Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT book
Review: A minstrel's tale is a GREAT book. I can't say less about it. This story is about a girl (Judith) who sets out on her own. She was betrothed to a big stupid old guy and on her "wedding feast" she encounters a minstrel. The minstrel called Robin leaves her a coded message telling her to go to the king's castle to escape. She is more than happy to obligue, and with her amazing talent with musical instruments she sets out to the king's castle. Judith ( now called "Jude" ) has to go face many dangers which include being chased by a woman who thinks "Jude" is a man, and being bullied by people. A great masquarade story, just GREAT!!! You had better read it, I promise you WON'T regret it.
Rating:
Summary: A Medieval girl struggles to control her own life.
Review: Born into a noble family in 14th century England, Judith was sent to be educated at a convent after the death of her father and her mother's remarriage. Now thirteen, Judith has been summoned home by her stepfather becuase he feels it is time she got married. He arranges a marriage for her to an repulsive old widower with five daughters, some of whom are older than Judith. She has always longed to use her musical talent. So she cuts of her long hair, dresses in some of her dead brother's clothes, and assumes of the name of "Jude." Her destination: Eltham Palace, where she hopes to become one of the King's Minstrels. Along the way, she faces many dangers, including persuit by her stepfather, thieves, and the danger of discovery. But if she survives and completes her journey, the potential rewards could be greater than the perils. This was an exciting adventure story filled with details of life in Medeival England and featuring as its heroine a brave, resourceful girl determined to shape her own future.
Rating:
Summary: A Great and Refreshingly Different Story
Review: First of all, I loved this book and have read it at least three times. It's a great book, with carefully depicted characters and a wonderful plot. I read it straight through each time, I was so caught up in the story.Main Character: Judith a.k.a. Jude a.k.a. Stephen: a girl engaged to marry a disgusting and revolting man (this is set in almost medeivel times), she loves music and wants to become one of the Kings Minstrel's, she is strong-willed and brave. Other Character: Robin: a King's Minstrel who meets Judith and goads her on with her plan of running away... Plot:
1.Judith runs away to escape her stepfather and disgusting betrothed, disguising herself as a boy 2.Judith a.k.a Stephen is robbed by a bandit, and finds her way to an old friend's house, where a young lady falls in love with "Stephen, Judith's brother" 3.Judith makes a daring escape from an abbey, where she spots the bandit again 4. Judith, now "Jude" enters the minstrel's training school, where she is terrorized by the other boys, yet she must still find a way to survive with out anyone finding out her secret All in all, it's a terrific book for young adults. And if you like this book, I suggest you read Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet, Seven Daughters and Seven Sons, Samantha and the Cowboy (which is a romance), which all have a girl disguising herself as a boy. Or if you just liked the journey part, I suggest you read The Ramsey Scallop, which is sorta like it.
Anyway, if you get anything from this review I hope its this:
READ THIS BOOK!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Unlikely
Review: For a children's lit class I had to read two historic fiction novels. I chose this one because the premise sounded interesting: young girl decides to take her fate into her own hands and become a musician. Given this book was set in 14th Century England, that was a very ambitious idea. Unfortunately, even for a children's book, it fell flat. I was completely unmoved by any of Judith's adventures. I got the feeling the author had a "adventure story primer" sitting in front of her when writing this book. It had a "plug problem 1 here and resolve with character B" sense to it. The story wasn't that interesting until she got to London. The pace picked up and the problem that had nagged me throughout most of the novel was somewhat resolved. Just when the plot actually engaged my interest, the author abruptly ends the novel with one of the most aggrivating conclusions I've read in any book of any genre in a long time. I ask one question: how likely is it that no one ever figures out that Jude is acutally a Judith? I remember 13 being a very awkward age but never was I mistaken for anything but a girl. Cutting off hair and wearing baggy clothing does not a boy make.
Rating:
Summary: Unlikely
Review: For a children's lit class I had to read two historic fiction novels. I chose this one because the premise sounded interesting: young girl decides to take her fate into her own hands and become a musician. Given this book was set in 14th Century England, that was a very ambitious idea. Unfortunately, even for a children's book, it fell flat. I was completely unmoved by any of Judith's adventures. I got the feeling the author had a "adventure story primer" sitting in front of her when writing this book. It had a "plug problem 1 here and resolve with character B" sense to it. The story wasn't that interesting until she got to London. The pace picked up and the problem that had nagged me throughout most of the novel was somewhat resolved. Just when the plot actually engaged my interest, the author abruptly ends the novel with one of the most aggrivating conclusions I've read in any book of any genre in a long time. I ask one question: how likely is it that no one ever figures out that Jude is acutally a Judith? I remember 13 being a very awkward age but never was I mistaken for anything but a girl. Cutting off hair and wearing baggy clothing does not a boy make.
