Dempsey LMC READING LIST

Amoss, Berthe Lost Magic In the Middle Ages, orphaned Ceridwen learns the art of herbal healing and gains the protection of the local lord until she is accused of witchcraft.

Armstrong, Alan. W. Whittington Whittington, a feline descendant of Dick Whittington's famous cat of English folklore, appears at a rundown barnyard plagued by rats and restores harmony while telling his ancestor's story.

Avi The Book Without Words Thorston, an alchemist who has spent his life trying to decipher the secret to immortality contained in the Book Without Words, is on the brink of realizing his dream when he drops dead, leaving Odo, a talking raven, and Sybil, a servant who was about to be sacrificed to Thorston's plan, to reap the rewards of his work. Crispin: the cross of lead Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret. Crispin: at the edge of the world Sequel to: Crispin, the cross of lead. Branded as traitors by the king's authorities, Crispin and his guardian, Bear, flee to coastal towns in fourteenth-century England, where they perform a musical juggling act and bond as a family after befriending a disfigured girl. Midnight Magic In Italy in 1491, Mangus the magician and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of Duke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.

Barrett, Tracy Anna of Byzantium In the eleventh century the teenage princess Anna Comnena fights for her birthright, the throne to the Byzantine Empire, which she fears will be taken from her by her younger brother John because he is a boy.

Barron, T.A. Child of the Dark Prophecy (Great Tree of Avalon) The fate of Avalon rests in the hands of three people: Tamwyn, Elli, and Scree; however one of them is the true heir of and the only one who can save Avalon and one of them is the child of Dark Prophecy, the person chosen to destroy it. Shadows on the Stars (Great Tree of Avalon) As the warlord Rhita Gawr tries to gather enough power to destroy Avalon, Tamwyn--the heir to the powers of his grandfather, Merlin--and his friends embark on separate quests to try to save their world. The Lost Years of Merlin A young boy who has no identity nor memory of his past washes ashore on the coast of Wales and finds his true name after a series of fantastic adventures. The Seven Songs of Merlin "Book two of 'The lost years of Merlin.'" Having stumbled upon his hidden powers, the young wizard Merlin voyages to the Otherworld in his quest to find himself and the way to the realm of the spirit. The Fires of Merlin "Book three of The lost years of Merlin." Having voyaged to the Otherworld in his quest to find himself, the young wizard Merlin must face fire in many different forms and deal with the possibility of losing his own magical power. The Mirror of Merlin "Book four of 'The lost years of Merlin.'" Through adventures involving a haunted marsh, talking trees, and the creature called the ballymag, the young wizard Merlin continues to experience both his growing powers and his essential humanity. The Wings of Merlin Merlin's fragile home on the isle of Fincayra is threatened by the attack of a mysterious warrior with swords for arms and by the escape of Stangmar from his imprisonment, as Merlin continues to move toward his ultimate destiny.

Burkert, Nancy Eckholm Valentine and Orson The story is a widely known romance from the medieval period, telling of twin brothers of royal lineage who are separated at birth. The illustrations are exquisite - elegant but not precious, exuberant but controlled. Glowing with the luminescence of watercolors, they are, at the same time, remarkable for incredible detail and texture. Like great tapestries, the painstaking execution of the idea is awe-inspiring. Cadnum, Michael The Book of the Lion In twelfth-century England, after his master, a maker of coins for the king, is brutally punished for alleged cheating, seventeen-year-old Edmund finds himself traveling to the Holy Land as squire to a crusader on his way to join the forces of Richard Lionheart. Daughter of the Wind In medieval times as various groups of fight for supremacy of the northern lands and waters, Hallgerd, Gauk, and Hego, three young people from the quiet coastal village of Spjothof, find their fates intertwined as a series of events take them into danger far from home. The Dragon Throne At the request of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the newly-knighted Edmund and Hubert accompany a young noblewoman on her dangerous pilgrimage from England to Rome. Forbidden Forest: the story of Little John and Robin Hood Profiles Little John, from his quiet life before joining Robin Hood through his adventures protecting a beautiful lady when she is wrongfully accused of murdering her husband. The Leopard Sword Hubert, a young knight's squire sailing back to England from the Crusades, must take up arms again when infidels attack the ship, and he discovers his fight is not over when he finally reaches home only to find a friend facing execution. In a Dark Wood Features Geoffrey, Sheriff of Nottingham, as the vehicle for the tale. Geoffrey, conflicted by his personal desires and those of duty, must additionally deal with this thief Robin-an affront to the Crown. In an age where violence and torture are commonplace, he learns compassion and justice from the country's most infamous criminal. Raven of the Waves The very different worlds of two remarkable young men - one aboard a Norse ship bound for plunder and the other living in an abbey in an English village - are intertwined in this gripping historical adventure.

