Everything you need to understand or teach Fair Maiden by Lynn Hall.
Jennifer, the protagonist of the novel, comes of age as she learns about herself while searching for security. A romantic at heart, she sees in the fantasy realm of the Renaissance fair the safety that she lacks in ordinary life, a life from which she yearns to escape.
Not all her decisions are good ones, but she is bright, lively, and a good sport, and she learns well from her experiences.
When John the Lutanist makes his appearance, he seems a fantasy come true; the story of their romance and of how Jennifer grows beyond it makes Fair Maiden memorable reading.