I remembered this from my younger years so was glad to find it again to read to my son. We both loved it. This boy who searches all over to find his dog and his father, and has a bit role for a horse. Now to pass it on to grandkids who are infatuated with medieval times; this will give them a new aspect to try out, instead of only thinking of kings & queens (or robbers... ( )

AR: 6.5

Eleven-year-old Adam loved to travel throughout thirteenth century England with his father, a wandering minstrel, and his dog, Nick. But when Nick is stolen and his father disappears, Adam suddenly finds himself alone. He searches the same roads he traveled with his father, meeting various people along the way. But will Adam ever find his father and dog and end his desperate search?

A classic. Thoroughly enjoyed the story and narration.

FROM AMAZON: Eleven-year-old Adam loved to travel throughout thirteenthcentury England with his father, a wandering minstrel, and his dog, Nick. But when Nick is stolen and his father disappears, Adam suddenly finds himself alone. He searches the same roads he traveled with his father, meeting various people along the way. But will Adam ever find his father and dog and end his desperate search? ( )

I've owned this since I acquired it as a library discard when I was in junior high, and that's when I last read it. I'd really forgotten all details of the story.

This Newberry Award winner from 1943 follows Adam, an 11-year-old minstrel, son of a minstrel named Roger. As the book starts, Adam is being educated in an abbey, eager for his father to return from what is essentially a business trip to France. He loves his spaniel Nick and his harp best of all things in the world. When Roger returns, they set off on a road trip. Another minstrel steals Nick, and when father and son set off in pursuit, they are soon separated. Adam spends months on his own, meeting a variety of people around England in 1294.

Foremost, I was surprised by the wealth of medieval details worked into the book. Gray's research was immense, and she gracefully incorporates everything. This is also very much a boy's adventure book. Girls and women have almost no roles, and Adam regards all girls with outright disdain after one thinks cats are better than dogs. The ending feels weirdly tidy and abrupt. I do adore the Robert Lawson illustrations throughout--he's one of my favorite illustrators and authors of this period.

I don't think this is a book I need to keep on my shelf after thirty years, but it was good to read it again. ( )

Adam is a young minstrel, son of a minstrel, in medieval England. He loves his father, Roger, his dog, Nick, and being a minstrel. We meet the characters and go along with them for a good third of the book before Adam becomes separated both from his dog and his dad. Nick is stolen, and in the chase to catch the dog-napper, he loses his father as well. The rest of the book is Adam's quest to find at least one, but preferably both members of his family. Each chapter is its own small adventure, and we definitely are given a view of the middle ages through heavily rose-tinted glasses.

I had mixed feelings about this one. Definitely enjoyed it more than most Newbery winners as old as this (1942 copyright), so it holds up better than some. Adam was a likable protagonist too. But the tale didn't seem have much of a point beyond just following Adam around England hunting for his father and dog. He didn't really learn any lessons, or become a better person. So, while an entertaining enough book, it felt sort of empty at the end. Enjoyable, but probably forgettable. ( )

Adam is an eleven year old son of a minstrel, and training to follow in his father's footsteps. While out on the road Adam's dog is stolen, and then he and his father become separated. Alone in thirteenth century England Adam uses his wits and talents to not only survive, but to locate both his father and his dog.

This book deserves its Newbery Metal, as an extremely well-written, believable, and exciting story for all ages. ( )

A pleasant jaunt through medevil England with a young minstrel and his beloved dog, Nick. Children may have enjoyed learning about this time and imagining what it might have been like for a boy walking all over England, playing for his food and bed. Not sure though if it would be enjoyed today. ( )

Even though, as a child, I tended to avoid Newbery books, and even now am really not a fan of historical fiction, I did enjoy this several times then, and again this time, for Dec. 2015 Newbery: GR Children's Books. ?�One thing that struck me this time was just how old the setting for this is. ?á Way before Shakespeare! ?áMy other observations/ book darts this time:



"If thou has a sorrow,
Tell it not to thy foe,
But whisper it to thy saddle-bow
And ride forth singing."

And I think some of the tidbits of history are fascinating, as at an inn: "Minstrels.... Good. I'm not ready to sleep and we can't read unless we pay for candles."

And there's humor. A self-important little girl named Agnes prompts Adam to think: "Her name meant lamb of God... but to Adam she was just a silly sheep, and not a sheep of God either."

And since Candlemas Day is Feb. 2, is this the origin of the Groundhog Day tradition?

