  | Patron thief of bread Author: Eagar, Lindsay | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
Fished from the river as an infant and raised by a roving band of street urchins who call themselves the Crowns, eight-year-old Duck keeps her head down and her mouth shut. The ragtag Crowns infiltrate an abandoned cathedral in the city of Odierne and decide to set down roots. One of their very own will pose as an apprentice to the local baker, relieving Master Griselde of bread and coin to fill the bellies and line the pockets of all the Crowns.
Download a Teacher's Guide
Video Preview:
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 5.90 Points: 16.0 Quiz: 516647 |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (+) (06/01/22)
Booklist (+) (02/15/22)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (+) (00/04/22)
The Hornbook (00/07/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 02/15/2022 *Starred Review* A grumpy stone gargoyle perches high above the medieval town, fretting about the condition of his unfinished cathedral and desperate for a chance to fulfill his promise to protect those seeking sanctuary. As the gargoyle looks on, waxing poetically and hilariously about his woes, the long-abandoned building becomes a haven for the Crowns, a close-knit gang of children who skillfully thieve their way from town to town. Their leader has a plan to ease their harsh existence, installing the group's youngest, eight-year-old Duck, as the new apprentice in the local bakery, and the quiet girl is tasked with slipping the Crowns a steady supply of sustenance. Duck is eager to prove her worth, but a wrinkle comes in the form of the baker, Griselde. Seemingly oblivious to the con, she is nonetheless an extraordinarily kind and generous presence, and Duck fears that she is developing affection for the baker along with—gulp—scruples. Can Duck learn to navigate her two dear worlds without spoiling them both? The engrossing story is imbued with real suspense and a gorgeous warmth, and it’s a particular joy to watch Duck blossom as her relationship with the beloved baker deepens. Vivid descriptions and gentle introspection easily transport readers into the teeming medieval world, but at its core, it’s an utterly enchanting exploration of family in its many forms. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
Booklist - 02/15/2022 - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 06/01/2022 Gr 3–7—For 90 years, a group of stone gargoyles watched from atop the unfinished cathedral that overlooks Odierne, before a woman, escaping the constables with her baby, jumps from beside their perch into the raging river below. Eight years later, the Crowns, eight children devoted to one another and to survival, arrive in the town and find themselves in the cathedral, a place that hasn't yet been claimed by any other gang, and decide to stay. To do this, they place their youngest member Duck as an apprentice with Odierne's baker, from whom she can skim coins and bread for the family. The plot develops smoothly as Duck faces increasingly difficult choices while learning from her new master in her first permanent home, and while witnessing new dangers for the only family she has ever known. The gargoyles, with one as a narrator, are used as a bookend for the story, providing readers with the cathedral's and Duck's background. As Duck becomes more familiar with breadmaking and reading, she continues to look for a way to take care of her entire family while juggling her own blossoming dreams. Eagar has written a complex and layered novel, with a vivid setting of medieval France and powerful themes of home and community. VERDICT A first purchase for libraries where Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale is popular.—Betsy Fraser - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