Rating:
Summary: Dissapointing
Review: I really wanted to like this book. It was avidly recommended to me by several people, and after reading all the reviews on amazon, I was ready to buy it, and I finished it in one night. It was not at all as I'd imagined. The first problem with it is that it's so simply written that a seven year old would have no problems reading it, which isn't to say that I don't like children's books- I do. I just like reading books that are slightly above the "see Jane run" level. Books such as The Seer and the Sword or the Crown and Court Duet are also children's books that are far better worded, so they are understandable to a younger audience and enjoyable to an older one, such as myself. The next big problem, which sorta ties in with the simply written one, is that the book was very much just told, like you might have been reading a brochure. There wasn't any 'showing' going on, and if you're an author or know anything about writing (which I'm sure you do if you're reading this review), you know the "show and tell rule" never tell, always show! The book had no heart or soul to it. It was told so plainly that I found myself falling asleep reading it, though I plowed on through, hoping that it was going to get better, as I'd been told it was quite good. The characters were dull as well. Judith, the main character, made all the right choices as far as running away from a disgusting betrothed, but the way she reached the conclusion that she didn't want to stay and get married to someone three times her age was nonexsistent. It was almost as if she was a simpleton who had someone whispering in her ear "do this, do that", and she had no mind of her own. The other characters were also dull and worse than being one-dimensional- they were completely bland. I wouldn't have been able to tell if it was Abbott Simeon or Lady Margaret saying something if the author hadn't said who it was. Finally, the romance at the end between Judith and Robin is a complete joke. They met each other once, "fell in love", and now that they are together, they've seen each other only a few times, and were under observation so they couldn't be themselves. In short, they have spoken maybe three times before deciding they want to marry. Not very convincing, nor does it make anyone respect the main characters more. The way the author writes is as if she bought a book that gives you the plainest plot imaginable, and tell you that you need exactly so-and-so amount of supporting characters, when to have the climax, etc. The book was one of the most boring I've ever read, and not because it's a children's story- because it's not well written at all. I suggest you skip this book altogether and opt for an adventure tale that encorporates convincing romance and actually has some descriptive details and interesting characters in it, such as The Healer's Keep.
Rating:
Summary: The Minstrel's Tale
Review: Judith, at 13 years old, doesn't want to marry her betrothed - an old man who she does not like.
So she runs away, dressing herself life a boy and calling herself Jude. And then she becomes a minstrel.
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE, find a new plot!
Review: This book had good potential, and I was really hoping (being starved for good new books) that it would be more than just another mediocre historical fiction. But alas, it was not to be so. Books written especially to appeal to girls are almost always mediocre to the extreme (and yes, I am a girl), seeming cheesy and condescending. The girl-disguised-as-a-boy-to-fufill- her-dream-in-a-sexist-culture
thing is getting to be a tiresome cliche, don't ya think? The author's excuse is almost always: "Well, when I was a teenager back in the 60/70's I couldn't find any books with female heroines so when I grew up I wanted strong role models for girls to look up to in my books." Oh, please! This is just an excuse for a cheesy, predictable plot and is actually degrading to girls, saying that we can't handle books written about males. I am starting to get sick of the "independent, determined, couragous strong... heroine". Don't these girls have some faults, at the least some interesting, REAL, character trait? WE NEED MORE! Intelligent girls unite! Also, Haahr doesn't have the ability of a good historical fiction writer to make a time period come alive and not feel like an unoriginal fantasy. I rated this 2 stars instead of 1 because it has some slightly interesting historical tidbits and secondary-secondary characters.
Rating: 
Summary: So Boring
Review: This book had the blandest, most boring deliverance of a well-known Shakespearean story, Twelfth Night. This author not only couldn't come up with an original plotline, but she can't write much better than at a 5th grade level. I finished it to the end just to see if it would get better, but it didn't- just a continuing farrago of cliches and predictable plot turns. The dialogue was like a droning litany. Don't even bother with this- it's awful.
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE, find a new plot!
Review: This book in about Judith, with has an undeniable gift with playing instruments. But unfortunately, her stepfather has arranged a marriage someone, where her talent for music will have no place in taking care of her new family. Not only that, but her betrothed is over thirty year older than her and has five daughters, some of which are older than Judith herself. At the banquet to celebrate her betrothal, Judith meets a Robin, young man who is in the King's Minstrels. They are immediately attracted to each other, in spite of the fact that Judith is already engaged. The two spend the evening together, singing and playing instruments. But Judith's fiancee drags her away. Robin sends Judith a secret note, urging her to run away, disguised as a boy, to join the King's minstrels. So Judith cuts her hair, changes her clothes, and runs away to Kent, where the apprentices for the King's Minstrels are. On her way, Judith, now known as Jude, must not only shoke off bandits, but also a beautiful young woman who seems to think Judith would make the perfect husband. When she finally makes it to Kent, the master immediately recognizes her talent with music. She becomes an apprentice, sees Robin again, and has everything she ever wanted. But something's missing. Although she is finally pursuing a career in music, something she never once even dreamed of, she is still not happy. Because of jealousy and the fact that she's the new apprentice, Judith is constantly picked on. Thing worsen when Robin leaves, and Judith's secret is in more danger than ever. While wishing for Robins return, Judith wonders whether things will ever be happily ever after for her.
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