Neil Flambé and the Crusader's Curse reviewed here
• Secret of the Village Fool by Rebecca Upjohn, illustrated by Renée Benoit (Second Story Press)
• Becoming Holmes: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case by Shane Peacock (Tundra) >>> the sixth and final book in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series; The Dragon Turn (#5) reviewed here
• Seven: The Series   (Orca) >>> introduced here

1. Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters
2. Lost Cause by John Wilson
3. Jump Cut by Ted Staunton
4. Ink Me by Richard Scrimger
5. Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock
6. Devil's Pass by Sigmund Brouwer
7. The Last Message by Shane Peacock

 
Young Adult

• I, Witness by Norah McClintock, illustrated by Mike Deas (Orca) >>> graphic thriller
• The Lewton Experiment by Rachel Sa (Tradewind)
• Oracle by Alex Van Tol (Orca)
• Shallow Grave by Alex Van Tol (Orca)
• Three Little Words by Sarah N. Harvey (Orca)

Non-Fiction

• Going Up: Elisha Otis's Trip to the Top by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins (Tundra) >>> part to Great Ideas Seried, In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up reviewed here
  
• The Hunting of the Snark, Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko (Tundra) >>> new illustrated version of Lewis Carroll's story
• One Step at a Time: A Vietnamese Child Finds Her Way by Marsha Skrypuch (Pajama Press) >>> sequel to Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan's Rescue from War reviewed here
• The Quiz Book for Spies by Helaine Becker (Scholastic Canada)
• Rescuing the Children: The Story of the Kindertransport by Deborah Hodge (Tundra)

 

Picture Books

• Dreamboats by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by Kirsti Anne Wakelin (Simply Read Books)
• Emily and the Mighty Om by Sarah Lolley, illustrated by Sleepless Kao (Simply Read Books) 

  Young Adult

• The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress (Dial, Penguin)
• The Geomancer's Compass by Melissa Hardy (Tundra) >>> futuristic setting

• Anna May's Cloak by Christianne Cicioli, illustrated by Susan Pearson (Simply Read Books)

  @yourbookstore   @yourbookstore   @yourbookstore  

I wish I could post an image of every book listed and even all those set for fall release dates but, as always, there are too many books, too little time, and too little money to purchase all these books.  Special thanks to Pajama Press, Ronsdale Press, Raincoast Books (including Simply Read Books), Coteau Books, Orca Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Scholastic Canada who have been very generous in sharing copies of their books with me.

The Piper of Shadonia

Written by Linda Smith

Coteau Books

978-1-550-505160

232 pp.

Ages 11-15

2012

With author Linda Smith's passing in 2007, The Piper of Shadonia has been published posthumously so the reader will need to look at Linda Smith's previously published books to enjoy the full extent of her award-winning fantasy writing.  If her other books are similar to The Piper of Shadonia, then they will show that the traditional fantasy novel, relying on an imaginary realm where magic can exist, is just as engrossing and fulfilling as contemporary paranormal fantasies.

Master Hamish Morgenstar, the father of fourteen-year-old Tobin, has just been installed as the mayor of Cradoc in the nation of Shadonia, one of the nations under Forenzian rule and Emperor Ferdinand.  Though he is schooled in the Forenzian ways i.e., those of the wealthier ruling class, and physically looks Forenzian because of his light hair, Tobin is proud of his Shadonian heritage, as supported by his father's mother, Gran, who continues to speak to him in Shadonian and tell him the stories of their people.  Even with his mixed background (his mother's father had been Forenzian but had converted to Shadonian), Tobin finds it tricky to balance his Forenzian advantages with his Shadonian background, especially when taunted by two Shadonian boys, Kasper and Graff, that his father was the "biggest boot-licking toady to the Forenzian emperor in all Cradoc." (pg. 8)  That assertion continues to plague and direct Tobin's actions throughout The Piper of Shadonia as he attempts to defend his father and his Shadonian heritage.

The appearance of a troupe of puppeteers in Cradoc heralds new conflict after Major Gurtin, a Forenzian officer, accuses them of inciting the Shadonians to rebel against the Emperor, and convinces the Mayor to have them arrested.  Tobin rushes to warn the puppeteers and ends up accompanying them on their travels.  So begins Tobin's adventure with the Ellabalm Puppeteers i.e., Balm, Ella and their daughter Gaby, along with the Shadonian bully Kasper.  It is during this time, while evading detection and watching behind the scenes, that Tobin develops his gift of becoming part of the landscape and calling forth the spirit of the river. 

The story in The Piper of Shadonia is essentially one of divided loyalties and reconciling the evil vs. good designation of people, both conflicts typical of all worlds, imaginary and real.  Tobin sways between defending his parents and their actions while supporting his Gran and other proud Shadonians who need to claim their heritage.  But which is the right side to support?  Are the Forenzians all evil?  Major Gurtin certainly is but what of the mayor who is threatened to follow orders?  And are all Shadonians innocent and good?  Even those willing to kill anyone who stands in the way, perhaps unknowingly?  With a pretty girl, an antagonistic troupe-mate and misinterpretations of all he hears, Tobin even has difficulties deciding who he is and where he belongs.

Coming-of-age stories tend not to be set in imaginary worlds of magical talents but Linda Smith has shown that the combination works.  What better way to depict the anger and confusion of the teen years than with a teen who has a gift for making himself unseen and for beckoning natural spirits?  Place that teen in the midst of a national conflict, seemingly pitting parents against friends, oppressor vs. the oppressed, emotions over reasoning, and Tobin must make some tough choices.  And isn't that what a coming-of-age story is all about:  making tough choices and some mistakes for the purpose of learning and maturing? In The Piper of Shadonia, Linda Smith has managed to balance Tobin's angst and subsequent development within the story of an oppressed people finding the means to stand up for themselves, all in a satisfying fantasy for young readers.