Joan of Arc: A Photographic Story of a Life

DK Biography

by Kathleen V. Kudlinski

Filled with archival photographs and amazing fact boxes, this groundbreaking series introduces young readers to some of history's most interesting and influential characters. Tells the story of the farmgirl turned Christian martyr, Joan of Arc, who heard voices encouraging her to secure the throne of France for its rightful heir. Supports the Common Core State Standards.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Young Readers, Childrens, France, Historical

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

Kathleen Kudlinski is the author of 40 children’s books. Her works range from picture books to the YA level and include natural history, biographies and historical novels.
When not writing, she is a popular speaker and writing instructor. Building on a BS in Biology and six years of classroom teaching experience, Kathleen later trained as a “Master Teaching Artist” with the Connecticut Commission on the Arts as well as presenting at regional and national conferences. Now she eagerly Skypes with classroom, book-, and home-school groups, world-wide.

In her spare time, she paints and leads several SCBWI (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators) critique groups, and teaches writing for children.

She writes at home beside a deep, wild lake in Guilford CT or at her woodland cabin in Weathersfield, VT with a a rescue macaw clinging to her shoulder and a pitbull warming her feet.

Reviews

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures were really cool, and the author explained Joan's life in a captivating, fantasizing way!

[Selina Bloomfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to go along with our homeschool lessons on Joan of Arc. I enjoyed learning about Joan again. Her story has always fascinated me although it is tragic. Written well for the intended age group and my kids didn’t have a problem following all that was going on.

[Jovany Agathe · Rating 3 out of 5]

She managed to make the army believe in her and she helped to lead them to victories that lifted the siege. This was a major turning point in the war. By helping to turn the war around, Joan of Arc was an important figure in the Hundred Years' War.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these children's/juvenile DK biographies. Easy to read and follow.

[Bobbi]

I remember loving this book as a child, it taught me so much about French history and culture and I still remember what I learned to this day. I would definitely recommend this book to the curious child, but it may be too graphic for those under 10.

[Jacque · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing and heartbreaking book. I have read the story of Joan of Arc once before, but I felt this version was more detailed and based more in fact. I read this aloud to my children ages 9-13. Some of it was more graphic than I felt they were ready for, but we discussed what was happening and the differences between now and then.

[Emily Skeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-researched young adult non-fiction account of the life of Jeanne d'Arc - Joan of Arc.

It was written in appropriate language for younger audiences with a mixture of old portraits and paintings of Joan and her surroundings.

Joan of Arc follows the chronological timeline of Joan's life from her birth and early childhood to war battles and meetings with the king; to the trial and subsequent execution of 'Saint Joan'.

Highly recommend for any person wishing to refresh their knowledge of this era; or for those wishing to start learning about this time in human history.

[Kasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accessible and interesting. I don't know much about Joan of Arc so I can't speak to the veracity of the text, but it seems like it would be a solid secondary source for upper-elementary students and certainly a good introduction for adults.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book packs a lot of information into its pages. It's very easy to read (being on a children's level) and puts the happenings around Joan of Arc into story form. I really enjoyed all the pictures and informational boxes on every page. The book is also quality built, made for studying and multiple readings. I really enjoyed the pure portrayal of Joan in these pages; I now admire her all the more.

[Marilyn Showalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography
4th-6th grade reading level
This book contains a lot of good, factual information about the life of Joan of Arc. Personally, I thought it was a little boring and even kind of hard to understand with all the Catholic terminology in it. It could be used as a great resource if someone is studying the life of Joan of Arc. It seems to be share truthful, researched facts and contains a lot of good pictures!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very approachable and filled with fun facts. My middle schooler read it quickly and wrote a report. It helped him put Henry V and the Hundred Years’ War into historical perspective, by telling the story from the French side.

[Kelly Green's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written account of the life of Joan of Arc, a great role model for women of all ages! The story is easy to follow with intriguing historical images and artifacts relating to Joan’s amazing adventures.

[Dulcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 9 year old pointed out that the author left a few things out towards the end, but this was still a great children's biography and we loved the pictures.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this series enough!

[Whitney Terrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned some very interesting facts about Joan of Arc in her short life, and this was a good book to read.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whichever book you read on Joan or anyone in history, you find some interesting trails to travel. This book had some commonly shared information as well as some other rabbit holes to explore.

[kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

original catholic girl boss

[Haleigh DeRocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple biography that is great for a general overview of this saint's life. I'd definitely consider using it for school for elementary or middle school aged children. The illustrations really add a lot as well.

[Patrick Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for history buffs.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sort of great little biography. I love the emphasis on photographs with good captain, as the format really helps make the history come to life, even if it's just to illustrate a point. In addition, this book also has a lot of the hallmarks of a reputable piece- a good timeline, a bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and works cited. I particularly like that the author uses so many of Jehanne's quotes to help tell the story. The text itself is pretty narrative like and spins out like a story or a series of stories that addresses the different stages in her life. The chapter on "Joan Today" is a nice way of connecting a historical story to today, although the historical pieces are actually much more interesting. This text does include a lot of longer, more complicated words but goes out of its way to define unfamiliar terms, especially religious ideas, and is generally easily readable, at least at an adult reading level.

[Vida · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has gorgeous visual support for the subject. It contrasts the beliefs carried from the 1400s with new research. Her trial was recorded, word by word, for posterity and a copy of the document is in this book. I learned that little, frail Jehanne D'Arc would stop at nothing to serve her God, her country and her king. It is a well written and inspiring Middle Ages biography. The TimeLine at the back, the Bibliography, Work Cited and selections For Further Study, enhance the potentialvertical knowledge and appreciation of Joan.

[Takuya Kitaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Biography level unknown
-Time 10/18 50min 10/19 30min
From chapter 1 to 8
7 word summary Jeanne-French-girl-battled-for-soldier-Orléans

Discussion question

Joane battled for her country "France". Have you ever battled or been opposed for something?

A When I was junior high school student, my English teacher was kind to students. She was so strict. One day, I said to her, you are not a good teacher I have ever met.

Jeanne d'Arc is very famous in French history. She got a divine revelation. After that, she decided to battle for France.

[Eoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quality of writing in this book was not great but the story it told was incredible. It was inspiring and informational. I had known about Joan of Arc before reading this but never knew what she went through. I didn't even expect to read this. I was short a book one day so I picked it up. That's the great thing about books and stories. They have a way of finding you.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tale of the farm girl turned military leader and martyr. We read it as a read aloud. The kids enjoyed it. Hard to show the pictures because they are pretty small, but interesting. Had to explain some of the intricacies of Catholicism, etc.

Interesting in that the voices were guiding her and how the politics of the French court were her downfall.

[Lisa Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a reading challenge task and was surprised how much I didn't remember about Joan of Arc's story. The book was a short, concise history. I liked the beautiful photos of the cathedrals, castles and architecture where some of the drama took place.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very inspirational story of an amazing girl. This was a photographic story of her life and condensed to point it was a bit confusing with all the French and English players and places in the war. I am glad I took time to read this and see how someone totally commits themselves to God.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a brief overview of Joan of Arc my interest was piqued about who she really was. I wasn't ready to delve into a huge historical book on her life so this was an easy read and a great way to understand Joan of Arc a little better.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a bit about Joan of Arc through the years and therefore, I thought I knew quite a bit about her. This book added so much more. The pictures were an added bonus. Joan of Arc is truly one of my heroines.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fascinating life. Joan is an inspiration, and this book does a good job at giving you a glimpse of what transpired in her very existence. I personally would have liked more detail, but for a children's biography, it was well done.

[Abbydabbydoo]

only on like the fifth book but so far has very interesting imformTION