Not just for kids

Jill Paton Walsh sets her story in 17th century Eyam, England, recounting the turmoil and devastation brought with Bubonic plague from the point of view of a fictional 16 year old shepherdess. In 1665, the town’s new and outgoing ministers quarantined the village, preventing anyone from entering or leaving while the disease ran its course.

Recalling what I liked and didn’t like to read as a teenager, I am not surprised at the less-than-glowing reviews some kids have given A Parcel of Patterns on various book sites. The old English speech patterns, though effective, do slow down comprehension of the plot, which centers upon 2 romances blossoming amongst a plague epidemic in 17th century England. As an avid but adult reader of medieval/Renaissance history, I can say that this book is a wonderful presentation of the experience of surviving amongst the hardships of everyday life, the Protestant religious conflicts, and the horrors of the plague and other catastrophic illnesses that no one could understand or effectively treat. I’d recommend this title to adults more than to teenagers, except to teens with a special interest in medieval history.