Nosy Crow Published in conjunction with the National Trust ISBN 9780857639011 £6.99
John Drawbridge is a very young page in a large Medieval Castle, and is learning to become a knight. As often happened at the time, young boys were sent to rich and influential patrons to be trained for their future role in society. John keeps a diary of his training, except the diary is kept in his head, as he, like most people in Medieval times, was illiterate. Philip Ardagh’s quirky style of writing is amplified by Jamie Littler’s illustrations, filling the book with good-natured humour. We discover domestic details – cooking, eating and sleeping in a castle, as well as details about John’s knightly training. They also go hunting with hawks, and visit a monastery to see manuscripts being copied. But of course the highlight of the book is when the castle is attacked. The story may be fiction but the detail is meticulous. There is a lot of history presented in a very attractive, readable way in this tale. I read it from cover to cover, unable to put it down. Children will be captivated by the style as much as the story. Text level is very appropriate for Upper KS 2 pupils, and boys especially will like this book. What an enjoyable way to learn about life in a medieval castle, even if Widemoat Castle does not and never did exist. Brilliant!
Alf Wilkinson, The Historical Association