Horn Book Review
This lively biography tells the story of the French farm girl who listened to voices she said were sent to her by God, led her country into victorious battle against the English in the fifteenth century, was burned at the stake as a witch, and eventually sainted. Brief paragraphs and short sentences help make the history accessible. Sepia-toned illustrations rendered in simple lines adequately convey the story's events. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2-3. Part of the Step into Reading series, this picture-book biography will hold newly independent readers with the exciting action about Joan, a young farm girl who listened to the voices sent by God, led her country into victory in battle, was burned at the stake by her enemies, and was named a saint 500 years after she died. That's a lot of history to fit into a short book, and the narrative's switch back and forth in time may be confusing for less skilled readers. But the heroic story makes a great read, even for older-elementary students, and Andreasen's active line-and-wash illustrations capture both the battle hero on horseback and the child alone. --Ray Olson Copyright 2003 Booklist