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I went into this book expecting an adventure story. The blurb on Goodreads even says that it's "action-packed". But, that was not the truth. This book is a quest the main character, Boy, goes on with a pilgrim to collect relics. But each time they go to get a relic the event is over so quickly, without hardly any struggle or excitement. If this book had been any longer I probably wouldn't have even bothered to finish it.
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3 ⭐
I enjoyed the quest aspect of the story, but I wouldn't recommend this book for it's intended audience, middle graders. The plot was a bit slow and the historical aspect may be challenging for young readers to understand. There are also mild curse words used throughout the story. ...more
I enjoyed the quest aspect of the story, but I wouldn't recommend this book for it's intended audience, middle graders. The plot was a bit slow and the historical aspect may be challenging for young readers to understand. There are also mild curse words used throughout the story. ...more
I read this book as my only shout-out to Middle Grade March. I found the first half very engaging-- disability representation (Boy is a hunchback), communication with animals and a promise of an adventure or an engaging quest. The second half was disappointing as Boy was not a hunchback after all but an angel.... was that BECAUSE he was a hunchback or what? People with disabilities have grown used to being represented as either fools or angels. Really we are just people who have disabilities. In
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One day when Boy (our hero) was climbing a tree, he saw a tall pilgrim wearing a brown robe, cloack, and a wide hat and carrying a pack on a pole. The pilgrim, secundus asked Boy's mistress to allow him to take Boy on a journey to Saint Peter's step.
The book tells the story of the journey of Boy and secundus and their search for seven objects (relics): rib, tooth, thumb, skin, dust, skull, and tomb. Each of the objects is a mystery that has its own story and adventure.
The story is set in the ye ...more
The book tells the story of the journey of Boy and secundus and their search for seven objects (relics): rib, tooth, thumb, skin, dust, skull, and tomb. Each of the objects is a mystery that has its own story and adventure.
The story is set in the ye ...more
I am sure I never would have picked up this book if not for it being the group read for the Middle Grade March challenge... but I am glad I did. What a peculiar book. A medieval tale with so much more. Without giving away the mysterious bits, I will say it twists religion and fantasy with historical fiction and somehow in the strange mix produces a coming of age book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I read this as part of an online book club for Middle Grade March. I will say it started as a so-so for me, but then this book had a bit of a surprise and, for me, became such a beautiful story about acceptance, love, faith, empathy...just so many emotions. Read very quickly as many young reader books do but left me with joy and a soaring heart. 4.5⭐️
3.5
I'm not really sure how I feel about the book. I did like it but it took a couple of chapters to get into the story. Then I was really excited to see where it went. But at the end I was not sure. To me it seemed to end rather abruptly?.... it didn't end how I thought it would, and not sure if I really liked the ending... ...more
Feb 09, 2020
Deb
marked it as to-read
Feb 10, 2020
Cindy Hughes
marked it as to-read
Mar 12, 2020
Terri
marked it as dnf
Mar 26, 2020
Caitlin Love
marked it as to-read
Mar 28, 2020
Nicole Bannister
marked it as to-read
Mar 19, 2024
Gail Vlaanderen
marked it as to-read
