BOOK REVIEW: The Apprentice

TITLE: The Apprentice
AUTHOR: Pilar Molina Llorente
ILLUSTRATOR: Juan Ramon Alonso
PUBLISHER: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
DATE OF PUBLICATION: August 30, 1994
FORMAT: Paperback, 112 pages
GENRE: Juvenile Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction
ISBN: 978-0374404321

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:

In Renaissance Florence, thirteen-year-old apprentice Arduino's dreams of being a painter are challenged after he discovers the extreme measures the Maestro Cosimo di Forli will take in the name of jealousy. Arduino faces a decision that could cost him his only chance to realize his life's dream.

MY REVIEW:

I read this book aloud to my daughters. It won the 1994 Mildred L. Batchelder Award and is an ALA Notable Book.

We all loved the book! This is a great historical fiction book for studying the Renaissance time period and how people became artists.

Arduino, a young 13-year old boy, does not wish to become a tailor in the family business, so he leaves his home to become an apprentice for a local painter. Sadly, he is mistreated by his Master. He also discovers a secret that the Master is hiding, and Arduino must make a decision whether or not to confront him with it. If he does, he may lose his chance forever to become an artist.

Llorente's writing is so vivid that it was almost like being there in Florence, Italy.

MY RATING: 4 stars!

This book qualifies as:
#4 for my 2011 100+ Reading Challenge