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xpicth's review
2.0
2.5 stars. I appreciate the unusual perspective (the dog's) and the realistic portrayal of life in England in the 14th century. I don't so much love books about dogs, let alone from the dog's perspective. The technical term for a female dog just isn't used in that way so much anymore, and I get itchy about having my mid-to-late-elementary-aged kids reading it frequently.
rafdee13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Short but well written, and on a period and class of people rarely explored. The idea of service and forced labor as a dog versus a person in the system of serfdom. Some of the descriptive language is gorgeous.
zoefruitcake's review
5.0
Oh how I love this book! I should imagine if I had read it as a child I would have loved it even more, but I've only read this delightful tale as an adult. It is a simple story from an important time in English history, and gives a very believable representation of what it may have been like for the common man. One of those books I have thought much about between readings
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Another book I've discovered recently on a 'must read' children's classic list. I can see why.
It has the unusual twist of being narrated by a dog, but in a realistic historical context (which I've not seen before) - the time of Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt.
What a fascinating time to set a story in, narrated by a dog who is loyal to a family charged with treason to the crown.
I liked how Branford made our protagonist aware of human speech and interactions, not to the point of too omniscient a perspective, but enough to give us context of the situation her family are in.
We see her own struggles to raise pups and help her human family, and their struggle to stay alive despite serfdom, prison and starvation.
A perfect class read for a KS2 group looking at this period in history, or just as an end-of-the-day read, with short chapters, an animal narrator will always go down well, and lots of discussion to come from this.
There are scenes of some violence (a hanging, the beating of dogs, suggestions of humans also being hit), though nothing graphic. Language-wise, it's not too involved or complex for an 8 or 9 year old independent reader to tackle alone.
It has the unusual twist of being narrated by a dog, but in a realistic historical context (which I've not seen before) - the time of Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt.
What a fascinating time to set a story in, narrated by a dog who is loyal to a family charged with treason to the crown.
I liked how Branford made our protagonist aware of human speech and interactions, not to the point of too omniscient a perspective, but enough to give us context of the situation her family are in.
We see her own struggles to raise pups and help her human family, and their struggle to stay alive despite serfdom, prison and starvation.
A perfect class read for a KS2 group looking at this period in history, or just as an end-of-the-day read, with short chapters, an animal narrator will always go down well, and lots of discussion to come from this.
There are scenes of some violence (a hanging, the beating of dogs, suggestions of humans also being hit), though nothing graphic. Language-wise, it's not too involved or complex for an 8 or 9 year old independent reader to tackle alone.
bickie's review
3.0
Historical fiction during the time of the English Peasant Rebellion in 1381 told through the eyes of a loyal hunting dog. The first chapter (3 pages) could make the book a tough sell. This is a book that requires some patience; however, there is plenty of action: hunting, hanging, parading heads on pikes through town, domestic abuse. While none of the violence is gratuitous, it is definitely there. A traitorous character gets his comeuppance at the end but not until a beloved character meets a grisly end. In addition to the violence, though, there is also loyalty and a dedication to a cause that is right even though it is not universally popular. It's a good introduction to historical fiction for readers reluctant to try the genre; the dog as narrator might be a good entrée, and although the setting is based in historical fact, it feels a lot like medieval-ish fantasy worlds.
_adamlevick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
anna_2023's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
saburat's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
it isn't perfect. but this is what i like the most in this book, because it is just right.
there definitely are some character inconsistencies, but i need above all to remember that this is a book intended for an audience that need not care about such things, which is why we are waving our hand at it as if we were batting away a fly, annoyed by it, but in the end, indifferent.
it is a beautiful book. full of prose lush enough for you to lose itself in it, but sparse enough for you to still see the sky and breathe in the fresh air. serenity hangs in the white space, so that one can wrap itself in it, lay down, and cry safely. it's been some time since i cried. i needed both that, and this book. amazing how much grief, love, and sensory input can be fit in a book that barely brushes the one hundred page mark.
oh, dear, lovely old bitch. i'm going to howl your story as a song.
there definitely are some character inconsistencies, but i need above all to remember that this is a book intended for an audience that need not care about such things, which is why we are waving our hand at it as if we were batting away a fly, annoyed by it, but in the end, indifferent.
it is a beautiful book. full of prose lush enough for you to lose itself in it, but sparse enough for you to still see the sky and breathe in the fresh air. serenity hangs in the white space, so that one can wrap itself in it, lay down, and cry safely. it's been some time since i cried. i needed both that, and this book. amazing how much grief, love, and sensory input can be fit in a book that barely brushes the one hundred page mark.
oh, dear, lovely old bitch. i'm going to howl your story as a song.