Voices

Gr 8 Up-A prominent figure of the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc dually stands out in history as a leader of the French army and a woman scorned for her "unseemly" deeds. From receiving visions of Saints at 13, to leading the Dauphin's army at 16, to death by burning at 19, Joan's story is swift yet deftly packed with captivating moments of 15th-century France. Although her life ends in flames, there is much more to glean from her final hours than ever before imagined. Elliot delivers another hit (following Bull) with a bold and unapologetic heroine whose voice springs to life through her fervor for God and country. Filled with various (medieval and modern) poetic forms, Elliot's novel in verse not only revitalizes the tale of the Maid of Orléans but showcases a gorgeous storytelling style that flows in an effortless fashion. The ingenuity in utilizing people, objects, and concepts affiliated with Joan to aid narration enhances the novel. Snippets of the Trial of Condemnation and Nullification are interspersed throughout, staging events perfectly as Joan recounts her life. Author's notes bookend the work, providing context and enrichment to the medieval setting. VERDICT A glorious tribute to a woman who dared, defied, and defended her truth. A must-have.-Emily Walker, Lisle Library District, IL

Starred review from January 15, 2019
A multivoiced verse retelling of the last day of Joan of Arc's life.Interspersed with snippets from the transcripts of the Trial of Condemnation and Trial of Nullification are monologues in verse from the individuals surrounding Joan, in actuality or in memory, on the last day of her life. The expected characters are there--Charles VII, her mother, the saints who guided her--but also other, unexpected, choices--the fire, the arrowhead that pierced her shoulder, her hair, her virginity. The title cleverly alludes to both the voices that guided Joan and the cacophony of voices in the book, all of whom take various forms that heighten their individual personality. There is concrete poetry as well as poetic forms popular during and after Joan's time: the villanelle, the sestina, the rondeau, and the ballade. Joan herself is ethereal, wondering, and poignant. The conceit works; the variety of voices and compelling verse bring the story to life and heighten the pathos of Joan's death. Among her last words: ."..the penetrating / pain will be my ecstasy in / knowing I was true; there is nothing / I have done that I would alter / or undo." Compelling for pleasure reading, this will also be a valuable addition to language arts lessons.An innovative, entrancing account of a popular figure that will appeal to fans of verse, history, and biography. (preface, map, author's note, list of poetic forms) (Historical verse novel. 13-adult)

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November 15, 2018
Grades 7-10 As in Bull (2017), Elliott employs numerous poetic forms and a full cast to bring to life an old story. This time Joan of Arc commands the narrative. As she awaits her execution, Joan recounts her story in candid, musical verse, remembering the life she abandoned when she heard God calling her to lead an army into war for a country that eventually turned on her. Joan's words are woven through with a quick internal rhyme that underscores her strength and cleverness. Interspersed are testimonies not only from people but also objects (her sword, her armor), the saints themselves, and even concepts (victory, virginity). In an ending note, Elliott explains the poetic forms he used, many of which were popular during Joan's time. The object poems are given concrete form on the page: the fire that takes Joan's life builds and consumes itself throughout the book. An elegant, spirited introduction to classical poetry and to a woman fighting not just for a cause but for a place in a world that undervalued her voice.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

March 1, 2019
In this verse novel, voices refers to Joan of Arc's messages from the saints; to the various people who testified for and against her; to Joan herself; and to the objects made sentient in Elliott's telling (dress, sword, fire, and more). Voices also resound in quotations from Joan's two trials (1431 and 1455), medieval voices that dovetail nicely with the author's choice to adhere to medieval poetic forms such as ballade, rondeau, sestina, etc. Within the poetic formality, however, Elliott highlights themes arising from our own contemporary thinking, particularly with respect to gender identity, cross-dressing, and sexuality (Joan's dress forces her to defer to strange, conflicting feelings that could never be expressed; her sword declares itself an instrument of men! A blade! Attack! Defend! Impale! Invade! Penetrate! Both tongue and phallus? ). Elliott offers no introductory account of Joan's story; instead the vivid utterances of multiple voices and verses evoke an impressionistic narrative, one in which reader and Maid alike are assaulted by a cacophony of claims, demands, and enticements. The rhythms, rhyme schemes, and repetitions of the strict poetic forms muscle in on us, compelling a reading experience that resonates with the rigid social structures of Joan's time, and especially with the compulsions she experiences. deirdre f. baker

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2019
In this impressionistic verse novel, "voices" refers to Joan of Arc's messages from the saints; people testifying for and against her; Joan herself; and objects made sentient (dress, sword, fire, etc.). Elliott adheres to medieval poetic forms while highlighting contemporary themes such as gender identity, cross-dressing, and sexuality. Strong rhythm, rhyme scheme, and repetition make for a reading experience that resonates with the rigid social structures of Joan's time and her own compulsions.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from December 21, 2018

Gr 8 Up-A prominent figure of the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc dually stands out in history as a leader of the French army and a woman scorned for her "unseemly" deeds. From receiving visions of Saints at 13, to leading the Dauphin's army at 16, to death by burning at 19, Joan's story is swift yet deftly packed with captivating moments of 15th-century France. Although her life ends in flames, there is much more to glean from her final hours than ever before imagined. Elliot delivers another hit (following Bull) with a bold and unapologetic heroine whose voice springs to life through her fervor for God and country. Filled with various (medieval and modern) poetic forms, Elliot's novel in verse not only revitalizes the tale of the Maid of Orl�ans but showcases a gorgeous storytelling style that flows in an effortless fashion. The ingenuity in utilizing people, objects, and concepts affiliated with Joan to aid narration enhances the novel. Snippets of the Trial of Condemnation and Nullification are interspersed throughout, staging events perfectly as Joan recounts her life. Author's notes bookend the work, providing context and enrichment to the medieval setting. VERDICT A glorious tribute to a woman who dared, defied, and defended her truth. A must-have.-Emily Walker, Lisle Library District, IL