Adam Gidwitz is the author of the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling Grimm trilogy. He spent six years researching and writing The Inquisitor's Tale, including a year living in Europe. Adam lives with his family in Brooklyn, NY. Find Adam online at adamgidwitz.com or @AdamGidwitz. Hatem Aly is an Egyptian-born illustrator whose work has been featured on television and in multiple publications worldwide. He currentlylives in New Brunswick, Canada, with his wife, son, and more pets than people. Find him online at metahatem.com or @metahatem.
"What Gidwitz accomplishes here is staggering. 'The Inquisitor's
Tale' is equal parts swashbuckling epic, medieval morality play,
religious polemic and bawdy burlesque, propelling us toward a
white-knuckle climax where three children must leap into a fire to
save...a Talmud. And yet, the rescue of this single book feels like
higher stakes than any world-incinerating superhero battle. Part of
this is because 'The Inquisitor's Tale' is dense with literary and
earthy delights, including Hatem Aly's exquisite
illustrations, which wrap around the text as in an illuminated
manuscript."--New York Times Book Review
"Adam Gidwitz mingles earthy humor and high culture in
The Inquisitor's Tale, a medieval story that unfurls
Chaucer-style, with revelers in an inn taking turns to explain why
the king of France is trying to hunt down three child-saints and
their holy dog. Hatem Aly's marginal illuminations add
sparkle to this novel for 11- to 16-year-olds."--Wall Street
Journal, "Best Books of 2016" "Three children persecuted for
their religious beliefs band together to fight intolerance--and
save their necks--in this fascinating story set in 13th
century France."--People "It's no surprise that Gidwitz's
latest book has been likened to The Canterbury Tales,
considering its central story is told by multiple storytellers. As
each narrator fills in what happens next in the story of the three
children and their potentially holy dog, their tales get not only
more fantastical but also more puzzling and
addictive. However, the gradual intricacy of the story that is
not Gidwitz's big accomplishment. Rather it is the complex themes
(xenophobia, zealotry, censorship etc.) he is able to bring up
while still maintaining a light tone, thus giving readers a chance
to come to conclusions themselves. (Also, there is a farting
dragon.)"--Entertainment Weekly, "Best MG Books of
2016"
"Gidwitz continues to toy with narrative in a well-researched
and rambunctiously entertaining story that has as much to say about
the present as it does the past...The tale that comes into
focus is one of religious persecution and faith, friendships that
transcend difference, and a dangerously flatulent dragon--Gidwitz
continues to have no problem mixing high and low."--Publishers
Weekly, starred review "It is a time of miracles and saints, of
fiends and dragons, all of which Gidwitz has meticulously teased
from legends and histories of the Middle Ages...Gidwitz proves
himself a nimble storyteller as he weaves history, excitement, and
multiple narrative threads into a taut, inspired
adventure."--Booklist, starred review "Gidwitz strikes
literary gold with this mirthful and compulsively readable
adventure story set in medieval France...While the three
protagonists initially come together out of necessity, the
heartwarming friendship they form celebrates a common humanity
that transcends the bounds of race, religion, and social class.
