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The Book of Boy
The Book of Boy
The Book of Boy
Audiobook6 hours

The Book of Boy

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this audiobook

A young outcast is swept up into a thrilling and perilous medieval treasure hunt in this literary page-turner by acclaimed bestselling author Catherine Gilbert Murdock. This epic and engrossing quest story is for fans of Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale and Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Boy has always been relegated to the outskirts of his small village. With a large hump on his back, a mysterious past, and a tendency to talk to animals, he is often mocked and abused by the other young people in his town. Until the arrival of a shadowy pilgrim named Secondus. Impressed with Boy's climbing and jumping abilities, Secondus engages Boy as his servant, pulling him into an expedition across Europe to gather the seven precious relics of Saint Peter. Boy quickly realizes this journey is not an innocent one. They are stealing the relics, and gaining dangerous enemies in the process. But Boy is determined to see this pilgrimage through until the end-for what if St. Peter can make Boy's hump go away? This compelling, action-packed tale is full of bravery and daring, stars a terrific cast of secondary characters, and features an unlikely multigenerational friendship at its heart. Memorable and haunting, Catherine Gilbert Murdock's epic medieval adventure is just right for readers of Sara Pennypacker's Pax, Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale, and Pam Munoz Ryan's Echo. Features a map and black-and-white art throughout.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 6, 2018
ISBN9781501997600
The Book of Boy
Author

Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Catherine Gilbert Murdock is the acclaimed author of the Newbery Honor Book The Book of Boy, as well as six other novels. She grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two children.

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Reviews for The Book of Boy

Rating: 3.664285651428572 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

70 ratings7 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was a good story, not my favorite middle grade but I would say it would be a great family read along.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The year is 1350, and Boy lives in a village in France. He has a big bump on his back, and lives under the strictures of the now-dead priest to never reveal himself. But then a pilgrim comes to town and asks for his help getting a relic from a nearby church, starting a quest that will change Boy's life.Hmmmmm. I don't entirely know how to describe this without giving everything away, but I will say that it seems to be one of those books that always seems to tick the boxes of folks on awards committees and leaves me feeling like something's wanting. Would a child pick this up without prompting from an adult? Probably not... it's a slow start and more about internal development. Also it hovers on the line between historical fiction and fantasy, and I'm not sure it quite lives up to either. The ending didn't really surprise me - there were enough clues along the way - and left me with more questions than answers about Boy and what would happen to him now. I enjoyed it fine as I was reading it, but upon further reflection I don't think it will have much by way of a lasting impression on me.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3.5 stars, more if there is a sequel. In so many ways, haven’t his troubles just begun?
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    A parable or a myth, this was an unexpected story. I was caught by surprise by its ending so don't plan to précis the story. I almost didn't review this book because I was so undecided how to evaluate it. It is not one I would choose to read to a child or recommend to the YA reader. That's quite a biased commentary, but the story was often murky for me. Normally I'm very fond of quests and journeys like this one.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Boy, a hunchback goatherd, is taken into service by a pilgrim in his way to Rome. The pilgrim is on a quest to recover seven relics of St. Peter, and needs Boy to help him. Along the way, the reader will learn that both travelers have their secrets...I very much enjoyed this medieval quest tale. It's a quick read with some lovely moments and an interesting twist (I thought I knew Boy's secret after the second chapter, but as it turns out, I was quite wrong!). I'm not sure how much appeal it will have for kids, but it would make a good readaloud. And it's definitely the sort of book I'd recommend to adults who enjoy the occasional juvenile title.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Although packaged as a medieval quest book for children, this is basically a modern religious parable set in 1350 (specifically a Roman Catholic parable).It really is just a pilgrimage tale set in a world where heaven, hell and saints are all very real.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Set in the Europe of the Middle Ages, this is the story of a hunchback boy, the pilgrim who takes him into his service, and heir trip from France to Rome (with many stops in between). But it's also about secrets and mysteries, heaven and hell, angels and demons, and miracles of all sorts, both supernatural ones and - the best kind, really - beautiful, everyday ones. Highly, highly recommended.