In 16th-century France, 15-year-old Sylvie lives in a small village. Sylvie wants to be a healer like her mother and grandmother. She has a special gift: when she touches someone, she can see their thoughts. Before her death, her grandmother told Sylvie that she would have to find a teacher before she could use her gift for healing, but after her grandmother's death, she tries to take away some of her mother's grief and ends up making a terrible mistake. Sylvie leaves her village in search of a teacher -- but how will she find someone she can trust, in a world where many might label her a witch?

This is a pleasant enough story, aimed more toward a tween or middle-grade audience than Werlin's other books. I found the writing a bit stiff and stilted, and I'm not sure whether that has to do with writing for a younger audience, or if she was trying to evoke something about the historical setting, but it's not what I expected from Werlin. I'd recommend it to readers who really love books set in the middle ages, like The Midwife's Apprentice and The Inquisitor's Tale. ( )

Healer & Witch is the first middle-grade novel by Nancy Werlin. It features a 15 year old healer named Sylvie, daughter of Jeanne, also a healer, and Grand-mere Sylvie, a wise woman and healer. They live in a small village in 16th century France, where they practice their healing arts quietly, in a home with no men.

When Grand-mere dies, Jeanne becomes depressed, and Sylvie realizes she has some telepathic powers and uses them to take away her mother's pain. In doing so, she removes her mother's memories of Grand-mere and her, so that Jeanne no longer recognizes Sylvie as her daughter.

Sylvie is horrified at what she has done and decides to leave the village to find a teacher to help her learn to use her powers. On the road, she finds the blacksmith's son following her, 8 year old Martin. He is unhappy at home and is out for an adventure, so he accompanies Sylvie to the next larger town, Montigny, to find another healer.

On their journey, they are helped by Robert, a 24 year old trader, who may or may not become something more to Sylvie in the future.

Eventually they reach Lyon, where Sylvie finds herself in the clutches of a supposed astrologer, who wants to use Sylvie's powers for her own benefit.

It's an interesting story, with a teenage girl who is clever, thoughtful, and devout. She is a quiet kind of heroine, one who wants to use her powers for good, and who is strong enough to avoid a marriage that will imprison her.

The cover art for the hardcover book is very middle grade. The story starts off middle grade, but I think veers YA as it goes on. We'll see how it does in the TWEEN section at the library. ( )

Well done and very readable Medieval adventure, starring a young girl who has recently come into mind affecting powers. Werlin does a great job of evoking the setting (Medieval France), the distress these powers cause, and the heroine's journey into a strong and independent self. The characters and setting are interesting, the pacing is good, and the story is strong.

I particularly like how Sylvie navigates some scary situations without compromising her principals or attacking the ones she fears. Great modeling for thoughtful reactions that benefit everyone and let her stay true to herself.

Medieval France. Sylvie leaves her village seeking training after she comes into a telepathic power. Her Grandmother recently passed, leaving her mother bereft, and an attempt to heal went wrong, erasing her mother's memories. Accompanied by Martin, a plucky blacksmith apprentice who wants to travel, and a frenemy merchant, Sylvie navigates several dangers on her quest for mastery.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )