As well or better than any other work of fiction I've read, Otto of the Silver Hand captures life in the Middle Ages, at least among a certain class. It is well-written and engaging. I enjoyed the aptly-chosen words that fit smoothly into the story and painlessly teach terms used to describe items of the time. The contrast between peace-loving people and the violent men of the day causes the reader to greatly prefer one over the other, without moralizing on the author's part. While there are violent incidents inherent to the tale, they are not elaborated on or painted in gory detail. If your child is ready to handle the elements in this story, this book makes, in my opinion, an excellent addition to any study of the Middle Ages or simply an enjoyable read. Numerous illustrations perfectly complement the story.

Become a Registered User, and you will find here many details of content in this book that you want to consider before handing it to a particular child, including moral issues, the scare factor, profanity, sex and romance, violence, how families are portrayed, educational tie-ins and other noteworthy issues.

These, the most detailed, factual parental book reviews available, equip you to decide what is right for your family.

See full sample reviews like those available to Registered Users:

A book with much to recommend:
A Girl of the Limberlost

A book with much to scrutinize:
Fahrenheit 451