"If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight."?á " ( )

A book for history lovers, adventurers, and even some musicians out there, Adam of the Road takes you back to a time when mistrals entertained. Life on the road brings both good and bad, which seem to happen in equal measure within these pages. Overall strangers seem helpful, maybe overly helpful at times, but there are a few out there that Adam learns to be wary of. There is enough travel to make this a real journey through 13th century England and enough plot to keep a reader following along from home without really realizing where they are. An excellent choice for young readers who wish to live in the days of old. Certainly deserving of the Newbery Honor it received. ( )

It's a very long time ago that I read this book -- I was probably no older than the 11-year-old hero. I'm slowly reading all the Newbery Medalists and Honor Books, backwards in time, so eventually I'll be rereading it. I remember enjoying it very much as a child. ( )

I liked it, my kids not so much. It's an older book so rather slow-paced by today's standards. I enjoyed the glimpse it gave into 13th-century life in England. ( )

Adam of the Road
This books starts off with a boy named Adam. It takes place in the year of 1294. Adam lives in the town of St. Alban, he lives in a school for boys. His dad left him a long time ago and Adam has been waiting for his return ever since. Adam always brags about how his dad is a minstrel. This is one of the richer people in the town. Adam always dreams of how his dad is going to come back for him. Adam also has a dog, the dogs name is Nick. Then one day Adams dream comes true. After the first night with His dad Rodger they head for London. At one of the inns that they stay at Adam sleeps really hard and when he wakes up nick is gone. No one is saying who took him but then finally someone told them who took him, the mans name is Jankin. After they find this out they go searching for him. They were on there way to guidford. Once they got there they went directly to the castle. Once they got there Adam spotted Nick and Jankin. So he went running after them but so did Jankin and Nick went running as well. Then Jankin and nick got onto a ferry but Adam had to swim across the river. But he did not get to them. So now Adam and Rodger are split up and his dog to. So now Adam is going after Nick because he figures that Rodger is going after nick as well. Finally one day Adam runs into Jankin but not Nick. And Jankin tells him that he chewed threw his leash and someone has him. So Adam goes and he gets nick back but on the way he is asking around for Rodger, his dad. Once he gets nick back the search is on for his dad. Then he finally finds him.

Adam is an 11-year-old mistral in 13th century England. His father is a semi-famous and very talented mistral. Adam's best friend (his dog Nick) is stolen from him, and as he searches for him loses his father, Roger. Living off his wits and talent, Adam takes to the road to find both Nick and Roger.

This novel shows the life of a mistral and the adventures he encounters. There are also parts of songs, poems, and tales of the time. This is a Newbery Medal winner, giving great descriptions of 13th century England, its culture and society. ( )

One of my favorite cliches in children’s books is how the protagonist always seems to run into these fantastically nice people who want to help them accomplish whatever it is the protagonist wants to do. Need to cross a river? Take my seat, young sir! Lost your dog and father? Come travel with me on my dime and we’ll search for them together– and I won’t even ask you for anything in return! It’s very sweet and optimistic, and I like that.

There are a few baddies, of course, including one minstrel who steals Adam’s dog and another group who resort to theft in order to feed themselves, but they’re never any really big threat to Adam himself. Instead, I think they’re more used as a moral, uh, thingy, prodding Adam further along on his path to be a Good Person, ( )

Isaac, age 10:
This is a story a boy named Adam and how he lived at an abbey with his friend named Perkin. His father was a minstrel. He worked very far away so Adam only got to see him once every couple years. One day Adam’s father came to get him. They travel for the rest of the book. I liked this book because it was funny and there is a lot of action when there are chases. I liked Perkin the best because he lives on a farm and I like farms. I would give this book 7.5 out of 10 and I would recommend it. ( )

Adam goes on the road with his minstrel father and promptly falls into a variety of adventures. I like his quick thinking and the way he takes to heart the lessons his father has taught him over the years. I suspect Ms. Vining's portrayal of medieval times is more sanitary that it was in real life, but overall, very enjoyable. ( )

Adam of the Road is about an eleven year old boy in Medieval England. Adam wants to grow into the same profession as his father a minstrel. In the middle of the night another minstrel comes and steals Adam’s beloved dog Nick and Adam and his father set out in search of the pet. Along the way they are separated and Adam’s quest doubles to find both the dog and his father.

The book is an interesting look into peasant life in olden times of England as most of the history people read of is about kings and nobles. I found it informative and exciting.

I could use the book to bring understanding of how music and stories originally began as minstrels were storytellers through musical means.

