The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz, Hatem Aly (Illustrated by)

Sit down, clear your mind of all notions, and commence reading a tale that combines magic, religion and more.  This tale is not like any you've read before.  After all, have you read a tale about a dangerous farting dragon?

Dutton Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 27th.

We begin with a baby that is left with a dogsitter.  A greyhound is left to protect the baby.  The dog kills a deadly snake.  The parents think the blood is the baby's and they kill the dog.  The baby is safe, the snake is dead, and the parents regret their action.  They bury the dog and soon it's got a reputation of being holy.  That's not the end of the story about the dog.

The girl has fits and sees the future.  The boy can heal with natural ingredients and his prayers.  The young monk has extraordinary strength. When soldiers come after them because of their magic talents, they run.  As they run, they band together and learn about each other.

This tale is told in pieces.  One person tells their part, then the next takes over.  As the tale goes along, the children get closer to the tavern where the tale is being shared.  Once they arrive, they want the books they left on the donkey.  Then they head for a haven that they might be safe in and they are saving the books so the King can't burn them.  What they don't know is that now they have a killer in their midst.

With talk about saints and holiness, the issue of Christians vs Jews, an African American monk, and dog that rose from the dead, there's plenty to wonder at and you have to learn to accept the impossible to read this book.  It's busy and it will keep you reading.  I'm not so sure about you believing the story.  But that's what fiction is for:  To take you away from your present world and entertain you in a new one.  This book does that.