Theresa Breslin is a popular children’s author whose books can be found lining school shelves as much as normal libraries. She has previously been awarded the Carnegie Medal (a well respected award for writing for young people) for her story ‘Whispers in the Graveyard’, a thoughtful and slightly fantastical book which, among other themes, explored the effects of dyslexia. ‘Prisoner of the Inquisition’ is her latest offering and has also been nominated for a Carnegie Medal. Could it repeat the success of her previous work?

The premise

In 1490s Spain the threat of the Inquisition hovers menacingly over the country. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are determined to unite their country in Catholicism. Zarita, daughter of her town’s magistrate, has always lived a carefree life. She anticipates marrying a titled youth fairly soon and managing her own household. However, one day she makes a terrible mistake. Can she ever put it right? Saulo, son of a beggar, is stunned when his father is brutally treated by the magistrate. He vows revenge on the whole family as he sold into appalling slavery. Meanwhile, the agents of the Inquisition arrive and the whole town is cast into a nightmare. How will Zarita and Saulo survive?

My thoughts

An immediate concern with historical novels is that the story may become overshadowed by the weight of historical detail as the writer crams all their research into pages bursting with historically accurate but mundane trifles. However, this is never the case with this story. The focus here is firmly on the characters, their feelings and growing maturity. Even when a particularly renowned historical figure appears (in 1492) he fits into the story and becomes a fully realised character. I felt that this was a real strength of the book.

The opening chapters are highly engaging. I thought this was good as, even though this is a children’s book, my attention was secured straightaway and I was genuinely interested in reading on. The book opens with a prologue which recounts a burning. The shocking nature of the event is skilfully emphasised by Breslin using short, sharp sentences. Although this event is naturally rather horrific, the detail is not excessively gory and I do not anticipate this frightening readers. Also, I have a very sensitive stomach and I was able to read this – and the rest of the book – without any difficulties, so I can’t imagine any stomachs being turned either.

As the burning happens two years earlier than the first chapter there is a sense of foreboding and suspense created. I was full of questions: Who is this? What will cause this? (I was impressed that my assumptions turned out to be not quite correct but still plausible.) The threat of this moment hangs over the rest of the book and helps to create a sinister mood that suits the developing storyline.

There is a great deal that happens in this book and I was slightly surprised to realise (when talking about the book with a colleague) just how much had happened in a mere 50 pages. The story did not feel overloaded by the plot, though; even though the chapters were nice and short the characters felt suitably developed. I liked the way they developed as a result of what happened to them. Furthermore, the issues established in the opening chapters are very relevant to what happens later on. I liked the way that, by the end of the story, all the threads of the tale had come together.

The consequences of Zarita’s mistake are serious and I thought that there was a good moral lesson contained within the story, which I have to confess I do like in children’s books. She gradually accepts the consequences and learns to realise that people are more complex than she initially assumes. This development is well handled by Breslin. Similarly, Saulo has to confront his own demons and consider the value of revenge. This is less well handled, especially as his moral development involves a great deal of talking to another character he barely knows about fairly personal matters. However, this is a very minor quibble and did not really affect my enjoyment of the story.

Something I found more irritating was the reinforcement of double standards. Zarita remains pure until she finds her one true love; Saulo is permitted (albeit in a throwaway sentence) to enjoy sensual delights before promising them to his true love. I suppose you couldn’t really write a different story set in the 1490s (Zarita’s astonishment when she is informed that it isn’t only sailors who visit the ‘ladies of ill-repute’ at the docks is quite amusing) but I felt that it was a little disappointing. In fairness, I don’t imagine this is something young readers will particularly notice.

With the exception of the prologue, the story is narrated in the first person by the two main characters. The two stories don’t overlap (so you get don’t get two perspectives on the same event) but at some points in the story they do ‘follow on’ directly from each other. It was always very clear who was speaking as the different narrators always had their own chapter and their names were clearly written at the top. I felt the transitions between the narratives were well handled and it allowed for a lot of suspense as there are cliffhangers everywhere. For instance, at the end of one chapter Saulo notes tantalisingly that he ‘still had the knife’. In adult fiction I tend to find such obvious cliffhangers rather clunky, but it does not bother me in the least in children’s fiction. In fact, knowing how many children I teach who claim that they can get bored half way through a book, I imagine a few cliffhangers are a very useful touch.

