I just hate when I finish a book and have to wait to get another book because the library is closed, etc., so usually, I will pick up a book I have around the house that I've already read. This time, I picked up the book,
Tree By Leaf, by Cynthia Voigt. She is an excellent author geared toward a young adult audience. She's also a Newberry Award winner (
Dicey's Song). In my teen years she was my favorite author. I read nearly all of her books and, using my babysitting money, bought up all the paperbacks that came through the scholastic book sales in school. One of my absolute favorites was
Jackaroo (I was reminded of it while reading
Tree By Leaf). After finishing the first Voigt novel, I went through my stash and found my old copy of
Jackaroo. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading it! I love it!
It's set in a fictional kindgdom during the medieval period of time. The story has a "Robin Hood" feel to it: hunger, poor people, rich people, thieves, heroes, etc. The heroine is a young 16yrold innkeeper's daughter, Gwyn. She's a practical no-nonsense kind of girl. She lives within the boundaries defined by society, but pushes for independence. She's compassionate, hardworking and thirst for knowledge; that's my kind of heroine!
I'm so glad I came across these two books. Now I want to go and find the other Voigt books I have.
Here is Cynthia Voigt's website in case I have sparked your interest enough to check out what books she has written.
Boy there's nothing like a good book!