Clemens, Samuel (Mark Twain) A Connecticut Yankee in ’s Court Nineteenth-century mechanic Hank Morgan suffers a blow to the head and wakes up in King Arthur's Court where he tries to introduce modern technology and political ideas to the inhabitants.

Clement-Davies, David Fire-bringer Rannoch, born with a fawn mark the shape of an oak leaf on his forehead, is destined to lead the deer out of the Lord of the Herd's tyranny, but he must first complete a journey through the Great Land. The Sight Morgra, a lone wolf that possesses a mysterious and terrifying power known as the Sight, sets off a battle that involves all of nature when she attempts to find a pup, born into a brave and loving pack, that holds the key to a power that could control the world.

Crowley, Bridget Feast of Fools Morgra, a lone wolf that possesses a mysterious and terrifying power known as the Sight, sets off a battle that involves all of nature when she attempts to find a pup, born into a brave and loving pack, that holds the key to a power that could control the world.

Cunningham, Julia Wolf Roland After losing his beloved donkey to a ravenous wolf, a poor man is roused to such sorrow and anger that he challenges the beast to take the place of the donkey and pull the cart that is his livelihood.

Cushman, Karen Catherine, Called Birdy The daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.

Matilda Bone Fourteen-year-old Matilda, an apprentice bonesetter and practitioner of medicine in a village in medieval England, tries to reconcile the various aspects of her life, both spiritual and practical. The Midwife’s Apprentice Newbery Medal, 1996 In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world. deAngeli, Marguerite The Door in the Wall A crippled boy in fourteenth-century England proves his courage and earns recognition from the King.

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan The White Company In 1366, while England is at war with Spain, young Alleyne Edricson becomes a squire to Sir Nigel Loring and travels to France to join a bold band of archers known as the White Company.

Doyle, Debra Knight’s Wyrd Will Odosson sets out on a series of dangerous adventures after a wizard predicts that he will meet his death before a year has passed. Ellis, Anne Leo. The Dragon of Middlethorpe In 1366, while England is at war with Spain, young Alleyne Edricson becomes a squire to Sir Nigel Loring and travels to France to join a bold band of archers known as the White Company.

Furlong, Monica Wise Child Abandoned by both her parents, nineyear-old Wise Child goes to live with the witch woman Juniper, who begins to train her in the ways of herbs and magic. Juniper Prequel to: Wise child. While apprenticed to the witch woman Juniper, a young girl struggles to save her family from the evil machinations of her power-hungry aunt Meroot. Colman Sequel to: Wise child and Juniper. After Juniper and her companions find that the Cornwall, England, castle where she was raised as a princess has been destroyed, they devise a plan to use magic to oppose the evil Meroot and the Gray Knight and to restore the authority of Prince Brangwyn.

Garden, Nancy Dove and Sword In 1455 in France, Gabrielle is visited by Pierre d'Arc, a brother of Joan of Arc, and with him reminisces about their childhood together in Domremy and Joan's subsequent trial and burning at the stake at Rouen twenty-four years before.

Goodman, Joan E. The Winter Hare In 1140, with England divided between the supporters of King Stephen and those of the Empress Matilda, twelve-year-old Will Belet, small for his age but longing to be a knight, comes to his Uncle's castle to be a page and soon finds himself involved in dangerous intrigues and adventures. Peregrine Sequel to: The winter hare. In 1144, fifteen-year-old Lady Edith, having lost her husband and child and anxious to avoid marrying a man she detests, sets out from her home in to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Grant, K.M. Blood Red Horse A special horse named Hosanna changes the lives of two English brothers and those around them as they fight with King Richard I against 's armies during the Third Crusades.

Gray, Elizabeth. Adam of the Road Newbery Medal winner. The adventures of an eleven-year-old boy in 13th century England as he searches for his father and his dog. Haddix, Margaret Peterson Just Ella In this continuation of the Cinderella story, fifteen-year-old Ella finds that accepting Prince Charming's proposal ensnares her in a suffocating tangle of palace rules and royal etiquette, so she plots to escape.

Hunter, Mollie The King’s Swift Rider Unwilling to fight but feeling a sense of duty, sixteen-year-old Martin joins Scotland's rebel army as a swift rider and master of espionage for the leader, Robert the Bruce.

