Brother Edik discovers Beatryce snuggled up with a demon goat in the barn of the monastary. As surprised as he is at her sudden appearance, he is even more surprised when he discovers that she can read and write. It doesn't take Edik long to piece together that this is the girl in the prophecy that is supposted to bring a great change in the Kingdom. In a bid to keep her safe at the monastery, he shaves her head and dresses her as a boy. The disguise doesn't last long, and soon she is on the run with a village orphan, and the cantakerous goat.
DiCamillo is a master word crafter and this is a thoroughly lovely story. It reminds me of The Book of Boy, by Catherine Murdock, in that is draws from medieval Christian tradition without mocking it. DiCamillo revisits some of her favorite themes--storytelling, family, identity and fierce devotion--but expresses them with a fresh setting and thoroughly sympathetic characters. This is definitely one I will be recommending to young readers. (2021, 265 p)
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