You Wouldn't Want to Live in a Medieval Castle!: A Home You'd Rather Not Inhabit (You Wouldn't Want to...) (Paperback)

~ (Author), David Antram (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Got a warm heart and a weak stomach? Then you probably wouldn't want to be a servant in a medieval castle, where the rooms are always stone cold - unless it's your castle - and the next revolt could leave you mopping up a bloody mess and piles of dead bodies.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Franklin Watts (September 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531219135
• ISBN-13: 978-0531219133
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #527,558 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, January 16, 2009

By	M. Bryant "Teacher" (Washington) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This book is a fun book to watch students read because when they first read the book they all agree that it would be cool to live in a castle. By the end of the book most if not all the students have said that castle life doesn't seem to be that exciting. The book does a great job of describing what life was actually like in a Medieval Castle. Of course keep in mind that this story tells about a castle that is under siege, which is what happened to many castle back in the Medieval Ages. This is a fun read, but there is some vocabulary that may trip children up at first. Once they understand, however, they have a fun time reading the story about the little girl being chosen to live in the castle.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious history, August 22, 2009

By	J. Grambo "Teacher" (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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The "You Wouldn't Want to..." series wouldn't be the same without its extraordinarily clever caricature-style illustrations by David Antram. This book tells the story of the siege of Rochester Castle in 1215 with rousing good humor - and great accuracy. Ages 8-14.

For more medieval fun in this series, see You Wouldn't Want to Be a Medieval Knight: Armor You'd Rather Not Wear (You Wouldn't Want to...), and You Wouldn't Want to Be in a Medieval Dungeon! (You Wouldn't Want to...)

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid historically and entertaining (a history teacher's review), June 11, 2009

By	DWD "intrepid reviewer" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I just discovered this series and I've been reading a few of them for fun this summer.

"You Wouldn't Want to Live In A Medieval Castle..." is entertaining and it contains solid, accurate history presented in a visually interesting format.

While I've been lookig a few of these over for my own personal entertainment, my almost 4th grade daughter has been sneaking them out of the stack and reading them without any encouragement from me. Imagine! Kids surreptitiously reading history!

The book mostly is about a little girl who is brought into a castle to work as a damsel (lady-in-waiting or a bodyservant). The book is also about a real historical event - the siege of Rochester Castle in Kent, England in 1215 by King John who is having trouble dealing with the barons after he signed the Magna Carta.

There is also quite a bit about a young page who is trying to become a squire so that he might become a knight someday.

Everyday life in the castle is discussed (carrying water for baths, common dining areas, sleeping arrangements, daily Mass, etc.) and so are the details of laying siege to and the defense of a castle.

The only problem I had with the book is a simple matter of labeling. On pages 8 & 9 they have a map of the Bailey (the interior of the fortifications). On the key they label things like the chandlery and the barracks without telling what they are. They are defined in the glossary in the back but a word or two on the map page would have been nice.

Still, I highly recommed this book for kids who are in 4th grade or higher. Also, for any adults who want a painless refresher on castles and medieval life!