Jinks, Catherine Pagan’s Scribe Sequel to: Pagan's vows. In France in 1209, Pagan, now an archdeacon, takes on a new scribe named Isidore, a fifteen-year- old epileptic and an orphan, and together they try to survive the siege of Carcassonne Pagan in Exile After fighting the infidels in Jerusalem in 1188, Lord Roland and his squire Pagan return to Roland's castle in France where they encounter violent family feuds and religious heretic. Pagan’s Vows Sequel to: Pagan in exile.;Sequel: Pagan's scribe. Follows the adventures of Pagan, squire to Lord Roland, through the years 1188 to 1189, as he accompanies his master, now determined to be a monk, to the French monastery of St. Martin and uncovers a dangerous blackmail plot.. Pagan’s Crusade In twelfth-century Jerusalem, orphaned sixteen-year-old Pagan is assigned to work for Lord Roland, a Templar knight, as Saladin's armies close in on the Holy City.

Jordan, Sherryl The Hunting of the Last Dragon In England in 1356, as a monk records his every word, a young peasant tells of his journey with a young Chinese noblewoman to St. Alfric's Cove and the lair of a dragon.

Kelly, Eric Philbrook The Trumpeter of Krakow A Polish family in the Middle Ages guards a great secret treasure and a boy's memory of an earlier trumpeter of Krakow makes it possible for him to save his father.

Konigsburg, E.L. A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver While waiting in heaven for divine judgment to be passed on her second husband, Eleanor of Aquitaine and three of the people who knew her well recall the events of her life.

Levitin, Sonia The Cure A young boy living in 2407 collides with the past when he finds himself in Strasbourg in 1348 confronting the antisemitism that sweeps through Europe during the Black Plague.

McAllister, Margaret Hold My Hand & Run Thirteen-year-old Kazy, unwilling to bear any more of the beatings and abuse given out since the death of her stepmother and the arrival of Aunt Latimer, takes her young half-sister and runs away, but being independent is much harder than Kazy expected and she beings to long for home. McCaffrey, Anne Black Horses for the King Galwyn, son of a Roman Celt, escapes from his tyrannical uncle and joins Lord Artos, later known as King Arthur, using his talent with languages and way with horses to help secure and care for the Libyan horses that Artos hopes to use in battle against the Saxons. Meyer, Carolyn Beware, Princess Elizabeth After the death of her father, King Henry VIII, in 1547, thirteen-year-old Elizabeth must endure the political intrigues and dangers of the reigns of her half-brother Edward and her half-sister Mary before finally becoming Queen of England eleven years later. Doomed Queen Anne In 1520, thirteen-year-old Anne Boleyn, jealous of her older sister's beauty and position at court, declares that she will one day be queen of England, and that her sister will kneel at her feet. Mary, Bloody, Mary Mary Tudor, who would reign briefly as Queen of England during the mid-sixteenth century, tells the story of her troubled childhood as daughter of King Henry VIII. Patience, Princess Catherine In 1501 fifteen-year-old Catharine of Aragon arrives in England to marry Arthur, the eldest son of King Henry VII, but soon finds her expectations of a happy settled life radically changed when Arthur unexpectedly dies and her future becomes the subject of a bitter dispute between the kingdoms of England and Spain.

Morris, Gerald The Squire’s Tale In medieval England, fourteen-year-old Terence finds his tranquil existence suddenly changed when he becomes the squire of the young Gawain of Orkney and accompanies him on a long quest, proving Gawain's worth as a knight and revealing an important secret about his own true identity. The Ballad of Sir Dinadan Though he would rather pursue his talent as a musician, eighteen-year-old Dinadan is forced to follow his older brother Tristram's path and become a knight. Set at the time of King Arthur. The Lioness and Her Knight Headstrong sixteen-year-old Lady Luneta and her distant cousin, Sir Ywain, travel to Camelot and beyond finding more adventure than they hoped for until, with the help of a fool, Luneta discovers what she really wants from life. Parsifal’s Page In medieval England, eleven-year-old Piers' dream comes true when he becomes page to Parsifal, a peasant whose quest for knighthood reveals important secrets about both of their families. The Princess, The Crone and the Dung-cart Knight Determined to find the knight responsible for the terrible deaths of her mother and the Jewish peddler who had given them a home, thirteen-year-old Sarah is helped in her quest by a strange old woman, a magical sword, a young faery, and an unkempt knight with little armor and no horse. The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf Sequel to: The squire, his knight, and his lady. Lynet, a feisty young woman, journeys to King Arthur's court in order to find a champion to rescue her beautiful older sister, and she is joined in her quest by a clever dwarf and a bold kitchen knave, neither of whom are not what they seem. The Squire, His Knight and His Lady Sequel to: The squire's tale. After several years at King Arthur's court, Terence, as Sir Gawain's squire and friend, accompanies him on a perilous quest that tests all their skills and whose successful completion could mean certain death for Gawain. Napoli, Donna Jo Breath Elaborates on the tale of "The Pied Piper," told from the point of view of a boy who is too ill to keep up when a piper spirits away the healthy children of a plague-ridden town after being cheated out of full payment for ridding Hameln of rats.

