Type: historical fiction chapter book
Ages: 11+ independent, 8+ listening
Author: Barbara Willard
Illustrator: Emil Weiss
If you are seeking to make your middle ages studies more robust, certainly consider this as a family read-aloud. It is in a time period many are less familiar with, is written in appropriate language, and makes for an overall interesting read.
That said, I can easily predict some children not connecting with the story much, especially if they are younger and read it independently. The second half especially was quite anticlimactic. There are a few battles earlier on (one in which 5000+ Saxon men were massacred), some relational issues, and brief suspense, but much of the book revolved around creating alliances and forcing conquered nations to give up their worship of pagan gods. King Charles also defended and protected the papacy in various ways. His dream throughout was to build the largest possible Christian empire.
Parents should know that King Charles had a number of wives and any further research outside of this book will tell of his concubines and numerous children–many of whom also had children out of wedlock like their father.
Overall, it’s definitely history worth knowing about. Indeed, Charles had to have been quite an extraordinary man to accomplish all that he did in his lifetime. The unique view of his life through the eyes of his son will give readers a glimpse of his courage, wisdom and humility before the sovereignty of God, though he wasn’t without faults. A number of lively conversations could definitely take place if you read this with others!