By Joyce Ray
Illustrations by Lisa Greenleaf

Enduring a beginning unimaginable to today’s teens, Hildegard strains against the ascetic lifestyle of Jutta, her mentor nun. Relationships with Volmar, her monk tutor and Richardis, her daughter nun, bring joy to Hildegard. But does she allow herself to love them too much?

In a life fraught with challenges, Hildegard emerges as the most dynamic 12th century female voice. She fights for the nun she loves, moves her community to build a new monastery and defies an archbishop’s command to dig up a dead man. Feathers and Trumpets chronicles the life of the recently named Saint and Doctor of the Church against the backdrop of a rich tapestry we know as the Middle Ages.

RL 5.5 – ages 9 and up
Interest level: grades 5 and above (212 pages)