Or Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz

Jeanne, Gwenforte, William, and Jacob, are unlikely companions on a quest in thirteenth-century France. Adam Gidwitz weaves second-hand accounts in a style reminiscent of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

The Inquisitor’s Tale is set in the days of the Crusades, when economic, racial, and religious tensions were prevalent. Our four heroes challenge their pre-conceived notions and find a common bond.

The theme of acceptance and sacrifice for a friend is laudable. This book offers parents an opportunity to discuss the role of the church and state as God intended as opposed to the relationship displayed in history. I recommend it for middle school readers.

Gidwitz, Adam. The Inquisitor’s Tale, or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog. Listening Library, 2016.