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Jepp, Who Defied the Stars
Fate—is it written in the stars from the moment we are born, or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands? Jepp of Astraveld needs to know.
He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become a captive in the strange, luxurious prison that is Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the Spanish infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that, as a court dwarf, daily injustices would become his seemingly unshakeable fate. If the humiliations were his alone, perhaps he could endure them, but it breaks Jepp's heart to see his friend Lia suffer. After Jepp and Lia perform a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe by a kidnapper in a horse-drawn carriage, Jepp is unsure where his unfortunate stars may lead him. Before Jepp can become the master of his own destiny, he will need to prove himself to a brilliant and eccentric new master—a man devoted to uncovering the secrets of the stars—earn the love of a girl brave and true, and unearth the long-buried secrets of his parentage. He will find that beneath the breathtaking cruelty of the world is something else: the persistence of human kindness.
Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real historical characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is an awe-inspiring story of triumph in the face of unimaginable odds.
He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become a captive in the strange, luxurious prison that is Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the Spanish infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that, as a court dwarf, daily injustices would become his seemingly unshakeable fate. If the humiliations were his alone, perhaps he could endure them, but it breaks Jepp's heart to see his friend Lia suffer. After Jepp and Lia perform a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe by a kidnapper in a horse-drawn carriage, Jepp is unsure where his unfortunate stars may lead him. Before Jepp can become the master of his own destiny, he will need to prove himself to a brilliant and eccentric new master—a man devoted to uncovering the secrets of the stars—earn the love of a girl brave and true, and unearth the long-buried secrets of his parentage. He will find that beneath the breathtaking cruelty of the world is something else: the persistence of human kindness.
Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real historical characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is an awe-inspiring story of triumph in the face of unimaginable odds.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published October 1, 2012
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February 10, 2016
Near the end Jepp finds out who his true mother is and his wealth. Don Diego planned to take the 3,000 Jepp is entitled to because his father was a nobleman to Spain. Don Diego deceived people by saying he did not have such gold coins but then Matheus told Jepp about the 3,000 coins and how he took some to give back to Jepp. In the end, Jepp kisses Magdalene planning of the future ahead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2021
I forgot who suggested this book. I think it was more that it was getting a lot of press, than a specific person suggesting it. This came very close to ending up in my "books that I can't finish" category. I enjoyed the historical fiction, especially about Tycho Brahe. The historical part about dwarves was interesting as well.
However, I did not enjoy the first part of the book at all. Jepp is quite the whiner. Yes, he has a lot to cope with but the unrelenting self pity was really too much. I didn't find any of the characters all that attractive. Robert came closest I suppose but you have to wonder why he never uses his size to his advantage. Being gentle is all very good and well but not at the person's own expense. The book got much better when it went to the focus of the historical fiction, Brahe. While Jepp's self pity was still fairly overwhelming, for the first time, he started to take some effort to actively help himself. Madeleine and Liv are both attractive personalities as are the various scholars that work for and under Brahe. I appreciated the subtly of having the one scholar who was consistently kind to Jepp turn out to be a traitor. And I appreciated Jepp's decision on what to do about that person. Brahe himself, while not a particularly attractive personality, still feels more three dimensional and much more interesting than the characters in the first part. I found the ongoing discussion between Jepp and Madeleine as to whether fate rules your life, or you shape your fate, to be interesting for that age group but not all that interesting to me. I'm glad that there was a happy ending and that Jepp finally stopped his futile quest to know his parents. I have to say as an adult, I found the means to get to the ending questionable. Jepp gets some of his inheritance illegally through another person's theft, and then finds his love and clearly going to live happily ever after. Brahe's concern and demand was that Jepp increase the amount of money Brache gave him...perhaps loaned might be a better word?...by his efforts. Basically, Brahe wanted reassurance that Jepp would be able to support his daughter in their life together. I don't see how receiving stolen goods even if it is goods that can be possibly considered morally Jepp's, is a solution to Brahe's concerns. I do realize that to a large extent, the couple made Brahe's demand irrelevant. But as another adult, I think that avoiding the demand does not change the nature of the issue. How is Jepp going to support Madeleine after the money runs out? It feels as though there is a potential sequel that could be coming. If so, it is going to take a lot of talk to get me to read it.
However, I did not enjoy the first part of the book at all. Jepp is quite the whiner. Yes, he has a lot to cope with but the unrelenting self pity was really too much. I didn't find any of the characters all that attractive. Robert came closest I suppose but you have to wonder why he never uses his size to his advantage. Being gentle is all very good and well but not at the person's own expense. The book got much better when it went to the focus of the historical fiction, Brahe. While Jepp's self pity was still fairly overwhelming, for the first time, he started to take some effort to actively help himself. Madeleine and Liv are both attractive personalities as are the various scholars that work for and under Brahe. I appreciated the subtly of having the one scholar who was consistently kind to Jepp turn out to be a traitor. And I appreciated Jepp's decision on what to do about that person. Brahe himself, while not a particularly attractive personality, still feels more three dimensional and much more interesting than the characters in the first part. I found the ongoing discussion between Jepp and Madeleine as to whether fate rules your life, or you shape your fate, to be interesting for that age group but not all that interesting to me. I'm glad that there was a happy ending and that Jepp finally stopped his futile quest to know his parents. I have to say as an adult, I found the means to get to the ending questionable. Jepp gets some of his inheritance illegally through another person's theft, and then finds his love and clearly going to live happily ever after. Brahe's concern and demand was that Jepp increase the amount of money Brache gave him...perhaps loaned might be a better word?...by his efforts. Basically, Brahe wanted reassurance that Jepp would be able to support his daughter in their life together. I don't see how receiving stolen goods even if it is goods that can be possibly considered morally Jepp's, is a solution to Brahe's concerns. I do realize that to a large extent, the couple made Brahe's demand irrelevant. But as another adult, I think that avoiding the demand does not change the nature of the issue. How is Jepp going to support Madeleine after the money runs out? It feels as though there is a potential sequel that could be coming. If so, it is going to take a lot of talk to get me to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2013
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh would not have been a high priority read for me were it not chosen to compete in this year's SLJ Battle of the Books. The premise intrigued me, but I probably would have waited until my library received a copy. BoBs prompted me to buy it and push it to the top of my TBR. I'm grateful for this because I LOVED it. (BoB, this more than makes up for making me buy Life: an Exploded Diagram last year.)
Historical fiction. It attracts and repels me. I love it when it's done well, but it is so often done wrong that I am more than a little afraid to read it anymore. Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is done right. Marsh brings 16th century Netherlands to vivid life in this story. The lives of the commoners, the court, academics, the pull between superstition and science, a world clinging to the past while on the brink of a new era is all wonderfully rendered. And at the center of this marvelous world is a dwarf by the name of Jepp.
Jepp's voice and character is the strongest factor of a novel that is full of strengths. As a reader I could relate to his plight even though I've never experienced anything like it. I felt sympathy for him. Most of all I wanted to see him succeed and find happiness. I wanted him to break free of his chains and live the life he could. Marsh truly makes him a real person, one you can feel for and love. As a result his story is a gripping one that I couldn't put it down even in its slower moments. (I read the whole thing in one glorious sitting.) The other characters have just as much life and depth as Jepp. Both antagonists were a little flat and predictable, but they serve their functions well.
I enjoyed how Marsh presented the pull between fate and free will. She brings up questions everyone struggles with at some point and arrives at the inevitable conclusion. Jepp's journey to this is one that will fascinate readers and that they can also identify with.
This is one of those books that doesn't fit nicely into any age classification. The bookstore I purchased it from had it shelved with the MG books. The protagonist is in his mid-late teens like most YA. The story is one I can see appealing to adult readers, even ones who don't normally enjoy "children's books". It is a great story whatever the age of the interested party who picks it up.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh would not have been a high priority read for me were it not chosen to compete in this year's SLJ Battle of the Books. The premise intrigued me, but I probably would have waited until my library received a copy. BoBs prompted me to buy it and push it to the top of my TBR. I'm grateful for this because I LOVED it. (BoB, this more than makes up for making me buy Life: an Exploded Diagram last year.)
Historical fiction. It attracts and repels me. I love it when it's done well, but it is so often done wrong that I am more than a little afraid to read it anymore. Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is done right. Marsh brings 16th century Netherlands to vivid life in this story. The lives of the commoners, the court, academics, the pull between superstition and science, a world clinging to the past while on the brink of a new era is all wonderfully rendered. And at the center of this marvelous world is a dwarf by the name of Jepp.
Jepp's voice and character is the strongest factor of a novel that is full of strengths. As a reader I could relate to his plight even though I've never experienced anything like it. I felt sympathy for him. Most of all I wanted to see him succeed and find happiness. I wanted him to break free of his chains and live the life he could. Marsh truly makes him a real person, one you can feel for and love. As a result his story is a gripping one that I couldn't put it down even in its slower moments. (I read the whole thing in one glorious sitting.) The other characters have just as much life and depth as Jepp. Both antagonists were a little flat and predictable, but they serve their functions well.
I enjoyed how Marsh presented the pull between fate and free will. She brings up questions everyone struggles with at some point and arrives at the inevitable conclusion. Jepp's journey to this is one that will fascinate readers and that they can also identify with.
This is one of those books that doesn't fit nicely into any age classification. The bookstore I purchased it from had it shelved with the MG books. The protagonist is in his mid-late teens like most YA. The story is one I can see appealing to adult readers, even ones who don't normally enjoy "children's books". It is a great story whatever the age of the interested party who picks it up.
October 3, 2012
I am perhaps too close to this wonderful novel to judge it impartially since the author is my critique partner and I have read Jepp through many iterations. But I can truly say Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is a unique tale told straight from the author's heart.
Jepp, a young dwarf born at the dawn of the 17th century, is taken from his comfortable, loving home to become a pampered, but imprisoned, court dwarf in the household of the Spanish Infanta in the Spanish Netherlands. There Jepp is humiliated but educated, and ultimately falls in love and then from grace,after which he is brutally expelled from the Infanta's court.
