Books › Castle Diary
Castle Diary
128 pages
A delightfully messy, vividly illustrated peek behind the tapestry of medieval life, told through the candid eyes of an observant child.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping through a time machine straight into the noisy, smelly, and endlessly fascinating courtyard of a medieval fortress. The diary format keeps the pace brisk and episodic, making it incredibly easy to devour in short bursts. It balances a bustling, lively mood with a cheeky, observant tone that never takes itself too seriously, perfectly capturing the candid voice of an eleven-year-old boy. The prose is conversational and highly accessible, working in tandem with expressive, detailed illustrations to bring the messy realities of the past to life. It is a delight for curious middle-grade readers who prefer their history served with a side of humor, etiquette tips on where to spit, and a genuine sense of everyday wonder.
- Mood
- bustling
- immersive
- lively
- Tone
- humorous
- observant
- earnest
- cheeky
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- everyday history · coming of age · behind-the-scenes discovery · the messy reality of the past
- The writing
- Conversational and highly accessible, the writing perfectly captures the candid, easily distracted voice of an eleven-year-old boy.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from wide-eyed, slightly homesick observation to a confident, enthusiastic embrace of a bustling new world.
- Who it's for
- Curious middle-grade readers who love immersive historical details, expressive illustrations, and the slightly gross realities of everyday life in the past.
Content notes
- mild historical violence
- animal death (hunting)
About the book
What was it really like to live in a castle? Step back to the Middle Ages with Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess.
Eleven-year-old Toby’s vivid diary entries offer an insider’s view of day-to-day castle life, including tips on etiquette (where do you spit at a feast?) and exciting descriptions of hunting, jousting, and harvesting.
Complete with glossary, index, and detailed endnotes, this is a rich look at medieval life that informs as much as it entertains. Part of the Historical Fiction Diaries series.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Castle Diary
See why they match
Catherine, Called BirdyKaren CushmanA fiercely funny, flea-bitten diary of a medieval teenager fighting tooth and nail for the right to choose her own destiny.
Tuesdays at the CastleJessica Day GeorgeA whimsical, spirited adventure where the setting itself is a living, breathing character full of secrets.
KazunomiyaKathryn LaskyAn intimate, poetic glimpse into the gilded cage of a nineteenth-century imperial court through the secret diary of a young princess.
Amelia's notebookMarissa MossAn intimate, doodle-filled peek into the unfiltered mind of a nine-year-old navigating the messy transitions of childhood.
Let Me Tell You How I DiedSinclair SmithA creepy, nostalgic descent into a dead girl's mind through the pages of a cursed diary.
Life in a medieval cityJoseph Gies and Frances GiesStep through the gates of a bustling medieval city and experience the daily rhythms of its diverse inhabitants.