Although the consensus seems to be that a more fitting title would be The Unfortunate Cover, don’t let the front of the book prevent you from reading it. It. Is. Awesome.

Luc seems like the unluckiest guy of the century (16th century, that is). Born with one ear to a count who doesn’t want him, he grows up in an olive grove thinking the drunk, hateful man raising him is his real father. When he is apprenticed to an old fisherman named Pons and lives with Pons, his sister Mattie, and their beautiful surrogate daughter Beatrice, Luc thinks his luck might finally be changing. Along with his dog Cadeau, they all live on the coast in a charming cottage filled with Mattie’s whimsical wooden carvings. But one day while fishing Luc is captured by pirates and sold as a slave to a master in Tunisia. Is it possible that this could be the best luck of his life?

When Luc is kidnapped, the story splits into two strands, alternating between Luc’s journey and the lives of Beatrice, Mattie, and Pons. Beatrice has her own twisted family history, and she begins to see that her story and Luc’s may be more intertwined than she ever realized. Can she convince someone with money and power to take on the costly search for Luc? Will their paths bring them back together?

This one is a page-turner. My favorite parts were reading about Luc’s life in his master’s house in Tunisia. And the ending is fabulous - it leaves a lot to your imagination. If you like historical fiction, especially Karen Cushman’s books, you’ve got to make this your next pick. ( )

This was wonderful. The writing is top-notch. The historical setting is meticulously researched, and Leeds gives the reader an interesting look into 15th century France. But it's not an exciting swashbuckling tale, as the kidnapped by pirates part might suggest. He doesn't even get kidnapped until __. That's not to say that it's boring. There's a little bit of a mystery involving Luc's parentage, there's the hope/effort to reunite Luc with his adopted fisherman family, there's the quest for survival in a new place as a slave, etc. Leeds creates meaningful relationships with fully fleshed-out characters. I became fully invested in these people and their stories. I didn't want to say goodbye. I also loved the themes Leeds delved into (and how she addressed them)--destiny, luck, attitude, perception. Does Luc's ear make him lucky or unlucky? Is Luc's fortune determined by exterior circumstances or his own attitudes and decisions? ( )

I read this book becaue Betsy Bird mentioned it on her blog as a possible Newbery Award winner. It has possiblities, but I don't see the writing as strong as other possiblities. The premise is interesting. A boy born with no ear, is taken in by a fisherman, his sister and the young girl the sister was was nursemaid to. Luc, while fishing with the old French fisherman is taken by pirates and sold in Tunisia, where he learns medical skills from his master. It is a page turner and will keep you reading until the end to discover Luc's fate as well as the young girl, Beatrice. ( )

Note: I'm going to describe the whole plot here -- I don't think this story would be diminished by reading a spoilery review, but if you're sensitive about that sort of thing, you may want to skip to the final paragraph.

Unfortunately, Luc is born with only one ear. He grows up as the son of a cruel and bitter olive grower. Fortunately, Luc finds his way to the home of Pons, Mattie, and the lovely Beatrice, who welcome him with warmth and kindness. Unfortunately, Luc is captured by Saracen pirates one day, and is taken as a slave to northern Africa. Fortunately, he catches the eye of a scholarly gentleman, who takes him in and treats him well, even teaching him to read. Unfortunately, the old gentleman is nearing the end of his life. Fortunately, Beatrice is determined never to give up hope of Luc's return. Unfortunately, she is the daughter of a disgraced nobleman who was killed before her very eyes by Count de Muguet. Fortunately, the old count is now dead, and his son is a more kind and just man. He takes an interest in Beatrice, restoring her to her father's lands when he discovers that her father was killed unjustly -- and he takes up the search for Luc, since it means so much to her. Unfortunately, it's not an easy thing to find a slave in northern Africa, even one with just one ear . . . especially if the slave's master does not want the slave to be found. Fortunately, Luc eventually hears of the search for him. He has promised to stay with his master until the end of the master's life, but when the man dies, Luc returns to Beatrice, Pons, and Mattie. There, he discovers that the cruel olive grower was not his biological father: Luc was the second son of Count Muguet, sent away because the count could not bear to raise a son with such an obvious physical imperfection. Now Luc and Beatrice are together once again, both returned to their proper positions. Luc's life has been full of ups and downs . . . but does that really make him The Unfortunate Son?

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. The dialogue seemed a little stilted, to me -- a stylistic choice that might not bother other readers. There is also some ambiguity at the story's end, and I found myself wishing for more concrete answers about certain characters and relationships. I also felt a sense of distance between myself as the reader, and the characters in the story. I never really connected emotionally with any of them. Again, this could be more my fault than the fault of the book . . . so if the plot sounds intriguing, I would encourage you to pick it up and give it a try! ( )

Constance Leed’s latest book supports the old adage that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Despite its amateurishly illustrated cover, ‘The Unfortunate Son’ is an engaging adventure story about Luc, the son of a French nobleman who, for reasons explained within, is raised as an olive farmer and then a fisherman. Captured by Barbary pirates and sold as a slave to a doctor in Tripoli. From there, the story alternates between Luc’s life as a slave and the efforts of his friends and family to find him and bring him home.

At the risk of alienation young readers, there is much to be learned from Luc’s adventures. Foremost is that provides a fascinating contrast between life and learning in the Christian and Islamic worlds in the closing days of the Dark Ages. It is all too common for us to believe that throughout history the Europeans were the enlightened cultures and that Africa and the Middle East was backwards and ignorant. This is not the case as Leed’s well researched second novel demonstrates.

I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that I finished it far too quickly.

I obtained the copy of the book I read from my local library. ( )