The King's Shadow — Elizabeth Alder

Evyn, a young Welsh serf, has dreamed all his life of becoming a storyteller. But in a cruel twist of fate, Evyn and his father suffer a brutal attack by a group of murderous ruffians. Evyn's tongue is cut off and his father is killed. Here, Evyn chronicles his journey which culminates at the Battle of Hastings. A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and recipient of the IRA Children's Book Award in the older reader category.