Morning Star of the Reformation

by Andy Thomson

A fictionalized biography of John Wycliffe, set in medieval England: Young John Wycliffe lived through the terrors of the Black Death and later survived the St Scholastica Day riot in Oxford that killed some of his comrades. His experiences gave him a passion to give the Bible to the common man, in the common language of English. Readers will share in Wycliffe's student days at Oxford University and see him work toward his goal of translating the Bible into English for all Englishmen to read.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Fiction, School, Biography Memoir, Christian

136 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1988

Reviews

[selah rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars.

it wasn't horrible. would i read this by myself? no. but compared to our other school books it was to bad. it was just really boring. and it had a funky ending. like- ya, i know it's historical fiction, but, i mean, come on, you could have added some kind of closure.

i'm not spending more time than i need to on this review. good bye.

[Syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good considering that this was my history school book. I listened 2 this on Audible and at first I thot it would b kinda slow or something, but it was actually good.

Recommended ages 13 & up.

[Ella Moody · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seemed rather odd, like all these events were kind of just vomited onto the page; there wasn't a lot of lead-up to any of it. But it was slightly interesting nonetheless. 2.5.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fictional rendering of the story of the life and times of Wycliffe. The writing was clunky and difficult to follow.

[Pig Rieke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I only listened to this one on Audible.

This book was certainly not what I was anticipating and outside of my normal genre, being an odd form of historical fiction. Odd in that it details the life of John Wickliffe but is fictional in that the conversations and many of the events are made up. Thus, the result is a peculiar conglomerate of truth and fiction. For this reason, it was difficult to enjoy as one tries to parse the true events from the fictitious.

The book seems to have a target audience of middle schoolers in order to peak their interests in the general narrative and the historical setting leading up to the Reformation. Thus, although the book suited my maturity, it did not suite my taste.

[Madison Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Morning Star of the Reformation by Andy Thomson is a fascinating story about the great John Wycliffe. This story tells about Wycliffe’s joys and his struggles, and how he survived each one with courage, and the strength of his faith. The Catholic Church during the 1300’s was a corrupt society who “abused the vulnerable and poured money into [their] own treasuries while amassing political power”. John Wycliffe saw what they were doing and tried to stop them, and overtime more people became to realize just how wrong the actions of the Church had become. The Morning Star of the Reformation is a story that all should read; and we should be grateful for this incredible Christian who pursed to defeat what he believed to be wrong.

[Becky Skillin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Let not the church come between you and Christ.”

Interesting historical fiction biography of John Wycliffe who lived through the Bubonic Plague and in his years at Oxford began a reform movement that seeded the Reformation.

While young adult fiction length, its usage of archaic language would put off most adolescents. Still, if forced, reading it would provide a solid historical context of who held power in church-state relations in the late 1300s to early 1400s in England.

I appreciated how it discussed the cost of conscience, leadership styles, fear of social mockery, and discerning vocation.

[Cala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction that tells of John Wycliffe before, during, and after his time at Oxford. Includes living through the Black Plague, stating the belief of and standing up for "sola scriptura" and other debates with the Church of the time. Relationships with his friends/peers and later those that learned from him as he worked on translating the Bible into English for the common man and proclaiming Biblical truths. A few relationships are fictional, but many people and events in this book are actual accounts.

[Paul Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review

John Wycliffe was a Reformation pioneer. The Holy Spirit opened his eyes to both popish corruption and Rome's faulty doctrine on matters such as the eucharist.

This was an interesting listen, giving a good outline of Wycliffe's life.

The choice of narrator was a mistake, however. The dear lady tries her best at an English accent, but to listeners in the UK it's very off-putting. American listeners won't notice, of course, but for British people I'd recommend the printed edition.

[Merynn Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Morning Star of the Reformation by Andy Thomson is a book that tells the story of John Wycliffe, an English theologian and early reformer. The book follows young Tom, a fictional character, who becomes involved in Wycliffe's mission to translate the Bible into English so that common people can understand it. The story highlights Wycliffe’s deep faith, courage, and commitment to truth, even at great personal risk. i learned by reading this book to stand firm in my faith even when it might be challenging.

[Kameron Nettleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 6th graders read this as part of their curriculum...they enjoyed it, for the most part. When I read aloud, I changed some of the language to help it be more approachable for them (took out the thithers and heretofore), because whenever I said things like "yesternight" they wanted to discuss it for 20 minutes. As far as the story goes, it's exciting enough for the kids to stay invested, and there is some historical detail that makes for good connections to other courses.

[Dwight Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this for an easy read in between some heavier books: I was pleasantly surprised!