The author creates a richly designed medieval world, filled
with imperious knights, farting dragons, foreboding forests, and
soulless fiends, in which nothing is as it seems, including the
tellers of the tales...Gidwitz's lighthearted touch nonetheless
provides for insightful commentary on the dangers of
narrow-mindedness and zealotry that will resonate with modern
readers. A masterpiece of storytelling that is addictive and
engrossing."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Gidwitz's
tale of medieval France successfully combines the epic with the
personal, aiming for that heartstopping moment when
characters readers have come to care about find themselves on a
collision course with one of the great woodchippers of history--the
Inquisition, agents of which are in hot pursuit of three underdog
characters (and one actual dog) from the very start...This book
appeals to the heart, to the mind, and to any reader's appetite
for action read it for the thrilling escapes, the fart jokes,
the stinky cheese, or the palace intrigue. Read it for the Talmudic
wisdom, commonsense philosophies, and moments of doubt. Read it for
the palaces and monasteries and the unbelievable descriptions of
food. But read it."--School Library Journal, starred review "An
ambitious mash-up of medieval saints' lives, the Joan of Arc
legend, thirteenth-century French history, and elements of The
Canterbury Tales...Gidwitz presents moral issues that are
currently relevant, and gives several theological arguments about
good and evil a brisk, accessible airing. Scatological
humor, serious matter, colloquial present-day language, the ideal
of diversity and mutual understanding--this has it all."--The
Horn Book, starred review "Cleverly crafted...Six years of
extensive research and a natural storyteller's gift shine in
[Gidwitz's] spiffily spun novel...Over-the-top skirmishes,
comical triumphs over thugs, unlikely allies, religious
persecution, stinky French cheese, noble acts of bravery,
deep-seated emotion, profound theological questions--and a fatally
flatulent dragon--intermingle in this suspenseful novel set
in a medieval world where atrocities are committed in the name of
God. In the style of "illuminated" medieval texts, Egyptian-born
illustrator Hatem Aly illuminates Gidwitz's story with whimsical
black-and-white drawings that enliven this philosophical
swashbuckler."--Shelf Awareness, starred review "This 'Canterbury
Tale'-style masterpiece is serious, scatological, violent,
funny, philosophical and timely."--San Francisco Chronicle,
gift guide
"The children are like none we've met before: so dignified, so
self-sufficient, so, well, medieval. And yet, they are funny,
intensely real and believably brave...Gidwitz and
illustrator Hatem Aly breathe life into a tale that you won't soon
forget."--Chicago Tribune
"Gidwitz paints a vivid image of medieval France, and his
mix of heart and humor makes this book an utterly magical read.
Who else could weave a tale of acceptance, love and hope, complete
with farting dragons?"--San Diego Union Tribune
"Brimming with action, history, humor and much more, Gidwitz has
crafted a masterfully seamless novel that is
thought-provokingly relevant, making this selection
nothing short of brilliant."--Books to Borrow, Books to
Buy
"Whimsical and winding...One of the most interesting parts of this
story is the message it teaches: A story is established that brings
together three characters from very different backgrounds. At first
there is conflict between them, but the characters learn to work
together. With the conflict in the current political atmosphere,
perhaps this is something even adults could stand to
learn."--Denver Post
"Game-changing...I have never read a book like this. It's
weird, and unfamiliar, and religious, and irreligious, and more fun
than it has any right to be...As I write this review in 2016 and
politicians bandy hate speech about without so much as a blink,
I can't think of a book written for kids more timely than
this...As for the writing itself, that's what you're paying
your money for at the end of the day. Gidwitz is on fire here,
making medieval history feel fresh and current."--Betsy
Bird, A Fuse #8 Production "[An] exciting adventure
story...Just as medieval manuscripts had illuminated drawings,
great illustrations go hand-in-hand with the story.
Gidwitz finds a way to make the Dark Ages not so dark but
exciting and full of mystery."--The Clarion Ledger, holiday
gift guide
"The Inquisitor's Tale is a well-researched and thoroughly
engaging adventure, which beautifully imagines the feel and
texture of thirteenth-century France. It is also a moving
exploration of friendship, curiosity, and love of learning in a
world all too filled with narrow-mindedness and
hate."--Sarah Lipton, professor of medieval history at
SUNY, Stony Brook Accolades for A Tale Dark & Grimm New York
Times bestseller
Selection on the Today Show's Al's Book Club for Kids
NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Selection
An E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book
New York Times Editors' Choice pick
Publishers Weekly Flying Start
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
ALA Notable Book
"Unlike any children's book I've ever read . . . [it] holds up to multiple re-readings, like the classic I think it will turn out to be." --New York Times Book Review "A marvelous reworking of old stories that manages to be fresh, frightening, funny, and humane." --Wall Street Journal
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