About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with their identity or feels like an outsider in a world divided by rigid labels and conflict. Set in 12th-century Jerusalem during the Crusades, it follows 16-year-old Pagan Kidrouk, a street-smart orphan who becomes a squire to a stoic Templar Knight. Despite the heavy historical setting, the story is driven by Pagan's hilarious, cynical, and deeply relatable voice. It explores the power of unlikely friendships and the search for a moral compass when surrounded by religious and political turmoil. Parents should note that while the humor is high, the book contains realistic medieval violence and mature themes regarding war and religious hypocrisy. It is a brilliant choice for a reader who appreciates wit but needs a story about finding one's own path and a place to belong.
