Escape to Ponti

A boy in medieval Italy flees his cruel master and strikes out for freedom. Faced with being publicly branded by Malaspina, his bad-tempered master, 14-year-old Bec musters his wits, strength, and agility for a daring escape to the forest, planning to make his way south to Ponti. Bec, whose mother has died and whose father is unknown, counts horses and dogs as his best companions and is prepared to make the perilous journey alone. But a chance encounter with a black-haired boy wearing a gold earring results in the two renegades deciding to travel together. Tien Nu, whose Chinese father came from Samarkand and whose mother came from "Alessandria" in "Africa," is an entertainer who juggles and tumbles--and he carries a heavy secret. Tien Nu teaches Bec some tricks of his trade as they get lost in mysterious tunnels, perform acrobatics and illusions at a wedding, and stay just a few steps ahead of Malaspina, who's placed a bounty on Bec's head. Short chapters keep the story moving, with narrow escapes, a dead body, and several bloody battles along the way, while family mysteries are untangled more gently. The characters speak in a casual, modern style, which occasionally distracts but overall reads well. Caparo's beautifully detailed graphite pencil and digital illustrations add to the enjoyment. Hold on to your tunic and truncheon in this action-filled adventure. (map, author interview) (Fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.