First published 2020
Boy lives on the edges of his village, mocked for his hunched back and strange habit of speaking with animals. When a dark pilgrim called Secondus arrives, he notices Boy's skill at climbing and leaping. Secondus hires Boy as his servant for a journey across Europe to collect seven relics of Saint Peter. Boy soon discovers they are thieves, stealing sacred objects and making enemies at every turn. The pilgrimage grows more dangerous with each stolen relic, but Boy refuses to abandon the quest. He believes Saint Peter might possess the power to transform him into someone like the other village boys. As they race across medieval Europe with pursuers closing in, Boy must decide how far he will go for the chance to belong.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Europe
Period: Medieval
304 pages · Paperback · Greenwillow Books