The Apprentice's Masterpiece

July 1, 2008
Gr 8 Up-In this novel set in 15th-century Spain at the time of the Inquisition, prejudice, bigotry, and ignorance destroy the peaceful coexistence of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The effects of this dismal history are dramatized in this story of two teensRamon, a Converso or converted Jew, and Amir, a Muslim who has been brought as a slave to Ramon's family. Written in prose poetry, the story's focus shifts from Ramon to Amir and then back to Ramon. Amir is treated by the Benvenistes as another son, making Ramon jealous and straining the relationship between them. Each teen has to make compromises in order to survive, and Ramon's choice estranges him from his father. Both protagonists demonstrate their courage as they struggle against the mortal danger in which they are placed. This riveting story is peopled by flesh-and-blood characters and replete with horrific historical detail. The challenging format renders it most appropriate for strong readers. This selection would be a good companion to Alice Hoffman's "Incantation" (Little, Brown, 2006) and Kathryn Lasky's "Blood Secret" (HarperCollins, 2004)."Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2008
The subject and the history are enthralling (the lives of secret Jews and Muslims at the time of the Spanish Inquisition in the latefifteenth century) in this tale ofRamon, 15, whose family members are conversos (Jews forced to convert to Christianity); and Amir, born Muslim, also forced to give up his faith, and taken in by Ramons family. Told inthe first-person, free-verse narratives of the young men, the storydepicts the horrifying atrocities committed in the name of Christianity--people burned alive, tortured, beheaded. At first Ramon is jealous of Amir, but in the end, the boyssave each other. Unfortunately, it all goes ontoo long, and the repetitive personal details overwhelm the drama of betrayal and loyalty. What will hold readers are the facts of daily life: what it was like to be young when there were spies everywhere, looking for "secret Jews, and heretics / Such monsters must burn."(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)