Summary:
In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.
Trilby Kent brilliantly handles a far-off time and place to present a story of up-to-the-minute relevance.
Review:
Medina Hill is a greatly told young adult historical, because of it's mix of finding true friendship and bravery in life.
Dominic was a character that was easy to like and one you constantly rooted for from the start. The same also goes for his sister, but, I personally would have loved to seen more about Dominic’s aunt and uncle, along with the other artists in the colony, back-stories. Simply because they were easily some of my favorite characters.
Further more, it interesting to see how
Medina Hill tied in with the story Dominic was reading about Lawrence of Arabia. Plus, Trilby's writing made story flow quite well, making it an overall captivating tale.
In all,
Medina Hill is definitely a novel I suggest to all, especially young boys and girls. I look forward to seeing what Trilby comes up with next!
Grade: B+
Medina Hill is now out! You can also find out more at
Tundra's site.
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Source of book: Publisher. Much thanks goes to SC for organizing this all! :)