He next finds himself in the household of the eccentric Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, where in that rich and somewhat more egalitarian environment he begins to grow into a man.
In an important way, Jepp's story is everyone's coming-of-age story. Growing up is hard and painful, and we all struggle to overcome what we feel to be our fate and take our destiny into our own hands. It takes a great soul to come through hardships such as Jepp suffers, not just whole, but self-aware, thoughtful and capable of great love.
This is a fascinating tale, beautifully told.
Jepp, a young dwarf born at the dawn of the 17th century, is taken from his comfortable, loving home to become a pampered, but imprisoned, court dwarf in the household of the Spanish Infanta in the Spanish Netherlands. There Jepp is humiliated but educated, and ultimately falls in love and then from grace,after which he is brutally expelled from the Infanta's court.
He next finds himself in the household of the eccentric Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, where in that rich and somewhat more egalitarian environment he begins to grow into a man.
In an important way, Jepp's story is everyone's coming-of-age story. Growing up is hard and painful, and we all struggle to overcome what we feel to be our fate and take our destiny into our own hands. It takes a great soul to come through hardships such as Jepp suffers, not just whole, but self-aware, thoughtful and capable of great love.
This is a fascinating tale, beautifully told.
January 19, 2013
Jepp, a teenage dwarf living as an innkeeper's son in turn-of-the-17th-century Europe, goes to live at court as a sort of jester only to have to leave under rather inconspicuous circumstances. There follows a series of adventures as Jepp cavorts around the continent searching for his true family, in the end finding true love.
This book reads very young (short cliff-hanger chapters, overarching themes, glaring symbolism), although nothing about the protagonist made me feel like I was in the mind of a teenager.
The themes are simplistic and the characters thinly sketched. The plot sinks to melodrama and soap opera ineptitude quickly, and then everything is resolved neatly at the end.
I never felt seeped in the time or place; usually, I love historical fiction, but this didn't feel historical. The adventures Jepp undertakes, the favors he's granted, are near impossible for anyone in that time and place, much less a peasant dwarf.
This book reads very young (short cliff-hanger chapters, overarching themes, glaring symbolism), although nothing about the protagonist made me feel like I was in the mind of a teenager.
The themes are simplistic and the characters thinly sketched. The plot sinks to melodrama and soap opera ineptitude quickly, and then everything is resolved neatly at the end.
I never felt seeped in the time or place; usually, I love historical fiction, but this didn't feel historical. The adventures Jepp undertakes, the favors he's granted, are near impossible for anyone in that time and place, much less a peasant dwarf.
February 3, 2017
This is an exceptionally fine YA book. Marsh has taken a person who is a footnote of history, the dwarf from Tycho Brahe's court, and woven a thoughtful, sensitive, and engaging tale about him. My granddaughter gave me this book for Christmas, knowing my interest in the history of astronomy. (I taught university astronomy classes for ten years.)
While the book is obviously written for the YA reader, it's one I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in the history of science, and especially the remarkable early years of the enlightenment.
While the book is obviously written for the YA reader, it's one I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in the history of science, and especially the remarkable early years of the enlightenment.
March 10, 2017
STOP BEATING ME OVER THE HEAD WITH YOUR REPETITIVE PARAGRAPHS AND THEMES. I GET IT. STARS AND FATE. CAGES AND FEELING TRAPPED. INSTALOVE. TOO MUCH TELLING AND NOT ENOUGH SHOWING.
February 18, 2013
I really do not understand the hype for this book. I was recommended this book by a friend whose reviews I almost always agree with and trust, but sometimes I wonder if she (and the rest of the reviewers on Goodreads) has read the same book that I did.
The beginning was probably the best part of the book, which is saying something. We meet Jepp, a dwarf, who lives in a small village at the inn that his mother owns. He is accepted there and his life is relatively happy. And, of course, he is super-smart because he learned to read. The one problem is that he does not know who is father is. He meets this stranger who tells him that he will have a much better life if he lives with the Infanta, or Spanish princess. To entertain the princess, Jepp has to jump out of a pie, an incident that is referenced probably 40 times during the rest of the novel. Okay, Katherine Marsh, we get it. That incident represents confinement and dependence and whatever, but do we really have to hear about it so many more freaking times? And Jepp meets Lia, whom he absolutely falls head over heels with, and we only know this because the author tells us. I don't know what Lia looks like or anything about her personality except for she used to live by the ocean and she loves to sing. Of course. Then bad, bad things happen. Lia dies, Jepp blames himself, and he is taken by this prisoner guy. But we already knew that this was going to happen, because at the start of almost every chapter leading up to this, there is a page-long monologue of how miserable Jepp is inside this cage, except the prisoner guy is actually pretty nice to him, considering that he's a dwarf and all, and of how much he misses Lia. This is probably supposed to be foreshadowing, but I had no emotional investment in Lia's death, or the events leading up to it.
Thus starts the second part of the book, where Jepp lives with Tycho in this amazing palace. He is finally free of his life at the old, equally amazing palace! And though at first he had to live with the donkey, or mule, or whatever, he gained respect because he snuck into Tycho's secret libraries and learned all about Tycho's research with the stars. Thus is something else that Katherine Marsh repeats over and over again in this novel. I swear to god, there is not one page in the pages of parts 2 and 3 without the words stars or Fate. It's like we're too stupid to understand the main themes in her book (which are in the title and the blurb on the back) so she has to force them down our throats.
Then comes Jepp's second love interest, Magdalene, Tycho's daughter, and Lia disappears from his mind forever, as if she never happened. (We also meet a character named Liv, who really has nothing to do with the plot at all. It is such a book pet peeve of mine to have two characters that have names so close to together. I mean, really! Couldn't the author have been a little more creative?) But Jepp's love for Magdalene was no more convincing than his love for Lia. In fact, just a chapter or so before Jepp decided that he loved Magdalene, he talked about how much he hated her! And Magdalene just decided to love him back. There was absolutely no talk about Jepp and Magdalene's very conspicuous height difference, which would have made for an excellent story arc. Because, even in these modern times, it is quite difficult for a little person to have a romantic relationship with a normal-sized one. No, the reader was just supposed to believe that after a G-rated stroll around the palace lawn, Jepp and Magdalene were in wuv. That is pretty much all that happens in the second part. Jepp does some research with Tycho about stars and they have a few vague conversations about Fate and whether or not Jepp, a dwarf, can defy the Fate written in his stars (like the title! wow!). And then, at the end, Jepp decides that he needs to find his father and get some money so he can finally marry Magdalene.
I skimmed the third part because I was so darn bored of the story that I just wanted it to be done. We find out within a span of about five pages that Jepp's mother died and is not really his mother! Oh no! He believes that his mother might be in the palace of the Infanta so he goes back there, figures out who is mother is (but who really cares?), finds out who is father is(but who really cares?) and gets a large sum of money. And then Magdalene surprises him. Jepp tells her that they can get married now that he has money.
So what have we learned from this book? If you repeat a motif on every single page of the book, your audience will then understand it. If you say that two people are in love, or that something is sad, then the audience will believe it. If your first love dies, just fall in love with the next pretty girl that you meet and do not care about her at all. And, of course, money conquers everything.
This book was supposed to be about Fate, and the fact that a little dwarf with no future can make a great name for himself. I got nothing of that. I was bored the entire time that I read this, and after the 50,000th time that I was given a monologue about the stars and horoscopes, I wanted to throw this book against the wall. Now, the writing of this novel was perfectly fine, but the idea and its execution failed miserably.
The beginning was probably the best part of the book, which is saying something. We meet Jepp, a dwarf, who lives in a small village at the inn that his mother owns. He is accepted there and his life is relatively happy. And, of course, he is super-smart because he learned to read. The one problem is that he does not know who is father is. He meets this stranger who tells him that he will have a much better life if he lives with the Infanta, or Spanish princess. To entertain the princess, Jepp has to jump out of a pie, an incident that is referenced probably 40 times during the rest of the novel. Okay, Katherine Marsh, we get it. That incident represents confinement and dependence and whatever, but do we really have to hear about it so many more freaking times? And Jepp meets Lia, whom he absolutely falls head over heels with, and we only know this because the author tells us. I don't know what Lia looks like or anything about her personality except for she used to live by the ocean and she loves to sing. Of course. Then bad, bad things happen. Lia dies, Jepp blames himself, and he is taken by this prisoner guy. But we already knew that this was going to happen, because at the start of almost every chapter leading up to this, there is a page-long monologue of how miserable Jepp is inside this cage, except the prisoner guy is actually pretty nice to him, considering that he's a dwarf and all, and of how much he misses Lia. This is probably supposed to be foreshadowing, but I had no emotional investment in Lia's death, or the events leading up to it.
Thus starts the second part of the book, where Jepp lives with Tycho in this amazing palace. He is finally free of his life at the old, equally amazing palace! And though at first he had to live with the donkey, or mule, or whatever, he gained respect because he snuck into Tycho's secret libraries and learned all about Tycho's research with the stars. Thus is something else that Katherine Marsh repeats over and over again in this novel. I swear to god, there is not one page in the pages of parts 2 and 3 without the words stars or Fate. It's like we're too stupid to understand the main themes in her book (which are in the title and the blurb on the back) so she has to force them down our throats.
Then comes Jepp's second love interest, Magdalene, Tycho's daughter, and Lia disappears from his mind forever, as if she never happened. (We also meet a character named Liv, who really has nothing to do with the plot at all. It is such a book pet peeve of mine to have two characters that have names so close to together. I mean, really! Couldn't the author have been a little more creative?) But Jepp's love for Magdalene was no more convincing than his love for Lia. In fact, just a chapter or so before Jepp decided that he loved Magdalene, he talked about how much he hated her! And Magdalene just decided to love him back. There was absolutely no talk about Jepp and Magdalene's very conspicuous height difference, which would have made for an excellent story arc. Because, even in these modern times, it is quite difficult for a little person to have a romantic relationship with a normal-sized one. No, the reader was just supposed to believe that after a G-rated stroll around the palace lawn, Jepp and Magdalene were in wuv. That is pretty much all that happens in the second part. Jepp does some research with Tycho about stars and they have a few vague conversations about Fate and whether or not Jepp, a dwarf, can defy the Fate written in his stars (like the title! wow!). And then, at the end, Jepp decides that he needs to find his father and get some money so he can finally marry Magdalene.
