Siege!: Can You Capture a Castle? (Step into History)

"Find out how to successfully plan and lay siege to a castle to defeat the enemy"--Provided by publisher.

The cover illustration of a medieval castle on fire is sure to draw attention to this large-format book from the Step into History series. Inside, the text informs the reader that times are troubled in the year 1300 and the king is calling upon the reader to put down a rebellion: “Your challenge is to capture the rebel lord.” This second-person narrative approach creates immediacy and a dramatic context, while never overwhelming the information presented. Readers will learn a good deal about the design of castles, their strengths, and their vulnerability to various weapons and strategies. Detailed and colorful, the many illustrations show the roles of people inside and outside the besieged castle. Fascinating aerial and cutaway views reveal what is beyond, inside, or beneath various structures. Appendixes include a time line and brief lists of books and Internet sites. An appealing, informative book for browsing or research. Grades 3-6. --Carolyn Phelan