The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz illuminated by Hatem Aly*

This story, told by the Inquisitor, takes place during the High Middle Ages when King Louis the IX reigned.  Three children with Brother Michelangelo travel the countryside to save Talmuds from being burned by the King and his mother, Blanche of Castile.   Jeanne, a peasant who has visions; William a monk with supernatural strength who has origins from Africa; and Jacob a Jewish boy who can heal wounds ban together despite different religious beliefs and ethnicity and must face some challenging foes and most of all, the difficult, sometimes heart-wrenching, situations life brings.
This book will arouse questions about God and human nature.
This book is full of adventure and suspense with sprinkles of humor and several douses of grief.
Some of the events are based on true historical happenings; other events are taken from legends and the rest are fiction.
Mr. Gidwitz spend six years researching this book!  It is an amazing work of art.
*I highly recommend it but parents should be warned about these aspects (I won't be allowing my fourth grader read for a bit.): swearing (especially when there is a crass character; when referring to William's donkey); Someone calls William a bastard and his mother harlot.  Jacob questions God and his goodness and sovereignty.  Some people die.  Some people are very cruel.