I liked the way Breslin handled the language of the characters. While some of them held impressively modern views regarding (for example) disability, there are enough touches of archaic phrasing in the dialogue to help the reader believe in the setting. Similarly, Zarita’s defiance of her father is convincing (and will surely help young readers to empathise with her) but the effects of it are appropriately limited.

A teenage viewpoint

My experience leading a teenage book group led to some interesting discussion regarding the two narrators. Saulo’s tale arguably contains more action and adventure; my boy readers found Zarita too passive and several stated that they thought the ‘real story’ was Saulo’s. These boys found themselves rushing through Zarita’s pages to get to the ‘more interesting’ story. The girls did not report a similar reaction; they found both narratives equally engaging.

This didn’t surprise me as it is a commonplace belief that boys prefer to read books with boys as the central character, while girls are happy to read books with male or female protagonists. I did, however, wonder whether the boys would have felt the same if the book had a different cover. The red dress and tagline ‘can she survive this time of fire and fury?’ do suggest that this book is aimed at a female readership. However, all the boys agreed that they liked the story and, in fact, some of them rated it very highly when we voted on the books they had read. This suggests that the book would suit girl and boy readers.

Conclusions

The story is easy to read as paragraphs and chapters are short but some of the vocabulary is quite challenging (‘sanctimonious’, ‘petulance’) so because of that and the subject matter I would recommend this to those who are 12+. The storyline is highly engaging and, helped by the dual narration, this should appeal to girls and boys. The atmosphere of 1490s Spain is skilfully evoked and the differences between then and now add to the interest of events without ever dominating the plot. The themes are very relevant to teenagers (such as learning to re-evaluate your family and take responsibility) and the moral heart of the book is clear without ever becoming irksome. I would definitely recommend this to young readers. Can it win the Carnegie? I would like it to and as would a few of my reading group. I think it could win and would be a worthy winner if it did. ( )

Prisoner of the Inquisition appears to be aimed at the teen market, although there is plenty for older readers to enjoy too. It tells the story of Zarita, the daughter of the town magistrate, and Saulo, the son of a beggar. After being thrown together at the beginning of the story, they follow their own paths before meeting again.

Saulo is taken to be a slave at sea, and during this time we see his character shaped by the events which happen to him, and the people he meets – including Christopher Columbus. Meanwhile, Zarita experiences the Inquisition in her town, something which the author describes vividly.

At the base of this tale is a love story, but it’s surrounded by the historical events and issues. The length and pacing of the book are both good, and should appeal to teens with limited time. Other historical novels I’ve read and seen seem to be fairly long, where this is a more average length. It’s also very gripping, and difficult to put down. It should provide a good introduction to historical fiction, whilst also sparking an interest in further research about the facts and time-period described.

Enjoyable historical YA fiction. Characters well-drawn and historical facts woven in convincingly. Slightly heavy on name-checking historical figures and multiple signposts for the consequently predictable ending (using the old switcheroo method). Engaging, but somehow not memorable. Shortlisted for the 2011 Carnegie Medal. ( )

Introducing the story is the vivid description of a woman being burned alive at the stake. This book tells the harrowing tale of life in Spain under Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in the 1490s when the Spanish Inquisition instilled fear in ordinary citizens. The beggar Saulo witnesses his father’s wrongful arrest and hanging. Swearing vengeance, he is dragged off into slavery and pursued by pirates at sea where he meets the ambitious Christopher Columbus. Privileged Zarita’s life intertwines with Saulo’s, taking various twists and turns until she is arrested by the Inquisition. It is a time when neighbour betrays innocent neighbour to save themselves from torture and, if decreed, the ultimate punishment.

Theresa Breslin has blended fact with fiction in a historical novel that is haunted by the opening description. Atrocious events depict the inhumanity and unbending horror of the Inquisition. The harsh brutality of people’s lives is brought home vividly and the reader is compelled onwards to reach the only logical conclusion to the events portrayed. ( )

Zaritia and Saulo find themselves connected by fate. Zaritia the only child of the wealthy town magistrate displease Father Besian who us the Inquisitor. Her father is not happy about the behaviour and she is sent to live in a convent with her aunt.

Saulo, a slave sailor, manages to escape an attack from Arab pirates to be given a second life and the chance of sailing with a famous explorer. Once back on dry land Saulo has a debt to settle, but people are not all the seem and his task takes a new turn.

A real page-turner, full of adventure and history. Although there are some gruesome undertakings, this is a wonderful read for teens over 13 ( )