A Company of Fools

by Deborah Ellis

Canadian Library Association Book of the Year, Honour Book
Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction, Honour Book
Mr. Christie Silver Book Award
Ruth Schwartz Award, finalist
Manitoba Young Readers_ Choice Award, nominee
Rocky Mountain Book Award, nominee

Before Micah came to St. Luc's, he knew how to beg, how to steal, and how to run from a beating. He did not know how to comb his hair, walk in line when he felt like running, or obey anyone's whim but his own. He was a stranger in a strange land. If it had been me, I would have found a way to disappear inside myself until the strangeness wore off.

Micah was not like me.

Henri has been living within abbey walls all his life, first in the care of nuns, then as a choirboy at St. Luc's, not far from Paris. He expects to spend the rest of his life there, copying books in the Scriptorium with the other brothers, and singing Mass in the great cathedral.

Then Micah arrives, a streetwise ragamuffin with the voice of an angel, saved from certain hanging to sing for God instead of coins. Micah comes like a fresh breeze into dead places, bringing exuberant joy at a time when Henri most needs it.

For the plague is coming, the grim reaper that will slash at the very roots of Henri's security. And neither Henri nor Micah nor anyone else in their world will ever be the same.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, School, Childrens, Fiction, Medieval

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Deborah Ellis (1 January 1960 - ) has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.

She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.

A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.

Reviews

[Kat]

The worst book I ever read. EVER. It is terrible, boring, and I especially did not enjoy the topic.

[Lillian Penno]

honestly not my favourite

[Tama Wise]

Well, after reading the medieval, and particularly urban piece of fiction that was Slaughterboy, Company of Fools was a rather happy walk in the park. Set in the 14th century, in a monastary, I found it an almost rather too simple read. However, any book that starts by mentioning that the subject of the book is 'gone' instantly makes you want to read and find out what happened to them.

Narrated by a bookish choirboy, his world of cloisters and such is disturbed by the arrival of someone his complete opposite. Micah is loud and boisterous and boasts that he was almost hung. The book is mostly about him and Henri, and their friendship.

The plague soon rears its nasty head towards the middle, and then things start getting rather interesting. A straight forward read, but a cool one none the less.

[Tegan]

For some reason, this book has really stuck with me.

[Brian Ackin]

Read this to my Grade 4-5 class. It is a rather heavy book for the independent reader, which is why I read it as a read-aloud. I agree that it is heavily male influenced, but hey, males need a book without females from time to time.

The relationship with Micah and Henri was quite authentic to the relationship that all friends have at some point. Some are bookish and some are extroverted. It is quite clear that boys will enjoy this novel much more than females as the situations are clearly more suited toward male experiences. However, the mood of the novel made me feel I was in the Middle Ages, and that was surely the intent, at least from the eyes of a 10 year old.

It is a book for a certain kind of upbringing and culture. If I were Black, or Asian, or Australian, or Brazilian, then yes, this book would probably not engage me, especially at the age of 10. If you grew up in England or a Commonwealth country, then you would probably understand its context. Otherwise, this would seem quite alien to you.

I appreciate the negative reviews on this site, but I would probably not like books you like because I don't understand the context of your culture. C'est la vie.

I always wanted to know what happened after this and the author said she would write a sequel. I am still eagerly waiting. However, I think I'll be disappointed. No recent work by the author makes me hopeful.

P.S. The book cover change simply sucks. This picture on the cover would not make me pick this book. The original title cover was much more inviting. Who makes these decisions?

[Lindsay B]

I read this along with my 11 year old for her school reading. We had interesting discussions about the characters and the times. It was quite relevant seeing that the Corona virus started while we were reading this book about the plague.

[Zoom Zoom]

Tiene cierta parte lenta la historia pareciera que no fuera ningún punto específico pero realmente aunque la lectura se ligera provoca un gran sentimiento de elecciones sobre todo la de la bondad y la de la esperanza ante las situaciones más crueles y cómo no abandonar a quienes se pierdan.

[Binga]

The book is very interesting and gives you an in site to the 14th century

[Bonnie]

Beautiful work.

[Bere Madera]

Que bonitos recuerdos me trae este libro

[Chelsea]

an old favourite from my childhood

[Melanie]

A good solid read recommended to me by my daughter after she read it for school. Thoughtful and compassionate too.

[Ardyn]

it was ok...ish

[Miss Amanda]

gr 5-8 183 pgs


1348, St. Luc's Abbey, France. Micah the street urchin and Henri could not be more different. Raised by nuns and sent to be a choirboy at the abbey, Henri knows very little of what happens outside the abbey walls. Micah, orphan son of a troubador, is constantly getting into trouble at the abbey, dancing on tables, singing rude songs etc. When the plague comes to Paris, some of the monks including Micah and Henri attempt to bring people comfort by making them smile. They call their group the Company of Fools. When one of the audience members is believed to be cured by Micah's singing. Micah begins to wonder if he really has the power to cure.

Great story. I think someone who read "Fever 1793" and enjoyed it would like this book too. It goes into a little more detail of what the plague was like than in Jensen's "Days of Courage", but not quite as much detail as Anderson's "Fever 1793".

[Jeri]

A Company of Fools was a very unentertaining book to read since it was related to the Black Death. I thought to myself when i first saw the book cover "Is this going to be a horror genre?", but then i saw the title which incorporated the word "fools" so then i thought it was going to be a comedy/horror. When i actually finished the book, i then understood why the novel is called "A company of fools". I don't have much of an interest though in stories about the black death or anything like that, so that's why i gave this book quite a low rate. This book would most likely suit people who would like to have a little more understanding of the Black Death or most likely adults to read this book.

[Aadya]

This was not a bad book! Honestly I don't think I could fully enjoy the book because we had to read it for a english assignment, so it was more rushing and taking notes than actually reading it fully. :) I used to be a huge reader, but now I don't read very often (being busy, nothing interesting to read) but this book really took me back to the old times so to speak. Fully recommend it to anyone who is a decent reader, and can handle some stress and deaths.

[Andrea]

An easy read, after a busy week! Narrated by a choir boy, recounts how one abbey reacts to the coming of the Black Plague in 1347 by bringing humour to the sufferers.

( part of the juvenile paperback section of the library)

[Sondra]

The Plague as seen through the eyes of a young teenager who lives in an Abbey near Paris. A general view of the French Plague. Interesting story, historical fiction. Some details connect with others found quickly on Wikipedia, such as a painting found of skeletons dancing.

[Ellie]

I read this book in fifth grade and I really enjoyed it and I still do. It really captured the day and a life of a boy living in a dark world full of plague. Though the book what some what ironic, this is a great book that I really like. I would highly suggest reading this book!

[Tammy]

Really good young adult read about friendship and the plague - black death.

[Sylvia]

Life in a monastery for small boy and street urchin. Paris and the Plague in 1348.

[Sarah]

Loved it like all her other books

[Harry Smith]

A company of fools is a great book about relationships and the power of emotions and friends
it is a really good book that I very much recommend.

[Connie]

The style was very nice, and the voice of the character.

I do need to read more Deborah Ellis books.

[Kristin]

This book was great. It take places in the middle ages during the plague. Although I got it in the children's section I didn't feel like it was a children's book. A quick read. Really super.

[Clary Fdez]

3.5

[Julia]

I love this book.

[Mark Zaragoza]

The book was ok, it had a story that just seem useless since nothing happened at the end.

[Kim]

Another truly enjoyable Middle Ages historical fiction novel. This one included the Black Death!