bookthia's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I heard about this book from Bummi on the Currently Reading podcast and I ADORED it! This middle grade quest novel is set one the Middle Ages and is about a boy, named Boy, who accompanies a Pilgrim on a pilgrimage to Rome. I picked this up purely because of the pilgrimage plot line, but it was so much more. Kids and adults both will be drawn into Boys surprising personal quest. While his pilgrim is seeking relics and the tomb of St Peter to “bribe” his way into heaven, Boy’s quest is personal and heartfelt. I loved this book!
jcarsrud's review against another edition
3.0
3.5-4.0 This was a really fast read for me! I don’t know if I would classify this as a historical fiction or a fantasy.
amusicalbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
This book was so weird I don’t even know what to think! But I left the book having more questions than answers, somehow. I didn’t really like this. I would love to get a kid’s perspective on this book, because I think it’s both too slow and too odd of a storyline for a kid to enjoy. I liked its uniqueness at first, but then it just took the weirdest direction and it lost me from there.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
4.0
Medieval adventure fiction for middle grade.
This historical fiction tale takes classic adventure/romantic tropes - a quest, collecting objects, unfolding identities, talking animals - and melds them with middle grade appropriate handling of religion - beliefs, goodness, even penance. I think some kids would also relate well to Boy, for essentially he wants to fit in, not be bullied or stared at for being different, even as he is a bit of a naive goody two-shoes. The plot isn't entirely surprising for an adult reader, but may have unexpected moments for younger readers. I could see this as a good student book club choice.
Read Alikes
The Inquisitor's Tale for the religious-themed quest through France (although maybe a century off in history)
Catherine Called Birdy more for European medieval time period than any plot or character similarity
Lloyd Alexander books - for the lowly Pig-Keeper protagonist and quest adventure
This historical fiction tale takes classic adventure/romantic tropes - a quest, collecting objects, unfolding identities, talking animals - and melds them with middle grade appropriate handling of religion - beliefs, goodness, even penance. I think some kids would also relate well to Boy, for essentially he wants to fit in, not be bullied or stared at for being different, even as he is a bit of a naive goody two-shoes. The plot isn't entirely surprising for an adult reader, but may have unexpected moments for younger readers. I could see this as a good student book club choice.
Read Alikes
The Inquisitor's Tale for the religious-themed quest through France (although maybe a century off in history)
Catherine Called Birdy more for European medieval time period than any plot or character similarity
Lloyd Alexander books - for the lowly Pig-Keeper protagonist and quest adventure
dlberglund's review against another edition
4.0
What an interesting book! Boy is the goatherd of a French manor that has been decimated by The Plague, trying to avoid those who taunt, harass or beat him for his cursed hump. Enter Secundus, a pilgrim who enlists Boy to help him, and who is possibly not exactly what he seems. They go on quite the quest, and the book changes into something I wasn't expecting. An excellent piece of children's literature.
amymck05's review against another edition
2.0
I like the idea of this book, but it just missed the mark for me. The Inquisitor's Tale was a better read.
zubacoop's review against another edition
4.0
I read to my nine-year-old most nights. Sometimes it’s performative and we just get through the book. Other times, like with this book, we read for a few days, and then spend a couple days during the day just reading aloud until I can’t read anymore because we like the book so much. We both really liked this book. She doesn’t have a lot of context for relics, or medieval Europe, so if she’d read it on her own she might not have understood some of what was happening, but we were both very engaged with this story. I got a little teary at the end. I just loved Boy. And I loved the evolution of his relationship with Secundus. I can’t give it five stars straight up because I felt like the ending was a little rushed, but 4.5 stars from me. Plus it has woodcut illustrations. Awesome.
terezi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book secundus and boy oh they remind me of gon and kite and it’s so beautiful and
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Boy lives a rough life, now that the most important people in his life have been taken by the plague. He works tirelessly for the Cook and new wife of his master, whose brain no longer works. Boy makes friends with the animals, because he is shunned by people because of the hump on his back. Boy is given the chance to ask Jesus and the saints to take away his hump, when a pilgrim stumbles upon his home and enlists Boy's help. The two travel across the land seeking out various relics tied to St. Peter, so that they are given the chance to ask for their most desired need. As they travel, the reader soon learns that the leader Secondus is not the most devout or good person.
This novel is fun and funny. It is more appropriate for older tweens, based on the humor. I enjoyed Boy and had fun with Secondus, even though he was not a great guy.
Boy lives a rough life, now that the most important people in his life have been taken by the plague. He works tirelessly for the Cook and new wife of his master, whose brain no longer works. Boy makes friends with the animals, because he is shunned by people because of the hump on his back. Boy is given the chance to ask Jesus and the saints to take away his hump, when a pilgrim stumbles upon his home and enlists Boy's help. The two travel across the land seeking out various relics tied to St. Peter, so that they are given the chance to ask for their most desired need. As they travel, the reader soon learns that the leader Secondus is not the most devout or good person.
This novel is fun and funny. It is more appropriate for older tweens, based on the humor. I enjoyed Boy and had fun with Secondus, even though he was not a great guy.