July 27, 2004
Adam of the Road
And we're back to the Middle Ages again... This time for Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray (Illustrated by Robert Lawson), The Viking Press, New York: 1942, 317 pages, ISBN: 0670104353, which won the Newbery Award in 1943.
The book tells the adventures of eleven-year-old Adam Quartermayne, son of Roger the famous minstrel, as he travels the open roads of thirteenth-century England searching for his missing father and his stolen red spaniel, Nick. It ties in wonderfully with the other middle ages books I've been reading, touching on many of the same themes and adding more detail and engaging stories to life on the road and in the villages and castles during that time.
One reviewer writes, "In one boy's travels between June and April, this story delivers a rich and varied picture of life in medieval England, from its seedy inns to its gracious courts, from pious church people to the crude and crooked, from bustling fairs to desolate roads, from cloistered academies to the plowman's team. Every season, and many picturesque settings, passes into view at an interesting and, indeed, pivotal period of English history. Yet at the same time, the book warmly and faithfully focuses on the warm heart and fierce devotion of its charming, determined young hero." (Robbie Fischer)
Searching around for the book online, it is clear that it is used in many classrooms and libraries around the country. There are many teacher guides and activities associated with the book, and it is often compared to Crispin.
Just one more Middle Ages book to go for this assignment...