Summary:
The subtitle of this book is Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, which pretty much is an accurate depiction of the premise behind Gidwitz's novel. The Inquisitor's Tale is comprised of excerpts told by a somewhat extreme cast of characters who all contribute what they know to the overall bigger story of three "saints," as they are often referred to by the storytellers and their reincarnated (or resurrected) saint of a dog, Gwenforte. The unlikely trio of acquaintances turned friends is William, a dark-skinned boy educated in the monastery, Jeanne, a young girl with gifts that allow her to predict some of life's more scary happenings, and Jacob, a Jew whose village was burned down. These friends embark on a wild, crazy journey filled with action, a farting dragon, giants, witch hunts, and more. Find out what happens when you check out The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz today, available in your library and on Overdrive as an audio book today!
Personal Reflections:
I found this story to be a humorous tale in true Canterbury Tales fashion, although I will have it noted that the story line was completely different. I liked how all of the pieces of the story seemed to come together in the end. I'll admit I found myself wondering exactly when and how this would happen at times. I listened to the book on Overdrive and really enjoyed the cast of characters who performed the reading. It was more like listening to a play than listening to an audio book. Very well read. The most humorous part had to do with the farting dragon, whom Jacob was commissioned to "heal" from sickness, which turned out to be smelly farts that killed (or knocked out) upon contact. I think Gidwitz showed his creativity and boyishness with that part. Overall, I would give it four out of five stars, as some parts were a little on the let's-get-to-the-point side. Still, I'd count it a worthwhile read. Check it out at your library!
