Misha the Minstrel

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5 When Misha reaches the age of 13, his parents send him off with hugs and ``a sack of peanut butter sandwiches'' to become a minstrel. He travels from village to village but is teased because he doesn't measure up to people's preconceived concept of a minstrel: one who seeks out disasters and sings about them. Finally he sings about the ordinary, everday things that he has seen and enjoyed. People invite him back; at last he is a minstrel. The writing lacks polish and precision; sentences are sometimes awkward, and unnecessary repetition of words hampers the narrative flow. The humor is dry and sophisticated. Pen-and-ink drawings are well-executed, and attractive borders frame the pages of print. The story, however, is a blend of fantasy, realism and humor that doesn't work. Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, Va.