Bank Street Best Books of the Year
Junior Library Guild selection
School Library Journal’s Best Books selection

“A timeless, smart take on a classic story.”–Booklist, starred review

“Compelling and full of adventure, with a plot as clever as its main character.”–Kirkus

“A witty, adventurous tale.”–School Library Journal

“…an enjoyable read that champions the shy, the brainy and the inquisitive.” –BookPage

A young squire tackles mysteries, monsters and magic, but the inept knight he serves takes the credit. Every time.

Squire is brainy, bookish, and terribly under-appreciated by the brawny, inept knight Sir Kelton, who somehow always gets all the glory. So when the two mismatched heroes find themselves in a cursed village plagued by a demonic dragon, Kelton rides off to slay it and Squire stays behind to catch up on some reading. But Squire starts to notice that something isn’t quite right about this town . . . Can he uncover its strange secrets?