I skimmed the third part because I was so darn bored of the story that I just wanted it to be done. We find out within a span of about five pages that Jepp's mother died and is not really his mother! Oh no! He believes that his mother might be in the palace of the Infanta so he goes back there, figures out who is mother is (but who really cares?), finds out who is father is(but who really cares?) and gets a large sum of money. And then Magdalene surprises him. Jepp tells her that they can get married now that he has money.
So what have we learned from this book? If you repeat a motif on every single page of the book, your audience will then understand it. If you say that two people are in love, or that something is sad, then the audience will believe it. If your first love dies, just fall in love with the next pretty girl that you meet and do not care about her at all. And, of course, money conquers everything.
This book was supposed to be about Fate, and the fact that a little dwarf with no future can make a great name for himself. I got nothing of that. I was bored the entire time that I read this, and after the 50,000th time that I was given a monologue about the stars and horoscopes, I wanted to throw this book against the wall. Now, the writing of this novel was perfectly fine, but the idea and its execution failed miserably.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2012
Rarely do I read a book that is written with such advanced skill as to evoke images of great poetry, while at the same time possessing a level of ease allowing even the most reluctant of reader to be swept into the story.
All of this leaves only one word to describe Jepp, Who Defied the Stars.
Magical.
Now because you probably want more from a review than just one word I’ll say a bit more about the book. Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is one of the best written books I’ve read in a long while. It is full of beautiful written scenery and descriptions, yet gripping. It is filled with three dimensional characters that you see the faults in, yet still understand there decisions, as they’ve been built as humans not stick figured characters. And it moves at a startlingly quick pace for a book that spends so much time describing the surrounding world and characters in such in-depth detail.
Jepp is a fantastic character. He is smart, likable, and fallible. Of course this ability to make mistakes and be swayed by emotion is one of the reasons readers will love Jepp, as they will commiserate with his journey and growth, getting chocked up at the low points and feeling elated at the high. He is a well crafted character who is just a kid learning as he’s forced into impossible situations away from home.
Of course, besides making Jepp a wonderful character, Marsh also does a fantastic job recreating the world and situations of the 15 and 1600s. My personal favorite fact based location/character was Tycho and Uraniborg, which I found fascinating, reading as Tycho mapped the stars with nothing more than math they discovered and rudimentary materials. Absolutely fascinating.
As you can probably tell I very much Enjoyed Jepp, Who Defied the Stars. I thought it was well written, gripping, original, and balanced story building with plot development very well. All in all I would easily recommend this book to ANYONE I happen to come across, adult or teen. Go buy it.
All of this leaves only one word to describe Jepp, Who Defied the Stars.
Magical.
Now because you probably want more from a review than just one word I’ll say a bit more about the book. Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is one of the best written books I’ve read in a long while. It is full of beautiful written scenery and descriptions, yet gripping. It is filled with three dimensional characters that you see the faults in, yet still understand there decisions, as they’ve been built as humans not stick figured characters. And it moves at a startlingly quick pace for a book that spends so much time describing the surrounding world and characters in such in-depth detail.
Jepp is a fantastic character. He is smart, likable, and fallible. Of course this ability to make mistakes and be swayed by emotion is one of the reasons readers will love Jepp, as they will commiserate with his journey and growth, getting chocked up at the low points and feeling elated at the high. He is a well crafted character who is just a kid learning as he’s forced into impossible situations away from home.
Of course, besides making Jepp a wonderful character, Marsh also does a fantastic job recreating the world and situations of the 15 and 1600s. My personal favorite fact based location/character was Tycho and Uraniborg, which I found fascinating, reading as Tycho mapped the stars with nothing more than math they discovered and rudimentary materials. Absolutely fascinating.
As you can probably tell I very much Enjoyed Jepp, Who Defied the Stars. I thought it was well written, gripping, original, and balanced story building with plot development very well. All in all I would easily recommend this book to ANYONE I happen to come across, adult or teen. Go buy it.
December 10, 2012
Originally published here.
At seven years old, Jepp of Astraveld stood barely over three feet tall. That’s how travelers to his mother’s countryside inn between the Protestant north and the Spanish Netherlands knew he was a dwarf. At fourteen, when a Spanish Don from the Infanta’s court visited the inn, Jepp wasn’t much taller. On the plus side, the Don’s visit came with an invitation for Jepp to join the Infanta’s retinue of court dwarves. So with his mother’s approval and the promise of books and a better life, Jepp is off to Coudenberg palace. As anyone but Jepp could foresee, the perks of luxurious quarters and gourmet food wore off quickly amidst the demeaning dwarf tricks and jokes he is forced to perform, and Jepp wants out. Where he ends up next – the court of the famed astronomer Tycho Brahe – he could’ve never guessed. But will his new master be any different? Will his fate continue to be determined by the stars, or can choices alter destiny?
I first heard about Katherine Marsh’s Jepp, Who Defied the Stars as I was preparing to attend BEA earlier this year. Between the name Jepp, the descriptive title, and the starry cover, it was hard to forget. What I couldn’t know before picking it up was that it was not loosely inspired by history, but actually meticulously researched YA historical fiction, featuring a slew of real historical figures. For example, there was a dwarf jester named Jepp who served the real Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, but little else is known. What I liked most about this was that Marsh was inspired by seventeenth-century painter Diego Velasquez’s well-known portraits of court dwarfs, including one of the most critically-acclaimed works in Western art history, Las Meninas, which makes the art historian in me beam. She also took Renaissances accounts of dwarf cruelty and incorporated them into Jepp’s own experiences, which further enhanced my reading experience.*
But it wasn’t only the engaging history but also the character of Jepp himself which drew me in from the start. Jepp grows tremendously from the beginning to the end of the novel. While he is incredibly naïve at the Infanta’s court, falling hopelessly in love and remaining blind to the corruption surrounding him, by the conclusion he is wiser, stronger, and sure of himself. Nonetheless it was hard to see Jepp go from one bad situation to the next, powerless to change the way he’s treated. The story is told in flashbacks after Jepp is captured and en route to a new home. This heightened the suspense in Part I, but led to my interest waning at the beginning of Part II, when Jepp arrives at Tycho Brahe’s estate. The story essentially starts over here, with a new set of characters and a new cycle of abuse for Jepp. Other than that lull, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars was effortless to read. I give major props to Marsh for striking a balance between antiquated, stylized writing and modern readability. My only other complaint would be the lack of development in the secondary characters, who all sounded similar or read as cookie cutter. Uneven pacing and characters aside, I connected to Jepp, even when I disagreed with his choices, and that’s why this worked for me. His love of learning and perseverance is endearing, and watching him earn his fate is satisfying. Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is recommended to fans of YA historical fiction, character-driven novels, and of course aspiring astrologers, astronomers, and stargazers.
At seven years old, Jepp of Astraveld stood barely over three feet tall. That’s how travelers to his mother’s countryside inn between the Protestant north and the Spanish Netherlands knew he was a dwarf. At fourteen, when a Spanish Don from the Infanta’s court visited the inn, Jepp wasn’t much taller. On the plus side, the Don’s visit came with an invitation for Jepp to join the Infanta’s retinue of court dwarves. So with his mother’s approval and the promise of books and a better life, Jepp is off to Coudenberg palace. As anyone but Jepp could foresee, the perks of luxurious quarters and gourmet food wore off quickly amidst the demeaning dwarf tricks and jokes he is forced to perform, and Jepp wants out. Where he ends up next – the court of the famed astronomer Tycho Brahe – he could’ve never guessed. But will his new master be any different? Will his fate continue to be determined by the stars, or can choices alter destiny?
I first heard about Katherine Marsh’s Jepp, Who Defied the Stars as I was preparing to attend BEA earlier this year. Between the name Jepp, the descriptive title, and the starry cover, it was hard to forget. What I couldn’t know before picking it up was that it was not loosely inspired by history, but actually meticulously researched YA historical fiction, featuring a slew of real historical figures. For example, there was a dwarf jester named Jepp who served the real Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, but little else is known. What I liked most about this was that Marsh was inspired by seventeenth-century painter Diego Velasquez’s well-known portraits of court dwarfs, including one of the most critically-acclaimed works in Western art history, Las Meninas, which makes the art historian in me beam. She also took Renaissances accounts of dwarf cruelty and incorporated them into Jepp’s own experiences, which further enhanced my reading experience.*
But it wasn’t only the engaging history but also the character of Jepp himself which drew me in from the start. Jepp grows tremendously from the beginning to the end of the novel. While he is incredibly naïve at the Infanta’s court, falling hopelessly in love and remaining blind to the corruption surrounding him, by the conclusion he is wiser, stronger, and sure of himself. Nonetheless it was hard to see Jepp go from one bad situation to the next, powerless to change the way he’s treated. The story is told in flashbacks after Jepp is captured and en route to a new home. This heightened the suspense in Part I, but led to my interest waning at the beginning of Part II, when Jepp arrives at Tycho Brahe’s estate. The story essentially starts over here, with a new set of characters and a new cycle of abuse for Jepp. Other than that lull, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars was effortless to read. I give major props to Marsh for striking a balance between antiquated, stylized writing and modern readability. My only other complaint would be the lack of development in the secondary characters, who all sounded similar or read as cookie cutter. Uneven pacing and characters aside, I connected to Jepp, even when I disagreed with his choices, and that’s why this worked for me. His love of learning and perseverance is endearing, and watching him earn his fate is satisfying. Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is recommended to fans of YA historical fiction, character-driven novels, and of course aspiring astrologers, astronomers, and stargazers.
October 6, 2012
I think I would read more historical fiction if more of it was like JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS. But part of JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS charm is that it is an unusual story, charming in its lack of concern with the commercial. Katherine Marsh has written an appealing bildungsroman that will stand out.
