If You Were Me and Lived in...the Middle Ages (Vol. 6) by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: I have an interest in history of all periods and ancient histories have always been appealing. If You Were Me and Lived in.... the Middle Ages is not a history book or a story set in a historical period. It is a book that contains a lot of information pertaining to the historical period of the Middle Ages. That would be in the period 400-1400 AD.

The illustrations are softly conceived images of dress, housing, cities (villages), castles, and life in general during this period. The author takes you through the days of a young school age miss. The author also delves into the variety of classes in the feudal system of the time. She doesn't call the lowest of the low "slaves" but chooses to call them the "un-free." The "un-free" peoples were not free to do as they chose, however, and they could not even leave their village without permission. The difference between the nobility, well to do, free, un-free, and poor is pretty clearly defined in the book. It will reveal to the reader that the very poor might live in a one-room hut made out of sticks, clay, and daub and that the hut has no chimney but still they have a fire for cooking inside the hut. Also, that the hut is shared with the family's animals. Life was hard, indeed.

The quantity of soft-facts given in the book makes a good introduction to learning about history. It reads easily, though not for very young readers. I'd say perhaps grades 4-6. But it can be read to younger children with comprehension. I think that reading this will open the door for children's pursuit of more definitive research and even toward reading fiction about the period - King Arthur and other tales.

There is a glossary in the back that can be helpful when the reader comes across a word that perplexes them. The couple of pages of famous people from the Middle Ages is interesting and could lead to the reader seeking to do some biographical research.

About the book: Join Carole P. Roman and travel through time to visit the most interesting civilizations throughout history in her exciting new series.

Learn what kind of food you might have eaten during the Middle Ages, the clothes you might wear, what your name could be, and children did for fun.

If You Were Me and Lived in...does for history what her other award-winning series did for culture.

So get on-board this time-travel machine and discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like you.

GIVEAWAY

2 winners each receive 1 copy of "Middle Ages"
Begins September 13

ENDS October 4 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the author to facilitate a review of my honest opinions. I received no compensation.