This was not what I expected. I picked it up after it had received a Newbery Honor this year. It was a story set in the 1300's in Europe during a time when a plague was spreading all over and there were no strong governments in the countries. A young "boy" is taken off his farm where he works as a shepherd and is put to work for a pilgrim traveling to Rome. Interesting, neither person is who they seem. The traveler, Secundus, has escaped from the underworld and is trying to get to Heaven. Boy is helping him with his quest to find (or steal) seven items in the hopes that he, too will be granted his greatest wish, which is to be a real boy, and not an angel! It was full of adventure, but also a lot of biblical references and vocabulary which may be confusing for young readers. (FIC MUR)
