The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain [Hardcover]

Melanie Little (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2008

It's the Spanish Inquisition, and agents of oppression grow deadly for two teens.

"But there are times
when peace just becomes
a broken mouthful.
A word that no tongue in the world
Can pronounce."
- From The Apprentice's Masterpiece

"... like a young person's Kite Runner, a tale ... that both educates and enlightens in a time when we could all use a little more understanding of one another."-- Calgary Herald

"The brief narrative poems are small gems of insight and emotion... and resonate with contemporary connections."-- VOYA

"This riveting story is peopled by flesh-and-blood characters and replete with ... historical detail."-- School Library Journal

ALA/YALSA 2009 Best Books for Young Adults nominee

White Ravens 2008, International Youth Library, Munich

Fifteenth-century Spain is a richly multicultural society in which Jews, Muslims and Christians coexist. But under the zealous Christian Queen Isabella, the country abruptly becomes one of the most murderously intolerant places on Earth.

It is in this atmosphere that the Benvenistes, a family of scribes, attempt to eke out a living. The family has a secret-they are conversos: Jews who converted to Christianity. Now, with neighbors and friends turned into spies, fear hangs in the air.

One day a young man is delivered to their door. His name is Amir, and he wears the robe and red patch of a Muslim. Fifteen-year-old Ramon Benveniste broods over Amir's easy acceptance into the family.

Startling and dramatic events overtake the household, and the family is torn apart. One boy becomes enslaved; the other takes up service for the Inquisitors. Finally, their paths cross again in a stunningly haunting scene.

Melanie Little has crafted a brilliant and elegantly written story in verse about one of the most politically complex and troubling times in human history-the Spanish Inquisition. Drawing on extensive research, Little creates memorable characters, captures the turbulent events of the period, and emblazons horrific images on readers' minds. It is the work of a master.

(2009)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—In this novel set in 15th-century Spain at the time of the Inquisition, prejudice, bigotry, and ignorance destroy the peaceful coexistence of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The effects of this dismal history are dramatized in this story of two teens—Ramon, a Converso or converted Jew, and Amir, a Muslim who has been brought as a slave to Ramon's family. Written in prose poetry, the story's focus shifts from Ramon to Amir and then back to Ramon. Amir is treated by the Benvenistes as another son, making Ramon jealous and straining the relationship between them. Each teen has to make compromises in order to survive, and Ramon's choice estranges him from his father. Both protagonists demonstrate their courage as they struggle against the mortal danger in which they are placed. This riveting story is peopled by flesh-and-blood characters and replete with horrific historical detail. The challenging format renders it most appropriate for strong readers. This selection would be a good companion to Alice Hoffman's Incantation (Little, Brown, 2006) and Kathryn Lasky's Blood Secret (HarperCollins, 2004).—Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
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From Booklist

The subject and the history are enthralling (the lives of secret Jews and Muslims at the time of the Spanish Inquisition in the late fifteenth century) in this tale of Ramon, 15, whose family members are conversos (Jews forced to convert to Christianity); and Amir, born Muslim, also forced to give up his faith, and taken in by Ramon’s family. Told in the first-person, free-verse narratives of the young men, the story depicts the horrifying atrocities committed in the name of Christianity––people burned alive, tortured, beheaded. At first Ramon is jealous of Amir, but in the end, the boys save each other. Unfortunately, it all goes on too long, and the repetitive personal details overwhelm the drama of betrayal and loyalty. 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.” Grades 10-12. --Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 310 pages
• Publisher: Annick Press (February 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554511178
• ISBN-13: 978-1554511174
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #518,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Apprentice's Masterpiece, January 26, 2009

By 

Jewish Book World Magazine (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain (Hardcover)

The end of the Golden Age of Spain is presented in free verse from the perspective of Ramon, a converso (Jew who converted to Christianity) and Amir, a Mudejar (Muslim living under Christian rule). Even though Ramon's family has converted, they live in constant fear and are considered second class citizens. Their work as scribes makes them even more suspect. The persecution, fear, and brief moments of happiness are related in short installments that reflect the tenuous relationships of the characters. Ramon's father's attention to Amir sparks jealousy and suspicion, with both boys leaving the house. Ramon becomes a scribe for the Inquisition in order to earn money for his family; Amir runs away after a dangerous misunderstanding and ends up in the middle of the battle for Malaga. At the end of the story, the boys reunite, but their future is uncertain. The free verse sometimes make it hard to follow the story line, but some lines are gems, as when Ramon asks Amir to write a poem to his girlfriend Bea, a daughter of an official, and Amir writes "Your lips are as red as the blood on the hands of your father." There are graphic details of the tortures and punishments suffered by "heretics" during the Inquisition, and readers will have to have some knowledge of the period to fully appreciate the story. Readers twelve and up will enjoy this historical fiction that hits on the timely theme of what is wrought in the name of religion or nationalism. Review written for Jewish Book World Magazine by Kathe Pinchuck

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Middle East youth Fiction book of the year, June 15, 2009

By 

meoc (Wash.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain (Hardcover)

Set in Spain, 1485, this book tells the story of two teens in Córdoba after the reconquest: one is from a Jewish family that has converted to Christianity in the face of the Inquisition, the other a Muslim boy given to them as a slave. Through short passages written in verse, the tale of these of these two boys unfolds as they witness the end of Spain's military campaign against the Moors and face their own uncertain futures in a country flush with nationalistic fervor that views them with suspicion. This book is simply written, but contains powerful and haunting imagery that will engage even adult readers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes verse works, and sometimes it doesn't., February 14, 2010

By 

Tower of Books "Krista" (Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain (Paperback)

15th Century Spain is a multicultural hub where Jews, Muslims, and Christians can coexist. Soon, however this will all change. Under the throne of Queen Isabella, Spain's people are forced to become Christians or face death. Even people who convert to Christianity face scrutiny like the Benvenistes, a former Jewish family of scribes. In a world full of spies, the family constantly fear for their lives. Then, one day, a slave by the name of Amir is brought to the household. While the rest of the household welcome him, fifteen-year-old Ramon is suspicious. Who is Amir, and can he really be trusted?

Told in verse, The Apprentice's Masterpiece is a story that should transport readers to a time period unlike their own. I, however, found myself bored most of the time. Part of the reason is probably because of my unfamiliarity with 15th century Spain. Initially, I thought this novel would be a great way to learn about the time. Not too mention, the summary sounded promising. Unfortunately, it soon became apparent, that without a clear background, I would not feel fully transported to the time period. Melanie Little provides readers with a prologue, so they will know about the time, but personally the prologue just was not enough.

One of the most bothersome parts about the book was knowing that if the story was not in verse, I would have enjoyed it so much more. I mean the parts that were not in verse (the prologue, epilogue) were good enough. While verse may work for Lisa Schroeder's books, Little's story of the Spanish Inquisition requires so much more explanation and depth, which verse simply does not provide. Despite my complaints, however, The Apprentice's Masterpiece did have some highlights. My favorite parts involved Ramon's Christian girlfriend (for lack of a better word). I also liked how Little switched the story from Ramon to Amir and back to Ramon. The novel shows evidence that Little is a talented writer, but for me, the verse just did not work. Also, I feel that if I knew more about the Spanish Inquisition, I would have enjoyed the story more.

The Apprentice's Masterpiece will appeal to readers who enjoy learning about the Spanish Inquisition.