The Peasant's Dream

June 15, 2020
The son of a farmer falls in love with the daughter of a duke in this period romance set in a German-inspired world. Adela dreams of traveling around the region and proving herself as a painter, but as the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim, she isn't even allowed past the castle walls without a guard. Twenty-one-year-old Frederick works on his father's farm to support his parents and sisters. His hopes of becoming a woodcarver are realized when he gets the chance to carve biblical scenes on the cathedral's new doors. One day Adela dresses as a servant and sneaks out to the market, where she meets Frederick and they have an instant connection. Adela entertains the idea of falling in love with a poor farmer, but her family has arranged suitors from noble families. When Frederick gets caught up in a plan to kidnap the duke's daughter for ransom, secrets are revealed, and Adela and Frederick must decide how to cope with the truth. The story has many elements of "Cinderella," altered just enough to make it feel original. The characters are charming and the plot is engaging. The text is heavily laced with Christian references and prayers, as both main characters have strong faith. Frederick's family experiences domestic violence at his father's hand. Fans of the series will enjoy the references to characters from previous entries, but the novel functions as a stand-alone story. All characters seem to be white. Simple, endearing period Christian romance. (discussion questions) (Historical romance. 12-16)

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July 1, 2020

Gr 8 Up-In a twist on the classic Cinderella story, Frederick, a poor farmer living near Hagenheim, aspires to work as a woodcarver, to make a better life and to marry young Adela, a beautiful maiden he meets by chance in the town marketplace. Adela, a talented painter, is enamored with Frederick and finds joy in their talks about art, yet she conceals her true identity as the daughter of the powerful Duke of Hagenheim for fear of risking their blossoming friendship. Meanwhile, Adela must be honest about her feelings for Lord Barthold, son of a wealthy duke who seeks her hand. When Frederick is falsely accused of a crime and suddenly vanishes, Adela suspects foul play and must convince her father of his innocence and find him. Dickerson's latest YA historical romance transports readers to the Europe of yesteryear and sweeps them up in a tender romance mixed with a good dose of adventure. The novel brims with period detail and authentic language. Teens will cheer for Frederick and Adela as they find their voices and move beyond societal traditions. VERDICT Unexpected revelations along the way give this fractured fairy tale a fresh shine.-Gillian D'Ambrosio, Rutgers Univ., NJ

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