Otto of the Silver Hand relates the story of a young boy caught between the malice of vengeful barons. After the untimely death of Otto’s mother, Otto was placed in the care of his uncle, the abbot of St. Michael’s monastery. Otto grew up in the monastery, happy and content until his tenth birthday. On his tenth birthday, Baron Conrad, his father, reclaimed his son and brought him back to his birthplace, the castle of Trutz-Drachen. The world was a dangerous place in the Middle Ages, and Otto soon learned of its terrors. Although Otto of the Silver Hand is a short historical fiction novel, it does an excellent job of developing its characters. The book’s main character, Otto, is a shy and quiet boy, in sharp contrast to his overbearing and at times foul-tempered father. Howard Pyle illustrated the book himself, with vivid pencil sketches that help you imagine the medieval world. This book is suitable for many ages, and would enhance a unit study on the Middle Ages. The plot of the book, though thin, is well-written and engaging. Otto of the Silver Hand is a pleasant book to read and a fun family read-aloud.