The Book of Boy

By Catherine Gilbert Murdock

An outcast joins a perilous quest for relics, facing danger and secrets.

5.8/7 Bookroo expert·3.8/5 Goodreads · 4,199 ratings

278 pages· 45,408 words· Est. 5 hour read

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In medieval Europe, Boy, an outcast with a mysterious past, is drawn into a dangerous quest by the enigmatic pilgrim Secondus. Tasked with stealing seven sacred relics, Boy faces perilous enemies and moral dilemmas. As they journey, Boy wonders if the relics hold the power to change his fate and make him like other boys. Will he find acceptance, or will the quest lead to his undoing? This thrilling adventure promises unexpected twists and a search for belonging.

From the publisher

A Newbery Honor Book Booklist Editors’ Choice BookPage Best Books Chicago Public Library Best Fiction Horn Book Fanfare Kirkus Reviews Best Books Publishers Weekly Best Books Wall Street Journal Best of the Year An ALA Notable BookA young outcast is swept up into a thrilling and perilous medieval treasure hunt in this award-winning literary page-turner by acclaimed bestselling author Catherine Gilbert Murdock. The Book of Boy was awarded a Newbery Honor. “A treat from start to finish.”–Wall Street JournalBoy has always been relegated to the outskirts of his small village. With a hump on his back, a mysterious past, and a tendency to talk to animals, he is often mocked by others 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 action-packed and suspenseful expedition across Europe to gather seven precious relics of Saint Peter.Boy quickly realizes this journey is not an innocent one. They are stealing the relics and accumulating dangerous enemies in the process. But Boy is determined to see this pilgrimage through until the end–for what if St. Peter has the power to make him the same as the other boys? This epic and engrossing quest story by Newbery Honor author Catherine Gilbert Murdock is for fans of Adam Gidwitz’s The Inquisitor’s Tale and Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and for readers of all ages. Features a map and black-and-white art by Ian Schoenherr throughout.–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)