Written by Hannah Pang
Illustrated by Takayo Akiyama
Published by Thames and Hudson, March, 2021
Review
So You Want to Be a Knight? is a noble addition to the series, and T will tell you, "I like all the books." From ninjas to Roman soldiers to Vikings, and now to knights, young readers can learn about ferocious fighters from different periods in history. Bloodshed. Weapons. Humor. What's not to love?
So You Want to Be a Knight? actually is much more than just bloodshed and weapons and laughs. It's a pretty comprehensive look at the process of becoming a knight and then the lifelong expectations of those knighted. Dancing at a feast, jousting at a tournament, sleeping in the rain with your horse on campaign, and making your burial plans are all covered via cartoons, checklists, "trading cards," and instructional manuals. I like how Pang and Akiyama use every inch of space to engage the reader and educate through entertainment.
We've been reading through a stack of knight-related books, and one thing that is on my radar specifically is the handling of the Crusades. Our family had been planning a trip to Jerusalem, reading about how it is a holy city to Christians, Muslims, and Jews, and focusing on what unites us. Reading about the Crusades, therefore, has been a bit perplexing for T and necessitates further conversation. I was pleased with how those wars were handled here. So You Want to Be a Knight? hits the topic straight on and with the signature tone of the series – taking the brutality of the period for granted without excusing it. The introductory sentence lays out the situation clearly: "Crusades are religious wars that Christians mostly started against the Muslims." Then Pang and Akiyama roll with the horror of it, including "Pope Clement V's Travel Guide for Budding Crusaders."
So You Want to Be a Knight? is one T has been hoping for, and it did not disappoint!
Extra:
So You Want to Be a Knight? is a noble addition to the series, and T will tell you, "I like all the books." From ninjas to Roman soldiers to Vikings, and now to knights, young readers can learn about ferocious fighters from different periods in history. Bloodshed. Weapons. Humor. What's not to love?
So You Want to Be a Knight? actually is much more than just bloodshed and weapons and laughs. It's a pretty comprehensive look at the process of becoming a knight and then the lifelong expectations of those knighted. Dancing at a feast, jousting at a tournament, sleeping in the rain with your horse on campaign, and making your burial plans are all covered via cartoons, checklists, "trading cards," and instructional manuals. I like how Pang and Akiyama use every inch of space to engage the reader and educate through entertainment.
We've been reading through a stack of knight-related books, and one thing that is on my radar specifically is the handling of the Crusades. Our family had been planning a trip to Jerusalem, reading about how it is a holy city to Christians, Muslims, and Jews, and focusing on what unites us. Reading about the Crusades, therefore, has been a bit perplexing for T and necessitates further conversation. I was pleased with how those wars were handled here. So You Want to Be a Knight? hits the topic straight on and with the signature tone of the series – taking the brutality of the period for granted without excusing it. The introductory sentence lays out the situation clearly: "Crusades are religious wars that Christians mostly started against the Muslims." Then Pang and Akiyama roll with the horror of it, including "Pope Clement V's Travel Guide for Budding Crusaders."
So You Want to Be a Knight? is one T has been hoping for, and it did not disappoint!
Extra:
We visited Worcester Art Museum to compare the armor and weapons on display with those mentioned in the book. You can access the whole of the Higgins Armory collection online here: https://www.worcesterart.org/collection/higgins-collection/#what-see
Note: A review copy was provided for the purpose of this honest review.
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