Jepp is a dwarf living happily in his mother's inn, when a nobleman comes through and entices him to go and become a court dwarf for the Infanta. (Yes, I did have The Decemberists' "The Infanta" stuck in my head for the entire first half of the book.) At first I had trouble getting into the court scenes - they seemed like something from a bawdy farce without any bawdiness. Then I realized there was plenty of sex going on but it wasn't outright stated because the book is in young and sheltered Jepp's point of view. The second half of the book brings in the astrology (and astronomy) mentioned in the title as Jepp moves on to the court of Tycho Brahe. In this half of the novel Jepp is more worldly, but still not the best at reading people.
The historical detail of JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS is fascinating. The novel moves from late-sixteenth century Holland to Spain to Denmark and features a wide range of real people. As the historical note at the end reveals, even Jepp was a real person. (Although very little is known about the real Jepp and Marsh's novel is obviously entirely fictional.) It's definitely a setting less explored than Elizabethan England or the Wild West.
The novel rests on Jepp's shoulders and they are able to handle the burden. He suffers various indignities - less than many dwarves of the time - but he always knows that he deserves to be treated as an equal. He longs to understand his past and control his future, unwilling to let his fate be a decided by the stars rather than himself. Jepp is not one to be content.
I'm having real trouble writing this review. It's not an easy novel for me to deconstruct. But I'm glad I pushed myself out of my reading comfort zone and gave JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS a chance. I liked spending time in the world Marsh developed and thrilled when Jepp finally got his happy ending. It's a strange book, but I think it will find an audience.
Jepp is a dwarf living happily in his mother's inn, when a nobleman comes through and entices him to go and become a court dwarf for the Infanta. (Yes, I did have The Decemberists' "The Infanta" stuck in my head for the entire first half of the book.) At first I had trouble getting into the court scenes - they seemed like something from a bawdy farce without any bawdiness. Then I realized there was plenty of sex going on but it wasn't outright stated because the book is in young and sheltered Jepp's point of view. The second half of the book brings in the astrology (and astronomy) mentioned in the title as Jepp moves on to the court of Tycho Brahe. In this half of the novel Jepp is more worldly, but still not the best at reading people.
The historical detail of JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS is fascinating. The novel moves from late-sixteenth century Holland to Spain to Denmark and features a wide range of real people. As the historical note at the end reveals, even Jepp was a real person. (Although very little is known about the real Jepp and Marsh's novel is obviously entirely fictional.) It's definitely a setting less explored than Elizabethan England or the Wild West.
The novel rests on Jepp's shoulders and they are able to handle the burden. He suffers various indignities - less than many dwarves of the time - but he always knows that he deserves to be treated as an equal. He longs to understand his past and control his future, unwilling to let his fate be a decided by the stars rather than himself. Jepp is not one to be content.
I'm having real trouble writing this review. It's not an easy novel for me to deconstruct. But I'm glad I pushed myself out of my reading comfort zone and gave JEPP, WHO DEFIED THE STARS a chance. I liked spending time in the world Marsh developed and thrilled when Jepp finally got his happy ending. It's a strange book, but I think it will find an audience.
December 10, 2015
This was an interesting read. I choose this book for two reasons, because it met the requirements for a book challenge (must have both a D and a J in the title) and it was readily available from the library. I didn't read the synopsis, nor any previous reviews, and I didn't pay attention to it's average rating. I came into this story completely blind (so to speak).
This was your run of the mill coming of age and adventures (or misadventures) of a young boy, who happens to also be a dwarf back in the turn of the 16th century. He leaves home in search of a better future full of knowledge and fortune, but soon realizes life isn't always fair.
Through a series of events that early on seem unfair, but later tell a whole new story, Jepp learns who he is, who he was, and who he is going to be. Through smarts and cunning, he shapes his own future, the future he could have only dreamed of.
I liked Jepp's character enough. He was so naive at first, and I found myself "face-palming" many times throughout, but he did show growth. He learned the ways of the world, and it shaped him. I suppose this is what is called good character growth. Nicely done Katherine Marsh!
This was your run of the mill coming of age and adventures (or misadventures) of a young boy, who happens to also be a dwarf back in the turn of the 16th century. He leaves home in search of a better future full of knowledge and fortune, but soon realizes life isn't always fair.
Through a series of events that early on seem unfair, but later tell a whole new story, Jepp learns who he is, who he was, and who he is going to be. Through smarts and cunning, he shapes his own future, the future he could have only dreamed of.
I liked Jepp's character enough. He was so naive at first, and I found myself "face-palming" many times throughout, but he did show growth. He learned the ways of the world, and it shaped him. I suppose this is what is called good character growth. Nicely done Katherine Marsh!
March 21, 2013
I cannot stress just how fantastic this book is, and how perfectly it seemed to fit into my life when I read it. As you travel with Jepp on his journey to find out who he is and where he came from, you find yourself asking the same questions he does - do the stars hold our fate, or is it in our hands? The answers you find may surprise you. The historical elements added a unique flavor, and the use of language was gorgeous, "literary alchemy" is the only was I can describe it. I highly recommend this book, good reads indeed!
September 24, 2017
DNF @ 43%
I picked this book up at a resale store because the main character was an LP. Rarely have I ever found an LP protagonist . . . if ever, to be honest? And in YA fiction too! There was nothing stopping me from purchasing it!
Unfortunately, what I thought would be some swashbuckling adventure turned out to be a horrible, never-lightening tragedy of a novel that basically displayed every single act of violence that could happen to court dwarves in a historical setting (I'm not sure which centuries exactly), including
Book content warnings:
ableism
rape
fetishization of marginalized people (in this case LP)
torture & other violence against LP
slavery
- and probably more
It ended up making me very uncomfortable . . . that an able-bodied writer (is this the correct terminology for contrast with LP?) writing about a marginalized group she's not a part of, made her book so depressing and fit every tragedy she could in the book with so little happy moments. It's less a story and more an article on historical abuse against court dwarves.
I ended up reading halfway through until book one ended with something like "I never thought I would long for my home back at [the other abusive court]" and hinted at an even more abusive servitude. And nope. I just shut the book. The last thing I needed/wanted was an even more abusive detail of this kid's life by his oppressor's.
Though the experiences aren't the same, imagine a white person or a straight person writing a book about a black / gay person and making it about their oppressors torturing them? Solely about that (not that it hasn't . . . been done before . . . )? But as a marginalized person myself in many ways, my stomach couldn't handle it.
This book might have a happy ending far ahead, but I just don't want to go through all the struggle to get there. One half is all I can take.
I picked this book up at a resale store because the main character was an LP. Rarely have I ever found an LP protagonist . . . if ever, to be honest? And in YA fiction too! There was nothing stopping me from purchasing it!
Unfortunately, what I thought would be some swashbuckling adventure turned out to be a horrible, never-lightening tragedy of a novel that basically displayed every single act of violence that could happen to court dwarves in a historical setting (I'm not sure which centuries exactly), including
Book content warnings:
ableism
rape
fetishization of marginalized people (in this case LP)
torture & other violence against LP
slavery
- and probably more
It ended up making me very uncomfortable . . . that an able-bodied writer (is this the correct terminology for contrast with LP?) writing about a marginalized group she's not a part of, made her book so depressing and fit every tragedy she could in the book with so little happy moments. It's less a story and more an article on historical abuse against court dwarves.
I ended up reading halfway through until book one ended with something like "I never thought I would long for my home back at [the other abusive court]" and hinted at an even more abusive servitude. And nope. I just shut the book. The last thing I needed/wanted was an even more abusive detail of this kid's life by his oppressor's.
Though the experiences aren't the same, imagine a white person or a straight person writing a book about a black / gay person and making it about their oppressors torturing them? Solely about that (not that it hasn't . . . been done before . . . )? But as a marginalized person myself in many ways, my stomach couldn't handle it.
This book might have a happy ending far ahead, but I just don't want to go through all the struggle to get there. One half is all I can take.
December 3, 2012
Review originally posted here
The Premise: This is the story of young dwarf Jepp, who grew up in Astraveld, a crossroads between the Spanish Netherlands and the Protestant North. Loved by his mother, who runs a bustling inn, Jepp is treated like a prince and is fiercely protected. It is a good life, but when he is fifteen years old, a man comes by the inn, offering to bring Jepp to the court of the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia and her husband, Archduke Albert of Austria. Eager to see the world beyond the narrow one he knows, Jepp agrees. He has always held a dream of one day meeting his father and he believes that the man offering to take him away is part of his fate. This begins Jepp’s journey away from childhood and all its innocence and into the big world, where perhaps he can
My Thoughts: Before reading Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, I didn’t really know what this book was about or what category of young adult it belonged to. I actually thought Jepp was YA fantasy at first because it begins at a inn at a crossroads (familiar Fantasy territory). I soon figured out that I was reading historical fiction when Jepp says he lives in the Spanish Netherlands and mentions the Infanta Isabella, its sovereign from 1598 to 1621. There’s an author’s note at the end of the book that explains the real life people and events that inspired Jepp, (which is fascinating and worth reading), and basically Jepp did exist, but little is known about his life. Marsh took the question of who Jepp was and extrapolated that into this story. Jepp is divided into three “Books”, and each “Book” seems to correspond to a change in scenery and a new direction in Jepp’s life.
Book I begins while Jepp still lives in his mother’s domain, but not for long. A man named Don Diego comes to the inn and invites him to he court of the Infanta Isabella, and that’s where Jepp stays for this part of the story. Jepp is still rather innocent and unsure of himself so he is mostly an observer, doing what he is bid by the others around him. We get Jepp’s impressions of the specially designed rooms for the court dwarfs, the gardens where they arranged themselves in a tableau for the Infanta’s pleasure, and the performances where he has to play the fool for a few laughs. As for the people at court, Jepp focus is narrow: Don Diego; the other dwarfs, Sebastian, Lia, and Maria; the court jester Pim, who arranges the entertainment; and Hendrika, the mistress who oversees them. These people are the ones he interacts with most, and everyone else is hazy and not so well-defined.
