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The Apprentice of Florence
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Opening in 1453, this is the story of sixteen-year-old Neno, apprenticed to a silk merchant of Florence, who accompanies the merchant's son to Constantinople on business.
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1934 was a notable year for the Newbery awards. Eight Honor books were selected (the only other year with as many was 1931), including The ABC Bunny by Wanda Gág, The Winged Girl of Knossos by Erick Berry, and The Apprentice of Florence by Anne Dempster Kyle. 1450s Italy is the backdrop as our story opens with sixteen-year-old Agenore (Neno) di Giancavallo arriving in Florence. He's searching for his father, who left on a sea voyage years ago and never returned. Most assume he's dead, but Neno (
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Yet another old Newbery honor book which is hard to get through.
It's hard to say what this book is about. First I thought it was about a boy who left his hometown because his dad died and he tried to apprentice in Florence as a Silk Merchant to earn enough money to pay back his farm. Then I thought it was about intrigue and protecting his favorite family from others finding out about a murder. Then I thought it was about defending Byzantium/Constantinople from the invading Turks. Then I didn't k ...more
It's hard to say what this book is about. First I thought it was about a boy who left his hometown because his dad died and he tried to apprentice in Florence as a Silk Merchant to earn enough money to pay back his farm. Then I thought it was about intrigue and protecting his favorite family from others finding out about a murder. Then I thought it was about defending Byzantium/Constantinople from the invading Turks. Then I didn't k ...more
2.5-3.0 stars. Set during the Renaissance, the story follows a young farmboy, Agenore, on his initial search for his father who had been an agent for a wealthy Florentian silk trader. The teenager, nicknamed Neno, (when unable to locate his father) is is taken on as an apprentice. The story is simply one of following him through his days, first in Florence, then later in Constantinople. That could be boring, but given what actually happens during this time period, notsomuch; there are the Medici
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A young boy leaves home to seeks news of his father in Florence, but ends up as an apprentice to a silk merchant instead, and travels with him to Constantinople.
Hm. This one seems a bit all over the place, and I'm not certain at all what it was really meant to be about, I'm afraid. Not one of my favorite Newbery Honor Books; it really hasn't aged well, I think. ...more
Hm. This one seems a bit all over the place, and I'm not certain at all what it was really meant to be about, I'm afraid. Not one of my favorite Newbery Honor Books; it really hasn't aged well, I think. ...more
This one was a slow-going struggle - I never really got into the story at all. I persevered simply to cross it off the Newbery list and it is with a heavy sigh of relief. I cannot really articulate what was missing from the story for me - there was action, history and a variety of characters, just not the necessary elements that make a story captivating.
I liked the story...loved the dog c:
Oct 22, 2014
Scott Williams
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