Shelly's Book Blog

Eric P. Kelly's The Trumpeter of Krakow won the Newbery Medal in 1929, so when I started it I was a bit worried that I would find the language dated (and difficult for kids to get used to). I am happy to have been wrong about that. This is an adventure story set in medieval Poland, so there are some Polish names that may be unfamiliar to kids, as they were to me. However, I believe this book has just as much appeal today as it did when it was published because it's just a darn good story. Joseph Charnetski, the young hero of the book, is forced to move from the Ukraine when his home is attacked and burned to the ground by thieves looking for a mysterious treasure that his father's family has been safeguarding for many generations. They find shelter and a new life in Krakow, where they assume a new name. Joseph's father, Andrew, lands a job as the trumpeter, who is charged with playing a tune known as the Heynal, every hour on the hour, from the top of a tower of the Church of Our Lady Mary. This is a pround tradition in Krakow and Pan Andrew (Pan means Sir or Mr. in Polish) is honored to be trusted with this task. The villain who destroyed the family's home has not given up, though, and the last half of the novel is filled with plenty of intrigue and excitement (especially with the involvement of Pan Kreutz the alchemist) to keep the pages turning. I hope that libraries will keep this one around because it will appeal to both boys and girls, adults and children.