Despite Jepp’s faithful descriptions, there’s the sense that there’s a certain naivety in what Jepp observes. He sees things that trouble him, but does not fully comprehend them until later. He dislikes his treatment at the palace, but doesn’t immediately see the same misery in others. His youth is part of the story, but I found some of this innocent observation and floating along very passive. Basically, Jepp wasn’t really doing anything, and this didn’t make him easy for me to connect to. The only goal he seemed to have was to one day find out the identity of his father, but there seems no way of doing so away from his mother, and so I felt like there wasn’t much of a direction to the story. Sometimes there are other things that saves a story for me in this situation, like a romance I could sink my teeth into, but even here, Jepp disappoints. He thinks he’s in love, but he barely knows the girl. When things do finally pick up, it is instigated by a situation someone else is in, and Jepp is pulled into it by his sweet nature and wanting to help. Of course this changes his life, and propels his fate along in a way he doesn’t expect.
There’s some drama as the story segues into Book II, but the story stalls for a second time as Jepp repeats what he’s done before: letting things happen to him, and observing rather than doing. The eccentricities of his surroundings is where the entertainment lies, not in Jepp’s own actions. Of course Jepp, Who Defied the Stars gets better – Jepp does start to take his fate into his own hands, if you will, and it’s nice that when I think back now, I see how Book I is reflected in Book II, but with an older and wiser Jepp, one who begins to take part in his own life – but reading was a slow process (I’m sorry to report that I kept putting the book down and sighing for at least the first half). The last third of the book (Book III) ended up being the best third for me, but it takes some patience to get there. The change in Jepp from passive to active removes a lot of the issues I had with reading, and with his relationships with other characters.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars essentially becomes a story about fate versus free will, but this isn’t a clear message for me until the author’s notes at the end. I liked Marsh’s own personal relationship with this theme that she described in the addendum, but I’m not sure if the idea that Jepp was fighting against some fate was really something I picked up on while reading this story. I think the history itself was a little bit more interesting. Despite being set in the past, this story does a good job of keeping the focus on Jepp’s personal experiences rather than on History. However, Jepp’s voice has a formality to it that is a deliberate reflection of the time (Marsh notes she was careful to choose words in use before 1600 when writing Jepp), and the language contributed to feeling like I couldn’t comfortably sink into the story.
Overall: I have a sort of “middle ground” reaction to Jepp. I wasn’t wowed while I was reading it, and Jepp’s passivity and the formality of his narration made me feel impatient with the story. On the other hand, I can see that these were deliberate choices in the writing because of the theme of “fate versus free will” and because of the time period that Jepp is set. I think my visceral response usually determines how I feel about a story and for much of this book, I felt like I was plodding along, but when I think about it analytically, it comes off much better. So: this may be more for the “thinkers” than it is for the “feelers”.
(Also may I say, this book was BEAUTIFULLY designed? I loved how the inner pages were NAVY with pretty endpages and chapter headings, and the cover had shiny bits on a matte background, silver font, and those stars. Gorgeous.)
The Premise: This is the story of young dwarf Jepp, who grew up in Astraveld, a crossroads between the Spanish Netherlands and the Protestant North. Loved by his mother, who runs a bustling inn, Jepp is treated like a prince and is fiercely protected. It is a good life, but when he is fifteen years old, a man comes by the inn, offering to bring Jepp to the court of the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia and her husband, Archduke Albert of Austria. Eager to see the world beyond the narrow one he knows, Jepp agrees. He has always held a dream of one day meeting his father and he believes that the man offering to take him away is part of his fate. This begins Jepp’s journey away from childhood and all its innocence and into the big world, where perhaps he can
My Thoughts: Before reading Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, I didn’t really know what this book was about or what category of young adult it belonged to. I actually thought Jepp was YA fantasy at first because it begins at a inn at a crossroads (familiar Fantasy territory). I soon figured out that I was reading historical fiction when Jepp says he lives in the Spanish Netherlands and mentions the Infanta Isabella, its sovereign from 1598 to 1621. There’s an author’s note at the end of the book that explains the real life people and events that inspired Jepp, (which is fascinating and worth reading), and basically Jepp did exist, but little is known about his life. Marsh took the question of who Jepp was and extrapolated that into this story. Jepp is divided into three “Books”, and each “Book” seems to correspond to a change in scenery and a new direction in Jepp’s life.
Book I begins while Jepp still lives in his mother’s domain, but not for long. A man named Don Diego comes to the inn and invites him to he court of the Infanta Isabella, and that’s where Jepp stays for this part of the story. Jepp is still rather innocent and unsure of himself so he is mostly an observer, doing what he is bid by the others around him. We get Jepp’s impressions of the specially designed rooms for the court dwarfs, the gardens where they arranged themselves in a tableau for the Infanta’s pleasure, and the performances where he has to play the fool for a few laughs. As for the people at court, Jepp focus is narrow: Don Diego; the other dwarfs, Sebastian, Lia, and Maria; the court jester Pim, who arranges the entertainment; and Hendrika, the mistress who oversees them. These people are the ones he interacts with most, and everyone else is hazy and not so well-defined.
Despite Jepp’s faithful descriptions, there’s the sense that there’s a certain naivety in what Jepp observes. He sees things that trouble him, but does not fully comprehend them until later. He dislikes his treatment at the palace, but doesn’t immediately see the same misery in others. His youth is part of the story, but I found some of this innocent observation and floating along very passive. Basically, Jepp wasn’t really doing anything, and this didn’t make him easy for me to connect to. The only goal he seemed to have was to one day find out the identity of his father, but there seems no way of doing so away from his mother, and so I felt like there wasn’t much of a direction to the story. Sometimes there are other things that saves a story for me in this situation, like a romance I could sink my teeth into, but even here, Jepp disappoints. He thinks he’s in love, but he barely knows the girl. When things do finally pick up, it is instigated by a situation someone else is in, and Jepp is pulled into it by his sweet nature and wanting to help. Of course this changes his life, and propels his fate along in a way he doesn’t expect.
There’s some drama as the story segues into Book II, but the story stalls for a second time as Jepp repeats what he’s done before: letting things happen to him, and observing rather than doing. The eccentricities of his surroundings is where the entertainment lies, not in Jepp’s own actions. Of course Jepp, Who Defied the Stars gets better – Jepp does start to take his fate into his own hands, if you will, and it’s nice that when I think back now, I see how Book I is reflected in Book II, but with an older and wiser Jepp, one who begins to take part in his own life – but reading was a slow process (I’m sorry to report that I kept putting the book down and sighing for at least the first half). The last third of the book (Book III) ended up being the best third for me, but it takes some patience to get there. The change in Jepp from passive to active removes a lot of the issues I had with reading, and with his relationships with other characters.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars essentially becomes a story about fate versus free will, but this isn’t a clear message for me until the author’s notes at the end. I liked Marsh’s own personal relationship with this theme that she described in the addendum, but I’m not sure if the idea that Jepp was fighting against some fate was really something I picked up on while reading this story. I think the history itself was a little bit more interesting. Despite being set in the past, this story does a good job of keeping the focus on Jepp’s personal experiences rather than on History. However, Jepp’s voice has a formality to it that is a deliberate reflection of the time (Marsh notes she was careful to choose words in use before 1600 when writing Jepp), and the language contributed to feeling like I couldn’t comfortably sink into the story.
Overall: I have a sort of “middle ground” reaction to Jepp. I wasn’t wowed while I was reading it, and Jepp’s passivity and the formality of his narration made me feel impatient with the story. On the other hand, I can see that these were deliberate choices in the writing because of the theme of “fate versus free will” and because of the time period that Jepp is set. I think my visceral response usually determines how I feel about a story and for much of this book, I felt like I was plodding along, but when I think about it analytically, it comes off much better. So: this may be more for the “thinkers” than it is for the “feelers”.
(Also may I say, this book was BEAUTIFULLY designed? I loved how the inner pages were NAVY with pretty endpages and chapter headings, and the cover had shiny bits on a matte background, silver font, and those stars. Gorgeous.)
October 10, 2018
This book pulled me right into this 16th century world that I hadn't known much about--dwarves in the royal Spanish court. Jepp is such an endearing character whose life is spent answering the question about whether fate or free will determines his destiny (or a little bit of both). I really liked the conclusion he came to in the end. It was also interesting to follow up and study a little more about Tycho Brahe and his planetarium, as well as some paintings that showed dwarves in various royal court settings that were used as inspiration for this book.
October 11, 2019
3 stars.
April 3, 2025
My brain can’t see this as anything other than a Tycho Brahe fanfic, I’m sorry
November 22, 2012
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers
Being a court dwarf is no easy task. I know because I failed at it.
In the small village of Astraveld, just to the south of Utrecht in the dangerous crossroads between the Spanish Netherlands and the Protestants to the North, a young boy named Jepp is born. In the safety of his mother's well-loved tavern, Jepp grows to be a considerate and learned - if self-taught and isolated - young man. Though he is a dwarf and subject to taunts from the occasional traveler, his home and village is one of warmth and happiness. This all changes one fateful day, when Jepp is approached by a traveling stranger, who promises a life of luxury, importance and knowledge. Jepp leaves with the stranger and finds a new home in Coudenberg Palace, in the court of Her Royal Highness, the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia. Dressed in finery, fed well, and with access to all the books he could ever dream of, Jepp's new home is an exquisite prison - for all the spoils of court life, he and his fellow dwarves are playthings for the Infanta's fickle pleasure, without agency or freedom. As one of Jepp's friends, the lovely Lia, falls victim to a heinous and unpunished crime, the naive but large-hearted Jepp vows to help her escape her gilded cage. Jepp's vow takes him on a journey fraught with heartache and hardship, as an exile and prisoner on the road. Yet, ultimately, Jepp's journey is one tempered with love and hope, as tragedy leads him to the learned court of Tycho Brahe, where Jepp becomes a scholar, an equal, and finally achieves his heart's desire.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is the first book I've had the pleasure of reading from journalist and Edgar Award-winning author Katherine Marsh, but it certainly will not be my last; this is a wonderful, rich novel, both eloquently written and impeccably researched. I confess that upon starting Jepp, I imagined that there might be some fantastical element to the tale - rooted in history, of course, but perhaps embellished with some magical realism - which was a complete misconception (solely my fault), as this is thoroughly a tale of historical fiction, inspired in part by the Spanish Infanta's retinue of court dwarves in the sixteenth century. Marsh's novel takes place in the Spanish Netherlands of the 1500s, paying careful attention to both the intrigue and complications of the Spanish courts, as well as the tensions and realities of the time period. And the stars! The titular stars play a part in Jepp's life, from his birth onward, especially as he makes his new home in the court of Tycho Brahe. But I won't spoil that for you.
