The Seventh Expert: An Interactive Medieval Adventure - Hardcover

Oakley, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 155451066X ISBN 13: 9781554510665

Publisher: Annick Press, 2008

Synopsis

Medieval history meets interactive storytelling. In 1362, violent storms pounded Europe, wiping out some coastal settlements. The Seventh Expert, which provides a compelling mix of history, storytelling and interactive fun, puts the reader in charge of rebuilding one medieval village. Through seven action-filled chapters, each representing a year of rebuilding, the reader faces the struggles of the emerging community. Luckily, six village experts are at the reader's service to offer advice along with a wide range of medieval tools and implements. These experts include: Blacksmith: tools (hammers, plows) and weapons (swords, arrows) Carpenter: buildings (houses, mills) and vehicles (carts, wagons) Farmer: food (bread, beer) and medicines (herbs, soap) Hunter: hunting equipment (bows, traps) and fishing gear (hooks, nets) Knight: siege weapons (cannon, catapults) and defen

About this title

About the Author

Mark Oakley is the author of the long-running comic book Thieves and Kings. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

John Mantha is the award-winning illustrator of more than a dozen books for young readers. He lives in Toronto.

Reviews

Grade 4–8—Through a book that's part role-playing game, part nonfiction text, readers follow the lives of the villagers of Port Haven in the year 1362. A cataclysmic storm forces them to relocate after their town washes away. Six survivors with special skills are identified as the experts who will lead this endeavor, including the blacksmith and the cobbler; the "seventh expert" is the reader, who has been chosen for his or her decision-making skills. Each chapter represents a year of village life, with instructions for continuing game play at the end of the chapter. It requires a six-sided die and paper to keep score. In addition to dealing with random events such as the plague and bad weather, players have to use the appended "Experts' Catalog" to shop for items needed to sustain life and build the village. The game is somewhat similar to the famed Oregon Trail but with intriguing tidbits about medieval life. It is easy to learn, and random events offer enough variation for players to see different outcomes each time they play. The story, along with the occasional informational sidebars and the excellent descriptions of medieval necessities, paints a realistic portrait of an English town in the Middle Ages and shows the grim nature of the feudal system. The full-color illustrations add to readers'/players' understanding. This title could easily be used by a class or by individuals, either for recreation or for research.—Kathleen Meulen, Sakai Intermediate School, Bainbridge Island, WA
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Edition details

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 155451066X
• ISBN 13: 9781554510665
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Mantha John
• Number of pages: 96