First published 2006
In 1196, Sylvia Honeyeater is born into a world of poverty and brutality. Cursed as an optimist and a dreamer, she navigates the harsh realities of medieval life, including the looming threat of the Children's Crusade. Sylvia's remarkable intelligence and unwavering spirit become her only defense against the bigotry and violence that surround her. As she fights to survive and find her place in a cruel world, her story becomes a testament to the redeeming power of love and the indomitable strength of the human spirit.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical, historical-fiction, coming-of-age
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, redemptive-power-of-love, underdog
Setting: Medieval
Period: 1196
498 pages · Hardcover · Viking
Content warnings: violence