The Inquisitor's Tale

Publisher's Weekly review is spot-on. On a dark night in 1242, travelers gather at a small French inn. It's the perfect night for a story, and it seems everyone has a tale to tell that adds to everyone's fascination with three extraordinary children accompanied by a saintly dog. Are the stories true? And how does everyone at the inn know all this, anyway? There is so much to love about this book–the rich characters, the layers of stories, the descriptions of life in the Middle Ages, the explorations of faith and love, the laugh-out-loud moments, and like so many adored books, the way the ending makes you love it even more. Gidwitz includes an extensive author's note about what is true and what is made up in the story and an annotated biography if you want to learn even more. Plus, in true Middle Ages style the book is illuminated with intriguing and enlightening illustrations. I hope the critics are right and it is destined to become a classic of children's literature.