Paterson, Katherine Parzival From the thirteenth-century epic poem by Wolfram von Eschenbach. This retelling is based on A.T. Hatto's English translation. A retelling of the Arthurian legend in which Parzival, unaware of his noble birth, comes of age through his quest for the Holy Grail.

Paton Walsh, Jill A Parcel of Patterns Mall tells how the plague came to her Derbyshire village of Eyam in the year 1665, how the villagers determined to isolate themselves to prevent further spread of the disease, and how three-fourths of them died before the end of the following year.

Picard, Barbara Leo Ransom for a Knight Alys and a boy servant travel across medieval England to Scotland to ransom her father and brother, taking with them a horse, Blanche, who has a foal on the journey and has to be left behind. Alys takes her dowry, her dead mother's jewellery, to pay the ransom. They can't use the jewellery to pay for the journey and their money runs out so they nearly starve. The Scottish lord is so impressed with Alys' bravery that he gives her back her dowry and trusts her father to send the ransom when he gets home.

Pierce, Tamora Alanna, The First Adventure Eleven-year-old Alanna, who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl, disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, learning many hard lessons along her path to high adventure. Cold Fire Map on endpapers. While studying with her teacher Frostpine in the northern land of Namorn, Daja helps the twin daughters of her host family discover their own magic and uses her powers to track a deadly arsonist. First Test Ten-year-old Keladry of Mindalen, daughter of nobles, serves as a page but must prove herself to the males around her if she is ever to fulfill her dream of becoming a knight. Lady Knight Sequel to: Squire. When she became a knight, eighteen-year-old Kel hoped to be given a combat post, but instead she finds herself named commander of an outpost of refugees, where she must face the unnatural forces of the evil Balyce. Lioness Rampant Alanna continues to create her own life as a female warrior when she and new companions journey to the Roof of the World seeking the powerful Dominion Jewel, perhaps the last hope of saving her country from dissension and hostile magic.

Porter, Jane Scottish Chiefs William Wallace encounters secret passageways, disguises, and a quintet of horrible villains as he fights for Scotland at the turn of the fourteenth century. Pyle, Howard Otto of the Silver Hand The gentle son of a medieval German robber baron, raised in the calm and thoughtful quiet of a monastery, returns to his father's castle and, despite great suffering and blood-feuds, grows to honor and manhood.

Scott, Sir Walter. Ivanhoe Sir Walter Scott's classic tale in which Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a warrior just returned from the Crusades, embarks on adventures both treacherous and romantic in his quest to foil Prince John's plan to take Richard the Lion-Hearted's throne.

Skurzynski, Gloria Spider’s Voice Because he is a young mute person who can hear, Aran becomes involved in the adventures of Eloise and Abelard, France's most famous lovers, who lived during the twelfth century. What Happened in Hamelin A novel of the Pied Piper legend told from the standpoint of a 14-year-old baker's assistant who dreams of freedom from his harsh medieval life and of a new life with the piper.

Smith, Sherwood Crown Duel To fulfill their father's dying wish, teenage Countess Meliara and her brother Branaric organize a revolution against a greedy king.

Court Duel Sequel to: Crown duel. Brought to court by a mysterious letter, teenage Countess Meliara finds herself the subject of all sorts of courtly intrigues and attentions, including those of the deposed king's sister and an ardent, secret suitor.

Springer, Nancy I Am Mordred When Mordred learns the identity of his father, he struggles with feelings of hatred, but also fights the fate which determines that he kill the good and gracious king. I Am Morgan le Fay; a tale of Camelot In a war-torn England where her half-brother Arthur will eventually become king, the young Morgan le Fay comes to realize that she has magic powers and links to the faerie world. Rowan Hood; outlaw girl of Sherwood Forest In her quest to connect with Robin Hood, the father she has never met, thirteen-year-old Rosemary disguises herself as a boy, befriends a half-wolf, half-dog, a runaway princess, and an overgrown boy whose singing is hypnotic, and makes peace with her elfin heritage. Lionclaw; a tale of Rowan Wood Sequel to: Rowan Hood, outlaw girl of Sherwood Forest. Young Lionel, minstrel in the outlaw band of Rowan Hood, daughter of Robin, tries to find his courage when she is abducted from Sherwood Forest. Outlaw Princess of Sherwood; a tale of Rowan Wood Sequel to: Lionclaw, a tale of Rowan Hood. King Solon the Red attempts to capture his runaway daughter Ettarde and force her into marriage with a rival king who has been threatening his reign. Wild Boy Sequel to: Outlaw princess of Sherwood, a tale of Rowan Hood. Determined to avenge the death of his swineherd father at the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham, Rook finally gets his chance when the Sheriff's son is captured by Robin Hood.

