Peregrine [Hardcover]

Joan Elizabeth Goodman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2000 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Driven by fear that King Stephen will force her to marry the odious Sir Runcival, fifteen-year-old Lady Edith takes leave of Cheswick Manor. In the year 1144 she and her faithful nurse, Dame Joan, set forth on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In going, Edith hopes to close the door on her secret sorrows. Almost at once the pilgrims are waylaid in the King's Forest by Rhiannon, a wild girl who will play a vital role in Edith's life. As they travel from the abbeys and manors of England into unfamiliar lands, Edith finds herself learning and growing in unexpected ways. And though shrines and relics are not what she'd sought, the Holy City of Jerusalem has something wondrous and important to reveal to her.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-This sequel to The Winter Hare (Houghton, 1996) is set in 1144, as Lady Edith, 15, her former nursemaid, and her companions set out on a pilgrimage from England to Jerusalem. Lady Edith has recently lost her husband and her infant child, and is desperately seeking something she cannot name and trying to escape a forced second marriage. At the beginning of the journey, the young widow is accosted by a wild woman who runs out of the woods and begs for protection. Against the advice of everyone in the party, she accepts the girl, who turns out to be a Welsh noblewoman, Rhiannon, who is also running from a life that others have chosen for her. Rhiannon has the ability to read Edith's thoughts and serves as her "helper" or "guide" as she goes on her heroic journey ? la Joseph Campbell. Edith is searching for spiritual guidance, yet when she finally reaches the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, her problems are not magically solved. Rhiannon helps her realize that she is holding on to her grief over her child. Once Edith is able to let go, she finds peace. Historical figures and places are smoothly woven into the story, as the party travels through England, France, Italy, Jerusalem, etc. A map on the flyleaf shows the pilgrims,' or peregrines,' route. The story would be a great companion to Frances Temple's The Ramsay Scallop (Orchard, 1994), and is quite similar in theme to Katherine Paterson's Jacob Have I Loved (Crowell, 1980) with its message about grace and redemption.
Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day School Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This companion to The Winter Hare (1996) takes up the story of 15-year-old Lady Edith, who has lost a husband and a baby, and is on the run from an odious suitor. In the twelfth century, one of the few ways a woman could get away was to go on a pilgrimage, and so Edith decides to take her loyal woman servant to Jerusalem. Traveling with them is Edith's brother; a monk and others from his monastery; Sir Raymond, a bodyguard; and Rhiannon, a strange Welsh girl who has attached herself to Lady Edith. The mystery surrounding Rhiannon is a compelling part of the book, more intriguing than the internal struggle Edith faces as she tries to come to terms with the loss of her child. But most invigorating is the journey itself: through England, France, Italy, and, finally, the Holy Land. Goodman plucks from history some strong women for Edith to meet along the way, and these characters balance the woman-as-chattel aspects of the story. A less successful device is the Jewish man, Judah, who becomes the group's guide in the Holy Land. The subplot involving the brotherly love that flows from group to guide seems unlikely. The book is at its best when it is true to the times, offering its own tapestry of medieval life. See the review of William's The Executioner's Daughter, below, and the Read-alikes column on the opposite page. Ilene Cooper

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395977290
• ISBN-13: 978-0395977293
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,733,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended for education market, April 13, 2010

By 

M. Sontag "Prof SJ" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Peregrine (Hardcover)

As a middle school language arts and social studies teacher, I don't recommend this book to teachers/students. Peregrine uses the vehicle of historical fiction to promote the ideals of social pluralism, which, while admirable, emasculate this writing genre of its power to engender readers' critical thinking abilities. J.E. Goodman oversimplifies some of the critical social and cultures differences during the 12th century in order to get across her message of, "Why can't we just all get along?" Historical fiction should faithfully expose readers to different historical perspectives, and permit readers to form their own conclusions regarding those tensions.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Peregrine is an unforgettable book!, February 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Peregrine (Hardcover)

This book is about a young lady's adventure across Europe from England. It takes place in the year 1144. Lady Edith, the main character in the book, is tired of living in England. She just lost her husband and baby and is ready for something new and eventful in her life. Along with her faithful nurse, Dame Joan, her friend Rhiannon, and her brother Simon, she sets forth on an unforgettable journey to the Holy Land (Israel). Not only is Lady Edith running away from a terrible life in England, but she is also running away from a man named Sir Runcival who would do anything to wed her. Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. It's full of adventure and surprises as Lady Edith runs into unexpected troubles and characters. I gave this book four stars because it was a good book, but some of the words could be too troublesome for some to understand. But once you get into the book, it flows more easily and you begin to enjoy it. I would recommend this book to all of my family and friends and would encourage you to read it.

1 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Peregrine review, June 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Peregrine (Hardcover)

A wonderful that takes place in the Middle Ages. It is about a girl who goes on a journey on a ship and runs into much trouble...