Product Description

When her friend Joan begins to hear voices that tell her she has been chosen by God to lead an army and crown the dauphin King of France, Gabrielle questions Joan's sanity but follows her onto the battlefield. Reprint. PW. K. H. SLJ. "

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1097748 in Books
• Published on: 1997-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 340 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Venturing far from the contemporary Brooklyn setting of her Annie on My Mind, Garden takes up the story of Joan of Arc-and proves that she is as compassionate and imaginative with the vagaries of 15th-century French history as with the problems of 20th-century gay teens. Wisely, she centers her novel on a fictional character, Gabrielle, who comes from the same village as "Jeannette" and who follows her into battle, serving as a medic. Accordingly Garden need not convince the reader that saints have spoken with Jeannette and sanctioned her mission; it suffices that Gabrielle believes this. Instead of emphasizing religion, the author brings into high relief the dramas of daily life in rural homes, in combat, in sheltered convents. Gabrielle, who serves as narrator, is essentially a modern creature-she chafes at the inferior status of women, wants a career as a healer, abhors war (Jeannette nicknames her "friend dove")-and her views act as a bridge between the reader and the unfamiliar mores of a remote past. While Garden fills her narrative with the ringing voices of soldiers proclaiming the glory of their campaigns, she employs Gabrielle's more cautious tones to send an anti-war message. Her strategically plotted novel achieves the highest goals of historical fiction-it vivifies the past, robustly and respectfully, then uses its example to steer the audience toward a more courageous future. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up?The "sword" refers to Joan of Arc, the feisty, impatient 17-year-old who?guided by the voices of saints?leaves her small village to free France from the English. The "dove" is a fictional teenager, Gabrielle, a friend of Joan's who uses her healing skills to aid French soldiers. Gabrielle is an intelligent, clever young woman who loves, mourns, ponders, and learns a great deal in the course of the novel. She narrates the story, which begins with Joan's first visions in 1425 and ends with her death by fire six years later. This is a fascinating and well-written historical novel, filled with rich details, evocative descriptions, and interesting characters. It is a masterly addition to the recent medieval fiction by Karen Cushman, Frances Temple, and others. However, there are minor problems. The map omits more than it includes and is poorly designed. Although most unfamiliar terms are defined in context, there are a few glaring exceptions. It's hard to keep track of the many characters, and some are carefully introduced only to suddenly vanish. Finally, not all of Garden's facts agree with established research on Joan, most notably the reasons she was burned at the stake. Dove and Sword is vastly superior to Barbara Dana's tedious novel, Young Joan (HarperCollins, 1991). Recommend Polly Brooks's outstanding biography Beyond the Myth (Lippincott, 1990) to readers who want more information about the saint.?Ann W. Moore, Guilderland Public Library, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 6^-8. Growing up in the French village of Domremy with Jeannette (Joan of Arc) for a neighbor, 11-year-old Gabrielle is learning her mother's skills as midwife and healer. In this first-person narrative, Gabrielle tells of disguising herself as a boy and following Jeannette's army to comfort her friend and help with the wounded. By the novel's end, she has followed Jeannette across France and has watched her burn at the stake. The large cast of characters and the long time frame can be confusing, but readers interested in the period and the maid of Orleans will find the details of fifteenth-century life intriguing. For larger collections. Carolyn Phelan

Customer Reviews

You have to read this book!
This book is by far the best Joan of Arc book I have read yet, and I've read a lot about her! The story is told through the eyes of her neighbor, Gabrielle. I thought it was nice how it wasn't just some person saying "Then she went to here, and did this." It's in first person, and the way it is written, it seems like you're right there next to Gabrielle. The book sucks you in! You can't stop reading once you start! It's really a great story, because not only is there "historical fact" and war and conquering, but there is also romance! I started reading this book for a book report because it was the only one I could find in five minutes, but once I started it, I couldn't stop! This book is definitely one of my favorites, and I love reading all types of books! I know I'm using a lot of exclamation marks, but believe me, this book deserves it! If you don't read it, I promise you will be missing out!

One of the Best books I have ever read!
This book was amazing! I didn't think much of it when I picked it up but after that I could never put it down again. It is a wonderful but tragic story of St. Joan of Arc, a young girl who goes to battle in France to end a terrible war. It is narrated by another girl, Gabrielle, who goes to war with her, as a healer. This book has so much depth and adventure and meaning to it. It is suspenseful, exciting, romantic, funny, sad, and breathtaking. Not many books have all that in it. I like books that change you after you read them and this was one of those books. This book was so well written and clear that it was like I was there with Gabrielle. I was excited with her, frightened with her and crying at the end with her. Read this incredible book and you won't be sorry.

absolutely breathtaking!
I first read this book when i was in sixth grade and read it twice then, once in seventh, and once this past year in eighth. This book is wonderful and is my all-time favorite book. It changed my outlook on certain things in life and definatly caused an epiphany. The book is enrichened by friendship, loyalty, romance, and loss. If you are looking for a book that will change your life, this is the one for you. Although i must say that i believe girls may like it more than guys.....