The two strongest features of this novel stem from Marsh's surehanded writing style, and this aforementioned eye for detail - never once does Jepp, Who Defied the Stars feel overly-exposition-y, nor does it ever feel like a history lesson, gratuitously crammed with detail for the sake of detail. No, the events in this book are all narrated by our hero, the earnest - if painfully young and naive - Jepp, who comes to life as a fully believable and compelling protagonist.
Which brings me to my next point: characterization. From this perspective, Jepp also shines (no pun intended). As our hero, Jepp is earnest and forthright, and his narrative feels wholly genuine. The acts perpetrated at the Infanta's court are not ever detailed specifically, but it's because Jepp simply does not perceive the acts around him. As the story progresses, though, so too does Jepp's incisiveness as narrator - the Jepp that arrives at Tycho's court is a far different Jepp than the one that plays his part (huddling in a pie, ready to jump out in surprise as part of an act) at the Infanta's whim. No one is quite as detailed or real as Jepp, but the other characters in this piece are still convincing and layered creatures (particularly Lia and the Infanta's court dwarves).
While the characters and attention to detail are fantastic, the only real drawbacks to this novel reside with the plotting. The timeline of the novel is slightly confusing, with a reminiscent Jepp alternating between realtime and the actions that have led to his capture. I'm also not a fan of the novel's final act, and the almost too tidy and perfect conclusion to Jepp's journey. That said, this is clearly a matter of opinion and taste, so certainly this may appeal to others.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, and absolutely recommend it as one of the best works of straight-up YA historical fiction I've had the pleasure of reading this year. I'll be on the lookout for more from Katherine Marsh in the near future.
Being a court dwarf is no easy task. I know because I failed at it.
In the small village of Astraveld, just to the south of Utrecht in the dangerous crossroads between the Spanish Netherlands and the Protestants to the North, a young boy named Jepp is born. In the safety of his mother's well-loved tavern, Jepp grows to be a considerate and learned - if self-taught and isolated - young man. Though he is a dwarf and subject to taunts from the occasional traveler, his home and village is one of warmth and happiness. This all changes one fateful day, when Jepp is approached by a traveling stranger, who promises a life of luxury, importance and knowledge. Jepp leaves with the stranger and finds a new home in Coudenberg Palace, in the court of Her Royal Highness, the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia. Dressed in finery, fed well, and with access to all the books he could ever dream of, Jepp's new home is an exquisite prison - for all the spoils of court life, he and his fellow dwarves are playthings for the Infanta's fickle pleasure, without agency or freedom. As one of Jepp's friends, the lovely Lia, falls victim to a heinous and unpunished crime, the naive but large-hearted Jepp vows to help her escape her gilded cage. Jepp's vow takes him on a journey fraught with heartache and hardship, as an exile and prisoner on the road. Yet, ultimately, Jepp's journey is one tempered with love and hope, as tragedy leads him to the learned court of Tycho Brahe, where Jepp becomes a scholar, an equal, and finally achieves his heart's desire.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is the first book I've had the pleasure of reading from journalist and Edgar Award-winning author Katherine Marsh, but it certainly will not be my last; this is a wonderful, rich novel, both eloquently written and impeccably researched. I confess that upon starting Jepp, I imagined that there might be some fantastical element to the tale - rooted in history, of course, but perhaps embellished with some magical realism - which was a complete misconception (solely my fault), as this is thoroughly a tale of historical fiction, inspired in part by the Spanish Infanta's retinue of court dwarves in the sixteenth century. Marsh's novel takes place in the Spanish Netherlands of the 1500s, paying careful attention to both the intrigue and complications of the Spanish courts, as well as the tensions and realities of the time period. And the stars! The titular stars play a part in Jepp's life, from his birth onward, especially as he makes his new home in the court of Tycho Brahe. But I won't spoil that for you.
The two strongest features of this novel stem from Marsh's surehanded writing style, and this aforementioned eye for detail - never once does Jepp, Who Defied the Stars feel overly-exposition-y, nor does it ever feel like a history lesson, gratuitously crammed with detail for the sake of detail. No, the events in this book are all narrated by our hero, the earnest - if painfully young and naive - Jepp, who comes to life as a fully believable and compelling protagonist.
Which brings me to my next point: characterization. From this perspective, Jepp also shines (no pun intended). As our hero, Jepp is earnest and forthright, and his narrative feels wholly genuine. The acts perpetrated at the Infanta's court are not ever detailed specifically, but it's because Jepp simply does not perceive the acts around him. As the story progresses, though, so too does Jepp's incisiveness as narrator - the Jepp that arrives at Tycho's court is a far different Jepp than the one that plays his part (huddling in a pie, ready to jump out in surprise as part of an act) at the Infanta's whim. No one is quite as detailed or real as Jepp, but the other characters in this piece are still convincing and layered creatures (particularly Lia and the Infanta's court dwarves).
While the characters and attention to detail are fantastic, the only real drawbacks to this novel reside with the plotting. The timeline of the novel is slightly confusing, with a reminiscent Jepp alternating between realtime and the actions that have led to his capture. I'm also not a fan of the novel's final act, and the almost too tidy and perfect conclusion to Jepp's journey. That said, this is clearly a matter of opinion and taste, so certainly this may appeal to others.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, and absolutely recommend it as one of the best works of straight-up YA historical fiction I've had the pleasure of reading this year. I'll be on the lookout for more from Katherine Marsh in the near future.
January 11, 2013
Cover Blurb: Yes or No? I’m not opposed to it, nor am I a great fan of it. I like the silhouette of Jepp, because his garb indicates it to be of a historical setting, and I do like the starry background (and of course, the title font is lovely). The style just looks a little kiddish for a young adult novel.
Characters: “Plucky” is not the word to describe Jepp, but he is one of those protagonists that, despite all of the injustices he faces (and he faces a great many), he manages to persevere and keep a firm resolve to better his world, even in the worst of circumstances. He is brought extremely low at many points in the story, but he bounces back in way that completely endeared him to me. I’m not a great fan of protagonists who wrongly blame themselves for everything that happens to their friends, but Jepp doesn’t spend too much time crying over it, so his blaming himself for events that he couldn’t prevent didn’t get on my nerves like it usually does. His fixation on discovering his parentage was, at times, a tad bit aggravating. I was of the same mind as Magdalene: just forget about who your father might be and make your own future! But at the same time, I was able to understand his restlessness and need to find out who he was. I thought he was unnecessarily mean and unjust to Robert, and I frowned every time he said something rude to him. Pim, the court jester, was so slimy and creepy that I visibly shuddered every time he popped up in the story; I wanted him to meet his demise so badly. But my absolute favorite character was Magdalene. She was smart and knew her own mind, lacked an Attitude, was elegant while having some rather tomboyish interests simultaneously.
The Romance: Jepp’s affection for Lia is sweet, and I felt for him. I was, in fact, so invested in his attachment for her that I wasn’t at all sure if I liked when he transfers his love to Magdalene later in the story. But Magdalene was such a favorite of mine that I quickly decided that they were a perfect match. While Jepp falls for Magdalene fairly rapidly, his love doesn’t feel shallow, because he does in fact take a very long time to let go of Lia’s memory. And quite a bit of the storyline is spent on the romance, but it wasn’t annoying.
Plot: The plot is similar to a “lifetime” plot: there’s no arch enemy, no specific goal (except Jepp wants to discover who his father is), and the story follows Jepp through a series of important points in his life, but points that are largely only important to him and not the rest of his world. He has, for instance, no aspirations to overthrow a monarchy or discover a new world. With the element of Jepp’s unknown parentage, there is something of a mystery, which ends up propelling the story to its conclusion, but the plot is largely a coming-of-age and discovering-oneself story. The rich writing and characters is what keeps it from becoming boring.
Believability: I confess that I don’t know a whole lot about the countries that this story takes place in, or even the historical figures it deals with. In terms of dialogue, the Author gives Jepp and the other characters a very authentic narration voice without making them hard to understand.
Writing Style: The story switches between present-tense and past-tense for a time, while Jepp relates to the Reader events that led to his present circumstances (locked in a cage, traveling to an unknown destination). The Author uses present-tense the way it’s supposed to be used; at least, at first she does. Once Jepp has related previous events, the story settles permanently into present-tense, but oddly enough, it worked. It wasn’t used for the purposes of making the story feel more dramatic and movie-ish. It felt like I was in Jepp’s head, observing what is happening now. The Author also portrays the humiliations and injustices a court dwarf had to undergo without turning the book into a preachy story.
Content: One of the dwarves is raped, but there are positively no details; just the results (i.e. she becomes pregnant).
Conclusion: There are several twists that I wasn’t expecting, though Jepp’s sudden inheritance did feel a tad convenient and a little too timely. Still, I couldn’t help but enjoy the unlikely happy ending. As a whole, I greatly enjoyed this coming-of-age story, with its engaging characters and fascinating look into the world of court dwarves.
Recommended Audience: Girl-and-guy read, ages fifteen and up, good for historical fiction Readers who enjoy a good coming-of-age story.
