The Puppeteer's Apprentice

by D. Anne Love

Mouse works in the scullery at Dunston Manor, peeling onions, stirring the pots, sweeping the floors, and doing her best not to get into trouble with the fractious cook. Alone at night in the dark corner she calls home, she wishes for something wondrous to happen and dreams of a better life. But what chance does she have, a girl born with nothing, not even a proper name?

Then Mouse sees a puppet play and knows at once what she must do. Somehow she must learn to make the puppets dance. Somehow she must become the puppeteer's apprentice. But the puppeteer is harboring some uncomfortable secrets, and Mouse doesn't know whether she has the courage it takes to fulfill her dreams.

How Mouse finds her place in the world, and a very special name, is the heart of this thoroughly absorbing and remarkable story set in medieval England.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Medieval

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

I was born in western Tennessee, the eldest of four children. My father was a lover of books who taught me to read even before I started school. My mother was (and still is!) the world’s best mom and a lover of music who sang in the kitchen as she taught me to cook.

I enjoyed playing games and riding bikes but my favorite activity was reading. Among my favorite authors were Lois Lenski, Louisa May Alcott and Harper Lee. I was in love with words and stories, with the feel of paper as I turned the pages, with the smell of ink.
Major, the golden retriever

In high school, and later, in college, I discovered newspaper writing and worked for the paper to help pay for my education. I became a teacher, and later, a school principal, and then a college professor, but I never forgot my dream of someday writing books. In 1989, I began writing full time, and in 1995 Holiday House published BESS’S LOG CABIN QUILT, my first novel for young readers.

Since then I have published a number of other books. Writing is still my full time job, though I spend a lot of time visiting schools, talking to students and teachers about my favorite subjects: books and reading!

In addition to Texas, I’ve lived in Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and California. Currently I live in central Ohio with my husband Ron, and Major our rambunctious golden retriever. But Austin, Texas is, and always will be the place I call home.

Reviews

[Sydneyyy :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a beautifully written book that feels like it belongs on a shelf along with pride and prejudice. I totally recommend it

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

17th century England. A girl manages to do a boy's job. Loved the period detail!

[Navy heart HamlinNBCT · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I will not cry" she said to the shivering trees"! Abandoned, Bold, Brave and Adopted -Our little mouse implores us to care and stop to think of those "if only" as she transitions through mentors, companions, loses, triumphs and finally a home with a master puppeteer of dramatic possibilities !
You so will enjoy D. Anne Love's treasure chest of adventures! Avid readers know true keepsakes seduce us into several readings - Why ? -Well the adult within us reflects upon social and contemporary issues of relevance. Mouse so reminded me of our kids left behind, abandoned or more poignant -our temporals -kids who are circulated through systems with dwindling resources yet ,like Mouse, dare to tread on and ultimately grab and succeed.
Mouse' character is "our kids" who "Essentially " keep searching for that ideal placement and career . D. ANNE LOVE responds to our need to answer What is progressive education? Love also offers that so desired survival vision for our creative, quiet children who venture forward without an initial foundation to depend upon.
A must read for parents, educators, social workers, artists and those of us who are wide eyed literacy optimists. sahnbct 2018

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, but very similar to the midwife's apprentice.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST book that never made it onto the Texas Bluebonnet list.
First rate historical fiction.

[Miri Gifford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The female presence in this book was quite nice, especially because it was based on true historical figures. The puppetry was an interesting angle for a medieval novel.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read, I want to say fun light read, but some of the topics are not light. It involves starvation, thieves, murder. It has a cast of some unsavory characters as well as so very good characters. I wish we could have gotten to know more about the puppeteer before we did. It's very interesting to learn about this time setting. Some of the wording is old English and can be somewhat confusing, it just takes some getting used to. Overall it's a story of good vs. Evil. This poor orphan girl named Mouse happens upon the puppeteer. They face hardships along the way. Mouse becomes a true puppeteer. This is a middle school book, but I enjoyed it as an adult.

[Hellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little be boring book.The book is talking about a girl after some wandering, she start to study the puppet show with a puppeteer. This book is almost like a dairy of the girl( the main character). The book climax is not very exciting so I think the book appear trite and insignificant. If you like to read some story like realistic fiction story, you will like it.

[Bethany (CozyLittleBookNook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got and read this on a whim, and I'm not upset that I did. It was a cute story that I enjoyed reading and I'm sure that some day I will read it to my kids when I have some and they will enjoy it more then me. I'm always on the look out for cute, good kids book that my own kids and my nieces and nephews can read and enjoy so I'm glad that I have this.

[Maddy]

One of the books that helped develop my great love for reading. I'm very glad I found this title in my elementary school's library and gave it a try.

[Elena/EJ]

amazing! I keep checking it out from the library!

[Susan Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining!

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 4-6 180 pgs

1700s England, One day orphan "Mouse" who thinks she is around 11 years old gets in trouble with Cook and runs away from Dunston Manor where she's worked as a scullery maid her whole life. Unsure of where to go, Mouse wanders on the road and is helped and abandoned along the way by various travelers. When Mouse sees a puppet show, she is fascinated by the puppets and determined to learn how to work them. Somehow she is determined that the puppeteer take her on as an apprentice.

Interesting read with lots of information about puppets. Most of the characters in the story, like Mouse, are on the road looking for a new start.


****Spoiler:
One of the main characters dies.

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love novels with a strong female character in a historical setting, and this one certainly delivered on both counts! I read this to prepare for a novel writing workshop I'm taking in March, and D. Anne Love is the featured author in the workshop.

I quickly fell in love with Mouse and began rooting for her. She was so strong in the face of so many people saying and doing things to tell her otherwise. I really enjoyed this story, and I'll definitely be checking out more from this author.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off slow, but picked up pretty quickly. It's about a orphan girl named Mouse who works for a manor house cook but runs away. She meets up with traveling minstrels and eventually sees a puppet show and falls in love with the dancing puppets. She attaches herself to the puppeteer, who begrudingly accepts her as the puppeteer's apprentice, eventually growing attached to Mouse. There's more to the story, but you'll have to read it to find out.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young orphan/servant girl known only as Mouse follows her dream of a better life for herself. She falls in love with the way a puppeteer can make the puppets dance. She uses courage, hard work and loyalty to earn a new name for herself.

[Marge]

young servant girl is abused and runsaway. On her journey she meets a puppeteer and begs to learn the trade. Story of survival on the road.

[Cici · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. it was short but really good.
I like how the puppets talk to Mouse. i could tell how magical they were to her.
The Author described Mouse's feelings well and in the end i felt like Mouse was really grown up and she seemed to be changed from Mouse to Sabine.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 6th grade for school. It starts off slowly, but it picks up pretty quick. I remember accidentally staying up all night to finish it, and being soooo glad when the next day turned out to be a snow day. That really saved my tired butt!

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt medieval tale starring an impetuous little girl. D. Anne Love doesn't spare us the wretchedness of the period, but there is adventure and hope too. For me, it ranks high up there with Adam of the Road.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet little story. It's one that has lingered with me, I found myself thinking about the book this morning. There's such tenderness that develops between Mouse and the puppeteer.

[Rose]

JF Kov

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for 2006 Battle of the Books.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

am going to read again. it was so good!!!

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. Would I read it again? Yes, possibly in a few years. Would I own it? No. I did like the story though

[Birgit · Rating 1 out of 5]

The conversations, the convenience of circumstances the main character encounters was unrealistic, boring and made me feel that if this can get published my chances as a writer are really good.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in Middle School? It's a GREAT book and it's definitely worth the read!

[Kimmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice little story. It's a small book so I didn't think there would be much to the story but it's really a moving story that it really didn't need to be more then it was.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story about a girl who becomes a puppeteer, liked the interesting time the story takes place in.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times sweet, sometimes melancholy, I read this short tale over two lunch breaks and don't regret it one bit.