Lucas Blogs About The Book of Boy

All the chapters have these neat semi-medieval looking illustrations by 

So, what's this book's deal?

Remember that book The Inquisitor's Tale?

Indeed I do.

Well, this book is also aimed at teaching kids about medieval history and the role of religion therein.

You know kids today just can't get enough medieval history and theology.

Anyway, it follows the adventures of the eponymous Boy, a hunchbacked child who loves animals (and is able to conmmunicate with them). Boy is also deeply ashamed of his different body and believes himself to be a monster. He works as a goatherd at the estate of Sir Jacques, a knight who suffered a severe brain injury in a tournament. Anyway, one day a pilgrim named Secundus passes by and asks Boy to help carry his bindle (you'll find out why later). After essentially buying Boy's services from the estate's Cook in exchange for a promise to pray for her at a pilgrim site, Secundus proceeds to treat Boy with nothing but contempt until Boy begins proving to be helpful and resourceful. Boy sees this as a positive change in his employer, but the reader will likely see it as  manipulative behavior. Anyway, turns out that Secundus is winding his way across France and Italy with an aim to, shall we say, liberate seven relics of St. Peter in order to return them to his tomb in Rome.

To what end?

Well, I guess neither of the things I'm about to divulge is a SPOILER because it's revealed by the halfway point in the story. Okay, so Secundus was a third century Roman Christian who has managed to escape from Hell and believes he'll be able to earn his way into heaven by helping return the relics of St. Peter. Meanwhile, it turns out that Boy isn't a boy at all, he's an angel. He was raised by a priest (the now deceased Father Petrus) who warned him never to reveal his body to anyone because his hump (actually his bound wings) will make him prey to greedy relic hunters.

That's a little darker than I expected.

Father Petrus wasn't wrong, one of the main antagonists follows them from France to Rome with the stated goal of killing Boy and selling his body parts. Anyway, the book is about Secundus's quest for redemption and Boy's quest to become a real, live boy.

How did you come across this book anyway?

It was a recommendation when I was looking for kids' books to give out for Christmas. I knew I had to read it when I read these one star Amazon reviews that are very concerned that the book will spread heretical information about Catholic doctrine. Anyway, I don't know enough about Catholic theology to respond to those criticisms, but they do sort of miss the point. The actual point of the book is the progression that the characters make in their own personal journeys. Not to say that this is on the same level as Dante's Commedia—

Could you possibly have worked that in more pretentiously?

No. But the point is that Dante's vision of the afterlife is definitely not in line with Catholic doctrine, but that's beside the point, isn't it?

I suppose. So, what did you think of The Book of Boy?

It's pretty good. In addition to being an appealing protagonist, Boy is a good narrator. He's naïve enough that the reader can spot the ways that Secundus is using him before he does and his belief that he's some kind of monster makes him sympathetic. Speaking of Secundus, while I do think that Murdock does a good job of showing him gradually warming up to Boy and treating him with more respect, I'm not quite sure he's quite as far along the road to redemption as the book seems to imply. On the one hand, Murdock does make Secundus somewhat sympathetic because his end goal is to be reunited with his wife and son (Flavia and Lucius) in Heaven, on the other hand, we don't know why he was condemned in the first place. In any case, the novel largely works because of Boy's ingenuous nature. The story is episodic, but the episodes all add up to a larger, more satisfying story about a character making peace with who he is as he strives for a goal. There are plenty of daring escapades and even a few fart jokes to entertain younger readers with enough subtext about growing up to satisfy grown-ups who worry about what books teach kids.

What about the religious stuff?

Well, people who insist that books involving the Catholic Church adhere strictly to orthodox theology may be upset.

No, I mean, like, is the book religious propaganda?

Well, I suppose it does uncritically accept the proposition that Heaven and Hell are real places and that Christianity is more or less correct about what those places are like and that angels exist, etc. So, if you're worried about the book indoctrinating children with religious beliefs, you may not like it. I wouldn't say it's particularly preachy, and as a young adult book it's aimed at slightly more sophisticated readers. But it's also a fun adventure story. So, you know, if you're wondering if you should give it to a kid, give it a read and see what you think.

The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock illustrated by Ian Schoenherr, Greenwillow Books hardcover edition, 2018, 273 pages, pairs well with mulled wine and a cat curled up in your lap

Links:

Here's the author's website, if you're into that kinda thing.

Likewise, this is the illustrator's website, if you're into that kinda thing. (The illustrations are great, BTW, I forgot to mention them above, but they capture the tone and spirit of the setting quite well while also echoing medieval European artwork).

The book was also a Newbery Honor book last year. Seems legit.

Speaking of the Newbery Award, I vaguely remembered coming across an article questioning if it was out of touch with current trends in what kids like to read. I managed to find it, the link is this link. It's by Anita Silvey for School Library Journal.