Characters: “Plucky” is not the word to describe Jepp, but he is one of those protagonists that, despite all of the injustices he faces (and he faces a great many), he manages to persevere and keep a firm resolve to better his world, even in the worst of circumstances. He is brought extremely low at many points in the story, but he bounces back in way that completely endeared him to me. I’m not a great fan of protagonists who wrongly blame themselves for everything that happens to their friends, but Jepp doesn’t spend too much time crying over it, so his blaming himself for events that he couldn’t prevent didn’t get on my nerves like it usually does. His fixation on discovering his parentage was, at times, a tad bit aggravating. I was of the same mind as Magdalene: just forget about who your father might be and make your own future! But at the same time, I was able to understand his restlessness and need to find out who he was. I thought he was unnecessarily mean and unjust to Robert, and I frowned every time he said something rude to him. Pim, the court jester, was so slimy and creepy that I visibly shuddered every time he popped up in the story; I wanted him to meet his demise so badly. But my absolute favorite character was Magdalene. She was smart and knew her own mind, lacked an Attitude, was elegant while having some rather tomboyish interests simultaneously.
The Romance: Jepp’s affection for Lia is sweet, and I felt for him. I was, in fact, so invested in his attachment for her that I wasn’t at all sure if I liked when he transfers his love to Magdalene later in the story. But Magdalene was such a favorite of mine that I quickly decided that they were a perfect match. While Jepp falls for Magdalene fairly rapidly, his love doesn’t feel shallow, because he does in fact take a very long time to let go of Lia’s memory. And quite a bit of the storyline is spent on the romance, but it wasn’t annoying.
Plot: The plot is similar to a “lifetime” plot: there’s no arch enemy, no specific goal (except Jepp wants to discover who his father is), and the story follows Jepp through a series of important points in his life, but points that are largely only important to him and not the rest of his world. He has, for instance, no aspirations to overthrow a monarchy or discover a new world. With the element of Jepp’s unknown parentage, there is something of a mystery, which ends up propelling the story to its conclusion, but the plot is largely a coming-of-age and discovering-oneself story. The rich writing and characters is what keeps it from becoming boring.
Believability: I confess that I don’t know a whole lot about the countries that this story takes place in, or even the historical figures it deals with. In terms of dialogue, the Author gives Jepp and the other characters a very authentic narration voice without making them hard to understand.
Writing Style: The story switches between present-tense and past-tense for a time, while Jepp relates to the Reader events that led to his present circumstances (locked in a cage, traveling to an unknown destination). The Author uses present-tense the way it’s supposed to be used; at least, at first she does. Once Jepp has related previous events, the story settles permanently into present-tense, but oddly enough, it worked. It wasn’t used for the purposes of making the story feel more dramatic and movie-ish. It felt like I was in Jepp’s head, observing what is happening now. The Author also portrays the humiliations and injustices a court dwarf had to undergo without turning the book into a preachy story.
Content: One of the dwarves is raped, but there are positively no details; just the results (i.e. she becomes pregnant).
Conclusion: There are several twists that I wasn’t expecting, though Jepp’s sudden inheritance did feel a tad convenient and a little too timely. Still, I couldn’t help but enjoy the unlikely happy ending. As a whole, I greatly enjoyed this coming-of-age story, with its engaging characters and fascinating look into the world of court dwarves.
Recommended Audience: Girl-and-guy read, ages fifteen and up, good for historical fiction Readers who enjoy a good coming-of-age story.
May 10, 2013
Thunderstorms of flashbacks have been pummeling me this month. Done well, I don't really notice them. Done not so well, and they make cumulonimbus clouds build inside me. I prefer an author using flashbacks in the present and working them into the plot; this way a sense of urgency remains and the pacing doesn't slow down. Alas, while I enjoy Marsh's writing and character development, I didn't care for her flashbacks and parts of the plot.
Jepp is a dwarf in the 1600's who lives happily in a village working the inn with his mother. When a man comes and offers to take him to court, Jepp is curious to see the world. His mother reluctantly agrees and Jepp learns the prejudices others show to those who are different. He meets three other dwarves at the court and learns humiliating routines to entertain the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia. His experience at court is to learn that the rich and wealthy view dwarves as their playthings and not as human beings. While Jepp enjoys meeting other dwarves a terrible abuse happens to Lia, a dwarf he loves. Disillusioned, they flee the castle; thus ending Book I.
Marsh divides her book into three sections with Book I being told in a flashback as the protagonist, Jepp, is being taken north as a prisoner. At first, it appears that Jepp's life is at stake and this urgency creates tension making a good setup for the flashback, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the man dragging Jepp north has no intention of killing him, and flashback boredom settles in my bones like arthritis. Luckily Book II drops the flashback and I immediately got into the story of the quirky court of Tycho Brahe, who wears a prosthetic nose that keeps falling off and parades a moose in the dining area as entertainment to scholars and guests. I actually would have liked the story better if it had started in Book II with a few flashbacks worked into the action as Jepp travels north. When Jepp hears the birds he can flashback to Lia in her gilded cage. When he talks to Magdalene he can describe his past. But I've never written a book so maybe I'm being presumptious.
Book III involves Jepp finding answers to his questions. It contains more inner monologue and less action. Letters back and forth put more emphasis on the romantic aspect of the plot and less on the historical aspects given in Book I & II. The ending with the money didn't make sense to me. Would the laws allow Don to do that? It also seemed that Jepp should have returned to the island. I would not think Magdalene would do something that would be considered improper. I needed some explanation about her father's consent or lack of it, but it isn't given.
Marsh does a nice job developing her characters. This is one of those books where I would have liked it to be in third person. The villains are one-dimensional. We don't have any understanding as to why they mistreat others except that they are just nasty people. Jepp's voice is formal and highly educated. He's smart but I don't think he would have sounded like that running a tavern, although the author explains that everyone in their village learns to read. The astrology scenes are fascinating and were some of my favorite parts of the book and I'm not even interested in astrology. That is where I thought the story took flight and when the spotlight moved to other areas of the plot, I felt it dimmed in comparison.
Just an FYI, while it happens off the page and there is no graphic description, there is a rape in this story. It is a young adult book and while some young adult novels are okay for elementary I can't see this novel appealing to most of my high readers. I plan on giving it to the middle school library where it will have a larger audience and be more appreciated.
Jepp is a dwarf in the 1600's who lives happily in a village working the inn with his mother. When a man comes and offers to take him to court, Jepp is curious to see the world. His mother reluctantly agrees and Jepp learns the prejudices others show to those who are different. He meets three other dwarves at the court and learns humiliating routines to entertain the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia. His experience at court is to learn that the rich and wealthy view dwarves as their playthings and not as human beings. While Jepp enjoys meeting other dwarves a terrible abuse happens to Lia, a dwarf he loves. Disillusioned, they flee the castle; thus ending Book I.
Marsh divides her book into three sections with Book I being told in a flashback as the protagonist, Jepp, is being taken north as a prisoner. At first, it appears that Jepp's life is at stake and this urgency creates tension making a good setup for the flashback, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the man dragging Jepp north has no intention of killing him, and flashback boredom settles in my bones like arthritis. Luckily Book II drops the flashback and I immediately got into the story of the quirky court of Tycho Brahe, who wears a prosthetic nose that keeps falling off and parades a moose in the dining area as entertainment to scholars and guests. I actually would have liked the story better if it had started in Book II with a few flashbacks worked into the action as Jepp travels north. When Jepp hears the birds he can flashback to Lia in her gilded cage. When he talks to Magdalene he can describe his past. But I've never written a book so maybe I'm being presumptious.
Book III involves Jepp finding answers to his questions. It contains more inner monologue and less action. Letters back and forth put more emphasis on the romantic aspect of the plot and less on the historical aspects given in Book I & II. The ending with the money didn't make sense to me. Would the laws allow Don to do that? It also seemed that Jepp should have returned to the island. I would not think Magdalene would do something that would be considered improper. I needed some explanation about her father's consent or lack of it, but it isn't given.
Marsh does a nice job developing her characters. This is one of those books where I would have liked it to be in third person. The villains are one-dimensional. We don't have any understanding as to why they mistreat others except that they are just nasty people. Jepp's voice is formal and highly educated. He's smart but I don't think he would have sounded like that running a tavern, although the author explains that everyone in their village learns to read. The astrology scenes are fascinating and were some of my favorite parts of the book and I'm not even interested in astrology. That is where I thought the story took flight and when the spotlight moved to other areas of the plot, I felt it dimmed in comparison.
Just an FYI, while it happens off the page and there is no graphic description, there is a rape in this story. It is a young adult book and while some young adult novels are okay for elementary I can't see this novel appealing to most of my high readers. I plan on giving it to the middle school library where it will have a larger audience and be more appreciated.
May 20, 2013
I'm fascinated by the character of Tyrion Lannister, the cunning dwarf in Game of Thrones. You don't find a lot of literature with a dwarf as one of the heroes (or perhaps in Tyrion's case, an anti-hero). Perhaps my interest in Tyrion is why I picked up this book by Katherine Marsh about a teen-aged dwarf in 16th century Europe, but Jepp's story quickly engaged me on its own terms.
Jepp is living a relatively happy and protected life at his mother's inn in the countryside, until a wealthy courtier appears and invites him to a life of luxury Coudenberg Palace, the home of the Spanish Infanta. There he joins a small group of court dwarves, and Jepp is shocked when he realizes that he is to be a pampered pet, fed morsels at the dinner table and popping out of pies. Jepp plots a daring escape for himself and his dwarf friend, Lia, but is soon recaptured and sent away to another court, that of a Danish nobleman, Tycho Brahe. His new master is fascinated by the science of the stars, including astrology. Despite his dwarf size, Jepp is no fool, and would like to be part of the learned world of the scholars. Can Jepp change his own destiny or is he fated to always be controlled by others? How will he find his way in what often is a cruel world?
The author states that she was inspired to write this novel through her fascination with the famous paintings of court dwarfs by Spanish painter Diego Velasquez. As she explains in an author's note, Jepp was an actual dwarf who served as court jester at the court of Tycho Brahe, but very little is known about him. Although his story is largely invented, the life of court dwarfs was carefully researched by the author and seems to be accurately portrayed. Marsh was also inspired by her mother's passion for astrology, which plays a central role in this story.