The book is very engaging and informative. I knew the basics of Wycliffe’s life and works, but this clarified how certain events most likely played out.

Though this is obviously written for a middle school audience, I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who’s looking for an easy, fun read!

[Karista · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent read aloud for my homeschool children. It was a simple, and somewhat fictionalized, story of John Wesley that kept us all engaged and allowed us to learn about some significant historical events that occurred in the Christian faith.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about Wycliffe.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of John Wycliff that we read in our Dialectic homeschool history studies.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun way to experience history, suitable for middle grades.

[History7teacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I know it was written for middle school students, but I enjoyed it anyway. It’s a good story about a great man.

[The Radical Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Andy Thomson

Recommended Age: 12-14

Date Published: 1988

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:
Young John Wycliffe and his friend, Sebastian Ayleton, are merely students at Oxford University in the 14th century. But as the years progress, they find a shared unity in the desire to translate a Bible into English that all men can read. But the religious and political leaders are strongly opposed to this new idea, and John Wycliffe becomes another target of their hatred.


Notes from The Radical Reader:

Noble Characters:
Sebastian Ayleton is a hot-tempered young man whose father convinced him to join the church as a monk. While traveling to Oxford, Sebastian meets John Wycliffe, another fellow monk whose path takes a starkly different direction than the one Sebastian had planned. When they discover a shared unity in wanting to translate the Latin Vulgate into English, they find themselves opposed by the church and the throne as heretics.

Captivating Plots:
Riots in the streets. Plagues that ravage towns and cities. Anger and hostility towards the rebellious preachers. Will the translation of the Scriptures actually succeed, or will Wycliffe’s dream of an English Bible remain just a dream?

Elaborate Worlds:
It’s incredibly easy to forget the struggles that men and women of faith underwent to translate the Bible into the modern, vernacular language. Morning Star of the Reformation shows us the life of John Wycliffe in the 14th century as he and his apprentices fight for religious freedom in England, and for the truth of Scripture alone.


Noteworthy Elements:

Violence:
There is a reference made to a village and its townspeople that was burned by the Dominicans for believing in salvation by grace alone. During the pestilence, men beat themselves in the streets in the hopes of meriting God’s favor and removing the pestilence. When Wycliffe is being examined by the religious leaders, English yeoman come to protect him in case he is condemned to torture. While none of the details are graphically violent, they may disturb younger readers.

No sexual tension or profanity.

https://theradicalreader.com/morning-...

[Laura The Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction book about John Wycliffe and is set in the 1300's. The Plague, Oxford riots, and Wycliffe's court hearings were covered in the book. The target audience is middle schoolers, although adults who love a good, historical book will enjoy it.

Wycliffe is credited with translating the bible into English with the hopes of getting it into everyone's hands for them to read. He believed in "scripture alone," and the book does a good job conveying this idea. Catholics did not like him.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was verry good . i devoured it in a week , which is rare for me to do with a book . I knew a small bit about Wesley but not much ,this story gives a facination retelling of his life as a young man and into his older years . Its very uplifting and inspirational , and makes me wonder if I could serve the Lord with the same ferver that John Wesley did. I am very grateful to him for translating the Bible into English .

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Morning Star Of The Reformation is 134 pages long, and by Andy Thomson.

I was going to rate this book 0 stars, but then I remembered that you can't. So sad. This book makes no sence, and does not deserve praise. Sure, John Wyclyffe is a great man, all his friends, and what they did was great, but as previously stated; it is a terrible book.

[Alicia Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best historical-fiction books available for young readers about the amazing life of John Wycliffe. Historical accuracy, exciting plots, and a heartwarming friendship fill its pages, creating a truly memorable story! A must-read for all Wycliffe/Reformation fans.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting biography of a man determined to know God through reading his word. Nowadays we have such easy access to the Bible and many translations. This book helped me realize how blessed I am.

[Mere · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a great read for history's sake, and to learn about John Wycliffe, my 7th graders and I found it boring and the language difficult to read. There were good lessons throughout the story and good ways to share Bible passages about faith, but we were all glad when it was finished.

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent, as I recall.

[Amanda]

Great book for a family read aloud!

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very good book.
Easy to read.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about John Wycliffe is excellent. It kept the kids and I on the edge of our seat.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great family read-aloud! Very interesting and a compelling read for the kids. Although it is fictionalized, I still highly recommend it.

[Samantha Dillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional retelling of the adult life of John Wycliffe through the eyes of his best friend's son. Great glimpse into what life was like for the men, easy read/listen.