The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz
Illustrator: Hatem AlyPublished: September 2016
Publisher: Dutton Books
Length: 353 pages
Genre: Middle grade historical/speculative fiction
★★★★½
1242. On a dark night, travelers from across France cross paths at an inn and begin to tell stories of three children. Their adventures take them on a chase through France: they are taken captive by knights, sit alongside a king, and save the land from a farting dragon. On the run to escape prejudice and persecution and save precious and holy texts from being burned, their quest drives them forward to a final showdown at Mont Saint-Michel, where all will come to question if these children can perform the miracles of saints.
Join William, an oblate on a mission from his monastery; Jacob, a Jewish boy who has fled his burning village; and Jeanne, a peasant girl who hides her prophetic visions. They are accompanied by Jeanne’s loyal greyhound, Gwenforte . . . recently brought back from the dead. Told in multiple voices, in a style reminiscent of The Canterbury Tales, our narrator collects their stories and the saga of these three unlikely allies begins to come together.
Genre and Religion
I debated for awhile about what genre to label this book. Speculative fiction is an apt descriptor. But I don’t want to dismiss the historical aspect of the tale – it certainly feels more historical than speculative, despite elements such as a dragon, super strength, and prophetic visions. The presence of a dragon makes me happy to call this book fantasy, though again I hesitate to call a story so grounded in historical religious practices mere ‘fantasy’. (All that being said, I’ve decided it’s fantasy enough for Wyrd and Wonder :P)
The Inquisitor’s Tale tackles a unique subject by making medieval religious beliefs and debates play a central role in the character’s lives and in the plot. In a sensitive moment before the children make their daring attempt to rescue Talmuds destined to be burned, they pray together. William asks whether they should say a Jewish prayer or a Christian one and Jacob responds, “I don’t think it matters” (259). William prays aloud as the three close their eyes, saying, “O Lord God, we have tried to hear Your voice above the din of other voices”. This scene reminded me that the story is not just about three children finding themselves in trouble, but rather about them being saints and acting in the name of God. The idea that the children are heretically magical rather than spiritual can be attributed to the titular Inquisitor – note his subtitle “Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog”. This is the main reason why I wouldn’t label this book pure fantasy.
Narrative Voice
The Inquisitor’s Tale features a distinct narrative structure, modeled on The Canterbury Tales. The framing narrator (who readers can infer is the titular Inquisitor, though this isn’t confirmed until late in the story) has a telling, observant adult voice – the only first person perspective in the novel. I feel like it’s a risk for an author to tell a story entirely from adults’ perspectives (the children never narrate), but I remember, when I was a middle grader, loving when adult voices played a role in my books. The Inkheart trilogy still stands out as the first books I read where I really felt the author wasn’t writing down to me, because she made her grown ups complex and imperfect. However, there’s a lot more adult voice in The Inquisitor’s Tale than in any other middle grade novel I’ve read. At times I felt I was reading an adult book that was about children. I wonder how much the adult voices appeal to young readers, or whether they may be alienating and unrelatable. The children feel more distant from the reader than the narrators.
Plotting/Twists
Gidwitz is one of those talented writers than can drop a dramatic moment into the story without warning, creating moments where I gasped reading a single sentence that transformed the scene from what I expected into something completely different. Writers who fail at this trick often have me rolling my eyes and wondering when they will get on with it. Not so in this book – instead, I think “OH SNAP” and grip the book a bit tighter. One major twist in particular I did not anticipate at all. I laughed at how well done it was. Another unexpected moment had me nearly tear up. Gidwitz has a good grip on how to pace key moments to keep your on your toes and to drive emotional impact.
Humour
Jeanne said, almost to herself, “We’re going to steal from the king?”
“And die,” Jacob added. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to die, too.” (196)
One episode in the book features a farting dragon. I initially rolled my eyes at that. If there is one thing that separates what I appreciate in children’s literature and what children appreciate, it is potty humour. But I actually found myself laughing out loud at how Jeanne and Jacob defeat the dragon (148). The humour in The Inquisitor’s Tale is often wry and downbeat or self-defeating – my kind of humour.
Book Design
Finally, the book design enhances The Inquisitor’s Tale. The dust jacket of the sturdy hardcover has touches of shimmering gold, an embossed title, and simple yet creative illustrative touches such as the stylized I of Inquisitor’s and the leafy border. This jacket gives a good impression of the art within the text. I estimate that at least half of the spreads in the book have an illustration.
The Bottom Line
A unique middle grade offering deserving of its 2017 Newbery Honour, The Inquisitor’s Tale might appeal to fans of fantasy epics, even if it is ‘fantasy lite’.
Further Reading
- Author website
- Illustrator website
- Read an excerpt
- Interview with Gidwitz and Aly @ Jewish Book Council
- Review by Briana @ Pages Unbound
- Review by Heidi @ Geolibrarian
- Review @ New York Times
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