Laura Amy Schlitz

Laura Amy Schlitz is an acclaimed author of children's literature and a librarian at the Park School of Baltimore in Maryland. A Newbery Medal recipient, she has established herself as a significant voice in historical fiction and children's literature, with works spanning various genres and formats. Her most celebrated work, "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village," won the 2008 Newbery Medal. This unique book consists of over twenty monologues and dialogues performed by characters from a 13th-century English manor, originally written for her students at Park School. Schlitz's literary achievements include multiple prestigious awards, including a Newbery Honor for "Splendors and Glooms" (2013) and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for "The Hired Girl" (2016). Her other notable works include "A Drowned Maiden's Hair," "The Night Fairy," and "Amber and Clay," demonstrating her versatility across different storytelling styles. A graduate of Goucher College, Schlitz combines her roles as a librarian and storyteller with her writing career. Her work often features rich historical settings and complex characters, reflecting her deep understanding of both historical contexts and young readers' interests.

Readers appreciate Schlitz's historical accuracy and depth of research. Parents and teachers note her books engage children while teaching history through personal narratives. Her language receives praise for being lyrical without becoming flowery. What readers liked: - Characters feel authentic to their time periods - Educational value without being didactic - Rich vocabulary that respects young readers' intelligence - Theatrical elements that work well for classroom performance - Detailed historical settings What readers disliked: - Some books move slowly for younger readers - Complex vocabulary can challenge target age groups - Multiple narrative perspectives can be confusing - Historical authenticity sometimes includes period-accurate prejudices Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: 3.7/5 (5,800+ ratings) - The Hired Girl: 4.0/5 (4,900+ ratings) - Splendors and Glooms: 3.7/5 (4,200+ ratings) Amazon averages 4.3-4.6/5 across titles, with reviewers often mentioning classroom use and historical learning value.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village A collection of 22 interconnected monologues depicting the lives of children in a medieval English manor, written in verse form with historical notes.

Splendors and Glooms A Victorian gothic tale following a puppeteer, his two assistants, and a wealthy girl who becomes entangled in dark magic and family secrets.

A Drowned Maiden's Hair Historical novel about an orphan girl recruited by spiritualist sisters to help conduct séances in early 20th century America.

The Night Fairy Fantasy story about a young fairy who must learn to survive without wings after an accident leaves her stranded in a garden.

The Hired Girl Chronicles the story of a fourteen-year-old Catholic girl who leaves her farm to work as a hired girl for a Jewish family in 1911 Baltimore.

Fire Spell (Note: UK title of Splendors and Glooms)

Amber and Clay Historical fiction set in ancient Greece combining prose, verse, and archaeological artifacts to tell the story of an enslaved boy and a privileged girl.

Princess Cora and the Crocodile Chapter book about a princess who trades places with a crocodile to escape her overly structured life.

The Hero Schliemann: The Dreamer Who Dug for Troy Biography of Heinrich Schliemann, the amateur archaeologist who discovered the ruins of ancient Troy.

Karen Cushman writes historical fiction focused on young protagonists in medieval and renaissance settings, with works like "Catherine, Called Birdy" and "The Midwife's Apprentice." Her writing style combines historical accuracy with first-person narratives that bring past time periods to life.

Katherine Paterson creates stories featuring young characters facing difficult circumstances and moral choices, as seen in "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Jacob Have I Loved." Her work addresses complex themes while maintaining accessibility for young readers.

Frances Hardinge crafts historical fantasy novels with intricate plots and strong female protagonists, such as "The Lie Tree" and "Cuckoo Song." Her work blends historical settings with supernatural elements and mystery.

Elizabeth George Speare wrote historical fiction centered on young characters navigating challenging historical periods, including "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" and "The Bronze Bow." Her books combine historical research with coming-of-age narratives.

Patricia MacLachlan creates character-driven stories that explore family relationships and personal growth, as demonstrated in "Sarah, Plain and Tall" and "Journey." Her writing style focuses on emotional depth through straightforward storytelling.