Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Annick Press (2009), Paperback, 310 pages
Description
Tells the story of two teenage boys, one a converso and the other a Muslim, living in Spain during the Inquisition as their lives take very different paths when one is enslaved and the other is brought into the service of the Inquisitors.
Awards
Independent Publisher Book Awards (Gold — 2009)
Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award (Honour Book — 2009)
Next Generation Indie Book Awards (Finalist — Historical Fiction — 2008)
Middle East Book Award (Winner — Youth Literature — 2008)
Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People (Shortlist — 2009)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
Ramon is the son of a scribe in fifteenth century Spain. His family are conversos - Jews that converted to Christianity generations ago but are still suspect under Queen Isabella's Inquisition. Amir is a Muslim slave, given to Ramon's father as a gift. As the story unfolds, Amir's and Ramon's
Rich with historical detail, this novel in verse shows the Spanish Inquisition through the eyes of two very different boys. A prologue and epilogue contain background information on the Inquisition. Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
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stories will intertwine in ways they would never have predicted. Rich with historical detail, this novel in verse shows the Spanish Inquisition through the eyes of two very different boys. A prologue and epilogue contain background information on the Inquisition. Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
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LibraryThing member ChristianR
While this is historically quite educational, the voice doesn't sound true. Told in verse first by a boy in Spain whose family converted to Christianity from Judaism during the Spanish Inquisition, then by a Muslim boy, it introduces the reader to the terror and hopelessness of the conversos
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(converts) and non-Christians at the time before all non-Christians were ultimately tossed out of Spain. Although the Muslim boy, Amir, is supposed to be brave and noble while the converso boy, Ramon, is more cowardly, neither's distinct personality comes through. However, this book is a fine introduction to Spain and Christianity's terrible history during the Inquisition. Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
The metaphor with the falcon and Amir is spectacular. This book isn’t a “light” read, nor is it one that someone looking for something cheerful would read. It is well thought out and has some impressive messages. I don’t normally read books like this, and I was pleased. It wasn’t
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disappointing so much as you need a lot of previous knowledge to FULLY understand it. Also, Amir and Ramon tend to repeat themselves very frequently – the same information is given over and over with just slightly different wording each time. It was tiresome. We had to choose an independent novel for class and this jumped out at me because this particular copy had a spiral binding. After pulling it out and seeing that it was written in free-verse, I decided – why not? AHS/EK Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Excellent historical fiction set during the Spanish Inquisition.
ISBN
1554511909 / 9781554511907