Annotation: In a land still devastated by the Crusades, Dolssa is on the run from a friar determined to burn her at the stake. Is she a heretic, a mystic, or advanced for her time? What do you believe?
Title: The Passion of Dolssa
Author: Julie Berry
Narrators: Jayne Entwistle, Fiona Hardingham, Julie Berry, Allan Corduner
ISBN: 0451469925 (ISBN13: 9780451469922)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Series: No
Reading Level/Interest Level: 9-12 grade
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
First Publication Date: April 12th, 2016
Available Formats according to Goodreads: Hardback, Paperback, e-book, audiobook
Synopsis:
Dolssa has done nothing wrong. She is a good Catholic woman who believes in God and finds joy sharing about her beloved. In 1241, women cannot be preachers and even preaching outside of a church is not allowed. A friar overhears her ‘sermon’ or in Dolssa’s words, a discussion of the lord, so her mother and her are declared heretics, sentenced to burn at the stake. Dolssa is able to run away, but for how long can she stay hidden?
Botille is one of three sisters who own an inn in a small town still recovering from the Crusades. She is a successful matchmaker and has finally made a comfortable life for her family. One night Botille finds Dolssa near death and decides to take her in. It isn’t long before Botille witnesses Dolssa’s healing power. But, with a vengeful friar not willing to stop hunting for Dolssa, the two girls must determine what they are willing to risk from discovery: Botille’s inn, the entire village, or even their lives?
Evaluation:
–Narrator
First I want to talk about the narrators of this amazing novel. The voices used absolutely brought the book to life. The gruffness of the friar, the strength of Botille, and the way they read the text made them actually seem as if they were from the 13th century. These are narrators who I will be looking up more in the future.
Now, to the book content. In two words: Absolutely stunning. In the beginning I started out confused because this book starts as a journal which is found and read. Farther into the book ,I found this to be a fantastic element. While most of the book is done in 1241, the journal gives the reader a peek at what else is going on at that time or a look ahead. While it did sometimes take me out of the story, I found it absolutely fascinating. Besides these journal reading, there are other points of view in this book such as Botille, Dolssa, and the friar. I thought even these POV switches were done well. I find it to be helpful when the person’s name, whose view we are getting, is written with the chapter number (since I listened to it, I’m assuming where it is since when a new chapter started the name would be said before jumping into the text).
The plot itself was well done. Now, I was hesitant at first because I didn’t realize how religious this would be, but religion is not pushed on the reader, nor is the story truly about the greatness of religion, so I think recommending this book to people of different religious affiliations should be fine. The growth of the characters is done with such fluidity that at the end of the book it is amazing to think of. One example is how Dolssa reacts to the prostitute’s assistance and lifestyle and then how her thinking has changed by the end.
As an extra, the author’s notes at the end are interesting to listen to and there is a glossary for the terms as well, this comes with the audiobook (as an e-book for me).
Author Information:
“Julie Berry grew up on a 50-acre farm in Western New York, the youngest of seven children. She attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY where she majored in communications. While her main aspiration was not to be a writer, she always hoped to incorporate it into her life somehow. She met her husband in college, got married, and started her family soon after.
After her fourth son was born, she went back to school and earned an M.F.A. in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of the Fine Arts. She has won many awards for her books, her most recent, The Passion of Dolssa, has even won a 2017 Printz Honor from ALA. If asked if she is working on a book, the answer is always ‘Yes.’ “(from Julie Berry’s website)
Interview with Julie Berry about The Passion of Dolssa
Curriculum Ties
- History – Crusades aftermath
- Genocide
Book Talk Ideas:
This is a very serious book, so I feel it deserves a serious or almost ominous background music to accompany the talk, perhaps with the sound of a crackling fire.
Pull from what these readers already know to connect to this book, “Long before the witches in Salem where burned at the stake, during the Crusades those who believed even a slightly different religion from the accepted one where burned at the stake.” Then I would tie this to the question at the end “Will Dolssa escape the flames that await her capture? Read, to find out!”
I would also include this quote in the beginning, ““When searching out a history, sifting through a thousand facts and ten thousand lives, one often uncovers pieces that do not fit.” This refers to Dolssa and the information the author found which brought her to this writing this story.
Challenge Issues:
- Religion – blasphemous? pushing religion on students?
- Presence of witchcraft
- Unsuited for age group
Challenge Defense!
- Active listening
- Library Selection Policy
- Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
- Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
- Awards (Library Thing)
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Printz Honor (2017)
Association for Mormon Letters Award Finalist (Young Adult Novel, 2016)
Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist (Young Adult Literature, 2016)
Bank Street CBC Best Children’s Book of the Year (2017.5d|*Fourteen and Older, Fiction, Historical Fiction, 2017)
Bank Street CBC Best Children’s Book of the Year, Outstanding Merit (2017.5d|Fourteen and Older, Fiction, Historical Fiction, 2017)
CCBC Choices (2017.16|Fiction for Young Adults, 2017)
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2016.2|Fiction, 2016)
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (2017.4|Fourteen and Up, 2017)
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2017)
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Printz Honor (2017)
Association for Mormon Letters Award Finalist (Young Adult Novel, 2016)
- National Council of Teachers of English “Right to Read”
- Positive and negative reviews: Novelist (expert reviews), Goodreads
- ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials
- ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom
Why this book:
This book won a Printz honor which I feel is a huge deal. Also, it can spark debate and allows readers to think for themselves about the ending, how it might relate to their lives, and what exactly they believe. The audiobook is an absolute treasure and a great listen even if teens may not be willing to try that format.
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