If you're tired of dystopian and fantasy YA novels, I highly recommend this book! Marsh's book was honored as a New York Times Notable Children's Book of 2012 and also by The Wall Street Journal's Best Children's Books of 2012. It definitely stands out among the crowd of books that all seem to look the same these days. Even the handsome cover and design of this book are unique, with the end papers decorated with a beautiful astronomical chart that depicts, instead of constellations, various elements of the story. It's a unique coming of age story, with a beautifully rendered and written story, which transports us to another time and place in the way which good historical fiction can do just as well as fantasy. Being a YA novel, there's even a bit of romance involved.
In addition to the above-mentioned Author's Note, back matter includes an interview with the author.
Jepp is living a relatively happy and protected life at his mother's inn in the countryside, until a wealthy courtier appears and invites him to a life of luxury Coudenberg Palace, the home of the Spanish Infanta. There he joins a small group of court dwarves, and Jepp is shocked when he realizes that he is to be a pampered pet, fed morsels at the dinner table and popping out of pies. Jepp plots a daring escape for himself and his dwarf friend, Lia, but is soon recaptured and sent away to another court, that of a Danish nobleman, Tycho Brahe. His new master is fascinated by the science of the stars, including astrology. Despite his dwarf size, Jepp is no fool, and would like to be part of the learned world of the scholars. Can Jepp change his own destiny or is he fated to always be controlled by others? How will he find his way in what often is a cruel world?
The author states that she was inspired to write this novel through her fascination with the famous paintings of court dwarfs by Spanish painter Diego Velasquez. As she explains in an author's note, Jepp was an actual dwarf who served as court jester at the court of Tycho Brahe, but very little is known about him. Although his story is largely invented, the life of court dwarfs was carefully researched by the author and seems to be accurately portrayed. Marsh was also inspired by her mother's passion for astrology, which plays a central role in this story.
If you're tired of dystopian and fantasy YA novels, I highly recommend this book! Marsh's book was honored as a New York Times Notable Children's Book of 2012 and also by The Wall Street Journal's Best Children's Books of 2012. It definitely stands out among the crowd of books that all seem to look the same these days. Even the handsome cover and design of this book are unique, with the end papers decorated with a beautiful astronomical chart that depicts, instead of constellations, various elements of the story. It's a unique coming of age story, with a beautifully rendered and written story, which transports us to another time and place in the way which good historical fiction can do just as well as fantasy. Being a YA novel, there's even a bit of romance involved.
In addition to the above-mentioned Author's Note, back matter includes an interview with the author.
February 5, 2013
This was a fun read because it was different that what I feel has become 'popular' in YA/children's literature.
This book is classified as historical fiction, but after reading the authors notes at the end, it is a little more fiction and a little less historical for me personally to give it much merit as an historical book. But still, it is interesting to learn about that time period, a period that doesn't typically get written about.
The book is set in 1597 and spans many places across Europe. The thing that is so lovely about the book is that even though it is set over 400 years ago, there are so many parallels to our day.
The book is filled with great wisdom. A couple of my favorite lines are:
"I think that from God's view, up in the heavens, all men are small. It is the spirit He has given us that makes us giants, if only we choose to be."
"Is it not our imperfections that forge our characters?"
As Jepp is taken off to his first grand adventure, he soon learns that the world we live in is not always what we dream and hope it will be. It can be cruel and unforgiving. Jepp however, does not let that defeat him. And though he goes through his down moments he eventually rises above them to become master of his own fate.
Although I felt that at times this book was a little too wordy and I had to resist the urge to skim, that was only a small fraction of the story. For the most part, I felt it was beautifully written and I really loved that I was able to get into the heart and mind of Jepp. He is so relate-able. We all have the same feelings of doubt and insecurity that he does and it is wonderful to read how he overcomes that.
This book to me had a very similar feel to Splendors and Glooms, which I felt was also amazingly well written. This one however fell just shy of that level and I can see why this one did not get an award while that one did. Don't let that deter you from reading this book. Not every great story will get an award. And you may just disagree and feel that it should have won.
This book is classified as historical fiction, but after reading the authors notes at the end, it is a little more fiction and a little less historical for me personally to give it much merit as an historical book. But still, it is interesting to learn about that time period, a period that doesn't typically get written about.
The book is set in 1597 and spans many places across Europe. The thing that is so lovely about the book is that even though it is set over 400 years ago, there are so many parallels to our day.
The book is filled with great wisdom. A couple of my favorite lines are:
"I think that from God's view, up in the heavens, all men are small. It is the spirit He has given us that makes us giants, if only we choose to be."
"Is it not our imperfections that forge our characters?"
As Jepp is taken off to his first grand adventure, he soon learns that the world we live in is not always what we dream and hope it will be. It can be cruel and unforgiving. Jepp however, does not let that defeat him. And though he goes through his down moments he eventually rises above them to become master of his own fate.
Although I felt that at times this book was a little too wordy and I had to resist the urge to skim, that was only a small fraction of the story. For the most part, I felt it was beautifully written and I really loved that I was able to get into the heart and mind of Jepp. He is so relate-able. We all have the same feelings of doubt and insecurity that he does and it is wonderful to read how he overcomes that.
This book to me had a very similar feel to Splendors and Glooms, which I felt was also amazingly well written. This one however fell just shy of that level and I can see why this one did not get an award while that one did. Don't let that deter you from reading this book. Not every great story will get an award. And you may just disagree and feel that it should have won.
November 7, 2012
In the late 1500s, Jepp leaves his home and his beloved mother to seek his own fortune as a dwarf of the Spanish Infanta's court. As the court fool, he endures daily humiliations as entertainment, and though he longs to return home, he cannot. He's the property of the Infanta, and a prisoner of he court. When tragedy strikes, he is caged, sent far away to the famous Danish astronomer Ticoh Brahe. Jepp's life has changed yet again, but will he ever control his own destiny? Or is it written in the stars?
As far as storylines go, this coming of age tale had plenty of potential and I think it has an audience out there, but I was disappointed with the execution. Jepp is educated, can read, write, and speak Latin, and yet, he's incredibly naive, sheltered even, regarding his possible future as a dwarf of that time period. Details of court life were interesting, and the author introduced a variety of memorable characters, but unfortunately, the plot quickly dissolved into melodrama, and what hould have been emotional and frightening felt stiff, too formal, and as a result, lost a lot of impact. Some of the formality in tone is the author's attempt to reflect the lifstyle, mannerisms and dialogue of the times, but even with that in mind, I never felt immersed in the time period, and I certainly never felt like I was in the mind of a teenager. I'm not sure what makes this book a young adult novel, but since it's being marketed as such, maybe a younger audience will be better able to relate to the main character and that will make this a more enjoyable read.
As far as storylines go, this coming of age tale had plenty of potential and I think it has an audience out there, but I was disappointed with the execution. Jepp is educated, can read, write, and speak Latin, and yet, he's incredibly naive, sheltered even, regarding his possible future as a dwarf of that time period. Details of court life were interesting, and the author introduced a variety of memorable characters, but unfortunately, the plot quickly dissolved into melodrama, and what hould have been emotional and frightening felt stiff, too formal, and as a result, lost a lot of impact. Some of the formality in tone is the author's attempt to reflect the lifstyle, mannerisms and dialogue of the times, but even with that in mind, I never felt immersed in the time period, and I certainly never felt like I was in the mind of a teenager. I'm not sure what makes this book a young adult novel, but since it's being marketed as such, maybe a younger audience will be better able to relate to the main character and that will make this a more enjoyable read.
September 18, 2013
What an interesting read. I really didn't think I would like it... a strange story about a dwarf and astrology, but it is so much more, and I found myself totally carried along with him on his interesting journey. It was difficult for me to put down. I liked that it didn't over-hint at things that would be brought to light later. It didn't insult your intelligence, and it also kept some things an interesting mystery throughout a lot of the book. I liked the main character and the idea of a combination of fate, free-will, and intelligence to forge ones future. As I said, I enjoyed it much more than I imagined. A really interesting book! I would not recommend this for "young adult". I think older teens maybe. I actually had a hard time pegging the audience. It's kind of a unique read. I love when writers use historical facts or real characters to create a fictional story. So fun!
December 9, 2012
This was a very sweetly written historical fiction for young adults. Strangely I picked this and City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte up at the same time and they both feature the same historical dwarf. However, Jepp is treated much more gently in this book. While he goes through some very difficult times, he ends up growing better and stronger for having had them. My only regret is that everything ends so neatly wrapped up. There is no lingering conflict, no moral dilemmas. It's a typical happy ending. I think in some ways this detracts a little from what made the character interesting earlier in the novel and from the historicity of the book. I can understand that perhaps the uber-happy ending was favored because this book was for teens, but I think we've moved past the phase where all kids books need to be happy and have an obvious moral.
November 11, 2022
This is a sweet coming of age story about a courageous yet naïve dwarf at the end of the 16th century. Like all good historical fiction this novel has specific history to share with us; The Infanta Isabella with her dwarves in the palace of Coudenberg and Tycho Brahe's observatory, Uraniborg. I would have liked a deeper dive into both but it was enough. I loved the theme of fate written throughout and carried all the way to where the stars were studied and the horoscopes produced.
April 12, 2012
Katherine Marsh's tale of Jepp, a "court dwarf" in the Middle Ages, makes for fascinating historical fiction, especially since it's based in fact. She also poses the question: is our life already mapped out, written in the stars? Or do we make our own fate? This is what Jepp must decide as he leaves home and journeys all over Europe (not always by choice). A wonderful, fascinating, tender read!
March 28, 2014
Did you ever wonder what life would be like as a dwarf in the late 1500's? This book takes place in 3 far-flung settings: Jepp's mother's inn, the court of the Infanta, and Tycho Brahe's palace where scientists studies astrology and astronomy. I recommend it to young adult fans of historical fiction.
February 4, 2017
This was a very different and refreshing read, and I am really glad Brianna epic rec-ed it to me, because otherwise I don't think I would have read it. Though I was not always engaged while reading, and I had some other issues with the novel (I will go into more detail when I write my review), I still enjoyed the lovely message.
3/5 stars.
3/5 stars.
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