"In this bright, engaging tale set in medieval England, Coats lightly interweaves medieval craft and culture with deeper questions about work, value, and getting around the status quo. . . Coats is a lively, capable storyteller and intelligently dovetails historical detail with issues—and a self-aware expressiveness in this first-person, present-tense narrative—that resonate today. Her plot twists, turns, and hinges on a pleasing, convincing mix of medieval practices and unusual but realistic circumstances that provide for a hopeful ending."

– Horn Book Magazine

"From detailed accounts of the chandler’s trade to the rules of the fair, the book’s medieval English setting appears to be well researched. Still, it’s Tick’s first-person narrative that will draw readers into her story and hold them until the end with a spirited account of her adventures, reflections, and conclusions. A satisfying choice for historical fiction fans."

– Booklist 

"Coats deftly layers headstrong Tick’s efforts to remain close to her papa, and her annoyance with traditional gender roles, in a feminist tale with a persuasively rendered historical setting."

– Publishers Weekly