![]() Although this is not subject matter to be enjoyed, mature readers will enjoy Little's masterful use of language. The economic, yet evocative, nature of Little's writing helps the reader to gain some understanding of such things as the horror of people being burnt at the stake, the hopeless depression of life as a slave on a galley ship, and the brutality of a medieval siege upon a city. Rather, the mistrust, corruption and brutality of the Inquisition are laid bare. Little tells her tale with concise, evocative words that lend a certain beauty to the story-yet it is not a tale of beauty. (starred review) Set in Medieval Spain at the time of the Spanish Inquisition, Melanie Little's novel in free verse, The Apprentice's Masterpiece, makes for a powerful reading experience. (Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle Sch School Library Journal ) ![]() The challenging format renders it most appropriate for strong readers. ![]() This riveting story is peopled by flesh-and-blood characters and replete with horrific historical detail. The brief narrative poems are small gems of insight and emotion, plunging readers into experiences of civil unrest, suspicion, and governmental abuse tht disturb and resonate with contemporary connections. ![]() What will hold readers are the facts of daily life: what it was like to be young when there were spies everywhere, looking for "secret Jews, and heretics / Such monsters must burn." (Hazel Rochman Booklist ) ![]()
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