Stewart, Mary The Crystal Cave Merlin, the son of a Welsh princess, survives a perilous childhood on his way to fulfill his destiny as mentor, advisor, and friend to King Arthur. The Hollow Hills Sequel to: The crystal cave. The second novel in the Arthurian Saga finds prophet and enchanter Merlin Ambrosius keeping watch over his orphaned charge, young Arthur Pendragon, until the fateful day when Arthur fulfills his destiny by pulling a fabled sword from a stone to claim the throne of Britain.

Sutcliff, Rosemary Sold into slavery to the Northmen in the tenth century, a young Englishman becomes involved in a blood feud which leads him to and a totally different way of life. Bonnie Dundee In exile in Holland, Hugh Herriot recalls the exploits of his youth as a follower of Bonnie Dundee who tried to win back Scotland for the Catholic King James and whose death during a victorious battle proved to be a final blow for the Jacobite cause. Brother Dusty Feet 11-year-old Hugh leaves his cruel aunt and uncle and heads for Oxford to seek his fortune. He meets and joins a group of strolling players and his life changes to one of acting, begging and moving on. The Lantern Bearers Instead of leaving with the last of the Roman legions, Aquila, a young officer, decides that his loyalties lie with Britain, and he eventually joins the forces of the Roman-British leader Ambrosius to fight against the Saxon hordes. The Light Beyond the Forest A retelling of the adventures of King Arthur's , Sir , Sir Galahad, Sir Bors, and Sir Percival, as they search for the Holy Grail.

The Shield Ring Violence and death swept across England as the set out to conquer the island kingdom. This is a tale of courage, the courage of three great chieftains, the courage of the boy, Bjorn. Haunted by the fear that he may betray his people if captured and tortured by the Romans, Bjorn forces himself to spy among them as a wandering musician. The Shining Company In 600 A.D. in northern Britain, Prosper becomes a shield bearer with the Companions, an army made up of three hundred younger sons of minor kings and trained to act as one fighting brotherhood against the invading Saxons. Song for a Dark Queen A novel based on the life and campaigns of Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni. When the Roman Emperor Nero rules that the royal line of the Iceni is to be ended, Boudicca knows that this is one battle she cannot afford to lose. won the 1959 Carnegie Medal for "The Lantern Bearers". In 600 A.D. in northern Britain, Prosper becomes a shield bearer with the Companions, an army made up of three hundred younger sons of minor kings and trained to act as one fighting brotherhood against the invading Saxons. Tristan & Iseult Retells the Celtic legend of the love between the warrior Tristan and Iseult, the wife of King Marc of Cornwall.

Temple, Frances The Ramsay Scallop Thirteenth century couple, Elenor and Tom, overcome their reluctance to marry after they are sent on a pre-nuptial journey to Spain and learn more about the world and each other.

Thal, Lilli Mimus Translated from the German. As Prince Florin of Moltovia races to join his father at a banquet to celebrate the war's end, he encounters a devastating betrayal that separates him from his father and loyal followers, placing him as a lowly apprentice to the spiteful and wily court jester, Mimus.

White, T.H. The Sword in the Stone A retelling of the Arthurian legend.

Williams, Laura The Executioner’s Daughter Thirteen-year-old Lily, daughter of the town's executioner living in fifteenth-century Europe, decides whether to fight against her destiny or to rise above her fate.

Wise, William Nell of Branford Hall Nell Bullen recounts the horror of the Great London Plague of 1665 and how the "Circle of Death" was drawn around her village to keep the disease from spreading to neighboring towns.

Yolen, Jane Girl In a Cage As English armies invade Scotland in 1306, eleven-year-old Princess Marjorie, daughter of the newly crowned Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, is captured by England's King Edward Longshanks and held in a cage on public display. Queen’s Own Fool; a novel of Mary Queen of Scots When twelve-year-old Nicola leaves Troupe Brufort and serves as the fool for Mary, Queen of Scots, she experiences the political and religious upheavals in both France and Scotland. Sword of the Rightful King; a novel of King Arthur Merlinnus the magician devises a way for King Arthur to prove himself the rightful king of England--pulling a sword from a stone--but trouble arises when someone else removes the sword first