Review:
Apr 20 2007
Pagan's daughter by Catherine Jinks
Read by Kellie Jones.
Louis
Braille Audio. 7 CDs.
Age 12+ Readers of the medieval Pagan series will delight in Kellie
Jones' narration of the adventures of Pagan's daughter, Babylonne, and
newcomers to the series will want to sample more. Threatened with
marriage to an elderly invalid by her tyrannical aunt and grandmother,
Babylonne decides to run away hoping to join the knights fighting the
French. Isodore, a priest who has known her father, is worried for her
safety and follows her. This is the story of her coming of age in a
time of great danger, a horrendous siege and when women were treated as
commodities.
Kellie Jones' voice captures the feisty character of 16 year old
Babylonne and her headstrong aim to avenge the death of her mother at
the hands of the French. The listener is immediately engaged with
Jones' captivating reading and easily follows the internal monologue
that Babylonne maintains as well as the real life conversations as she
makes her dangerous journey. The horrors of the siege are balanced for
the listener by the humour of Babylonne's language and thoughts.
Isidore's character is also captured beautifully by Jones' reading. His
education, gentleness and tolerance are well portrayed, as well as his
steadfast determination to safeguard Babylonne.
The listener is left with Babylonne's voice resonating and large
amounts of historical information about the Middle Ages absorbed
unknowingly along the way. The book is a 2007 Children's Book Council
Notable Book for Older Readers. Highly recommended.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007