About the Author

Julie Andrews Edwards is one of the most recognized figures in the world of entertainment. She is perhaps best known for her performances in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and The Princess Diaries. Ms. Edwards is the author of many favorite children's books, including Mandy, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, and the Little Bo series. She and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, an arts educator and theater professional, have coauthored over twenty books for young readers, including Simeon's Gift, The Great American Mousical, Thanks to You: Wisdom from Mother & Child, and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Very Fairy Princess and Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies. Emma is also the author of Raising Bookworms. Emma Walton Hamilton is a Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, New York, and is dedicated to bringing theater to young adults through her works with the Bay Street Theatre's Educational Outreach and Young Playwrights programs. She is the co-author of the Dumpy the Dump Truck series, and Simeon's Gift, with Julie Andrews. She lives with her husband and young son, Sam.

 

 

Reviews

"A well-done historical novel with an exciting mystery that will hold the attention of middle-grade readers." -- School Library Journal

"A well-done historical novel with an exciting mystery that will hold the attention of middle-grade readers." -- School Library Journal

The mother-daughter team behind the Dumpy picture-book series here adapt "The Legend of the Dog of Montargis" (a version of the tale was included in William Bennett's The Moral Compass), set in a French village during the 14th century. Overlaying their narrative with medieval terms and French phrases ("Isabelle! Chere Isabelle, you look ravissante!"), Edwards and Hamilton fill in the outlines of the story. After the eminently likable Montdidier, captain of the king's guard and nephew of the count of Montargis, is savagely murdered, his wolfhound, Dragon, leads 13-year-old Thierry (a character invented for this telling), who is the count's ward, and DeNarsac, captain of the count's men-at-arms and a close friend of his family, to the spot where the body is buried. As the action moves from Montargis to the bustling Paris court of Charles V, Thierry and DeNarsac are resolved to crack the mystery of Montdidier's death. Another puzzle clouds the air: why does the noble Dragon savagely attack the chevalier Macaire? When Thierry and DeNarsac suspect that Dragon is accusing Macaire of Montdidier's murder, the king decides to allow for "the judgment of God": he sets up a duel between the dog and Macaire, with the idea that God "will aid the cause of the innocent and bring down the cause of the guilty." Readers who like their costume dramas heavily embroidered with high sentiment (and many adverbs) will enjoy this fare; others may find it overdone. Ages 9-up. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.