One of the things about Adam of the Road that is unique and pleasing when compared to much modern Junior Fiction is the innocent outlook on life. Even when Adam is displaying less than stellar behavior, such as boasting, he is quick to realize his error and tries afterwards to do better. His faults, and the faults of other characters, aren't emphasized. While it may not be a gritty, realistic view on life, it is rather refreshing.
There is also quite a clear picture painted of medieval life, which must be part of the purpose of the book. Adam's adventures continue throughout the book, and it is an entertaining romp. It would probably be a lot of fun to read aloud as well as to oneself. Robert Lawson's illustrations, as usual, are fabulous. ( )

"A road's a kind of holy thing," said Roger the Minstrel to his son, Adam. "That's why it's a good work to keep a road in repair, like giving alms to the poor or tending the sick. It's open to the sun and wind and rain. It brings all kinds of people and all parts of England together. And it's home to a minstrel, even though he may happen to be sleeping in a castle."Adam is a young boy of eleven, spending his time in school while awaiting the return of his father, a minstrel of some repute, and the resumption of his life with his father on the road. Adam's father does return and together father and son head out on the road but, like all road trips, this adventure has many unexpected twists and turns, including the kidnapping of Adam's beloved dog and Adam's separation from his father. The fun of being on this road with Adam is seeing the people and places of another time, parsons and knights and other minstrels and other travelers.As a librarian, I began to see myself like Roger and Adam, as a kind of minstrel, singing songs, reciting poetry, relating stories. Ah, a new epithet: "Minstrel of the Library." ( )

"A road's a kind of holy thing..."

Adam of the Road is a 1942 Newbery Honor book, and tells the story of a young boy in thirteenth-century England. While travelling with his minstrel father Roger, Adam becomes separated from Roger and from his beloved dog Nick, and spends the rest of the story searching for them. His adventures give the reader a taste of a wide variety of professions and lifestyles in medieval England. We follow Adam as he sings in great houses, works as a farmer's boy, falls in with the wrong kind of minstrels, is robbed by bandits, visits St. Giles's Fair, watches a mystery play, sees life at the University, and more.

Twining his experiences together are Adam's songs and tales that he tells as a minstrel. He wants to be a minstrel like his father, and learns one of his father's primary lessons as he travels: he must learn to fit his song to his audience. Along the way he also starts maturing as a person.

This is a somewhat sanitized version of the Middle Ages. Gray mentions how Adam's father Roger avoids all the rude and crass fabliaux that characterized many minstrels of the time, instead preferring the French romances about courtly love and heroism. As he travels, Adam finds that people are generally kind and even the poorest will take you in for a meal and bandage up your head after you fall. I did like how Adam never does get his harp back the last time, and has to learn to play the bagpipes instead (which is hardly ideal for a minstrel who plays to accompany himself singing).

For the most part, the crueler aspects of medieval life are muted. There was a moment when Adam wonders if a noblewoman destined for an arranged marriage wants to marry the knight her father has chosen, and another boy says that she's just a girl and has to obey. Adam compares this to the tales of courtly love and honor paid to ladies in the romances, and wonders how the two ideas can coexist. But it is just a passing thought and never takes over the story (as in some agenda-driven tales). Perhaps it is not so much that the medieval world was idealized, but that we are seeing it through the eyes of an eleven-year-old boy. He probably wouldn't understand all the crass or harsher parts of life, and so for him they did not exist.

There are several loose ends left at the story's conclusion. We never get back to Jill and John Ferryman. What happens to Agnes and Margery? Why doesn't Jankin get a better comeuppance? What is Squire Simon's fate, and is Emilie happy in her arranged marriage? I guess this is true to life... we touch so many people in passing and never learn what becomes of them in later life.

This is a well-written story and I recommend it. ( )

I checked this book out from the library, not remembering until the middle of the book that I had actually read it before about a year earlier. It is possible I didn't read it carefully, but my impression was that it simply wasn't a memorable book. Not a book I'd make required reading, but certainly a good one to have on a bookshelf. for an interested child.

This one's a short tale about Adam, a minstrel's son, living in medieval England. When the story opens, he is boarding at an abbey. His father, having secured a position with Sir Edmund de Lisle, comes to fetch him and goes to spend time at Sir Edmund's court. Come July, Adam and his father set off on the road, and Adam gets an experience of the life of a traveling minstrel. The trip provides a coming-of-age for him, as he experiences the challenges of life on the road and some temptations to choose another profession and lifestyle. It's not the greatest of books, containing a few cliches, but its worth checking out. The settings are done well, the characters show a bit of depth and you can't help but root for Adam as he travels along.
--J. ( )

NA

13th century England