I don't usually write reviews; this was written for a school assignment.

Stephanie Hemphill continues her tradition of giving voice to historical and misunderstood women with this captivating novelization-in-verse of Joan of Arc’s life.

Born a peasant in a divided France, Jehanne’s one hope is to see her country united under its rightful king, Charles. Guided by the voice of God, she embarks on a quest to drive out the English and see Charles crowned.

Hemphill’s novel introduces readers to this determined teen of legend, from childhood through death. The first-person narrative, broken into short journal-like entries, humanizes the prophecy-fulfilling hero who was sainted almost 500 years after death. Readers will relate to Jehanne’s struggles with authority, gender expectations, life purpose, identity, and familial obligations. Hemphill’s use of Jehanne’s own spelling of her name as well as the French spellings of other names adds authenticity to the text and assists in differentiating between the many people named John/Joan.

Although the threats of rape, descriptions of battles, and Jehanne’s frequent and detailed dreams of death by fire may be difficult to read, they are the unfortunate reality of Jehanne’s life. The prose foreword is daunting, but it provides important historical context for the story and where it fits in the long conflict between France and England.

Backmatter includes an author’s note explaining Hemphill’s motivation in writing the story as well as where the narrative deviates from recorded fact. There is also a bibliography of suggested further reading.

Highly recommended for literature and history studies, as well as leisure reading.

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

“I am a lady, not a man. And I believe it is because of this more than anything else that they want me to burn” (Hemphill 389).⁣
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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 is aptly named; Jehanne (widely known as Joan of Arc) and her words are set ablaze by God. Even when others try to quiet her, even when her “throat clenches like a fist,” God speaks to her—through her—and this is what His voice says: “Jehanne, you are meant to do something more” (41, 48).⁣
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Jehanne had always been a pious girl, and when she looked toward her future, she never saw for herself the married life with children that her friends seemed to desire. Instead, she saw “the chimes call forth a great army of angels, and she [was] among them (18). ⁣
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One day, God does call to her, illuminating that she will lead armies to help the rightful king of France reclaim his throne and heal France’s broken countryside. However, though Jehanne has God’s favor, her life is far from easy. Many men belittle her, even attack her, trying to destroy the purity and strength of her calling, something she holds dearer than her very life. She is disowned, disbelieved, disrespected, and yet the poetry of this story highlights her power and utterly incredible rebelliousness against the sexism of the time.
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Author @stephhemphillya charges forward with Jehanne (Joan) of Ark’s story, and free verse poetry is her banner of war; the poetic verse is the beauty that billows above, calling attention to the story’s message: we are called to a greater purpose than what might be expected of us, so 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐧 those who try to stifle our voices and our fire. ⁣
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I recommend this book to 6th grade and above! ( )