Kirkus Review
For young readers, a satisfying rendition of a familiar plot: two children recoup their fortunes by mending an old family rift. With Father missing (he went on the Third Crusade with Richard the Lion-hearted) and Mother ill, Roger (11) and Alice (8) seek Uncle Raimond, a baron in nearby Bordeaux who disowned their mother years ago when she ran off to marry a poor knight. When the children are kidnapped en route, Alice (affectionately called ""monkey"" because she loves to climb trees) squeezes through a tower window, climbs down, makes her way to her uncle, and convinces him--in the book's best scene--that she is his niece. Realistically illustrated in soft pencil, the story has several strengths--lively action, authentic details, and sturdy, assertive Alice herself. Straining for readability, the dialogue is awkward, with too many jarringly colloquial speech patterns (the kidnapper says, ""What a life we could live. . .Undisturbed, like""). Satisfactory, but not outstanding. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3-4. A medieval background gives an unusual setting to this easily read novel that provides a bridge from picture books to longer chapter books. The protagonists, Alice and Roger, are on a mission to find their uncle-their father has been killed in the Crusades and their mother lies gravely ill. As they travel through a wood, two ruffians kidnap them, but Alice escapes and eventually finds their uncle, a baron who comes to their aid. While the plotting is contrived and the characterizations of Alice and Roger are too-deliberately drawn in nonsexist terms (Alice strong, Roger weak), the plot's direct movement will aid inexperienced readers, who may find this story their first exposure to the medieval milieu. In addition, the relative dearth of books for this age level may make the title worth purchasing. Charcoal drawings periodically break up the text. DMW. Brothers and sisters-Fiction / France-History-Medieval period 987-1515-Fiction / Middle Ages-Fiction [CIP] 87-26614
