The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Boy, a goat herder, has spent his life being ridiculed for his hunchback.  When the Bubonic plague sweeps Europe during the 1300's , people are desperate for hope.  As a result many pilgrims travel to Rome to Saint Peter's tomb and Paul's grave to be healed or have prayers answered.  Boy, who can communicate with animals, joins Secundus, a pilgrim, in his journey to collect relics so he can enter heaven before he dies.  Adventure and mysteries abound as they make their journey together.
A fascinating story set in the Middle Ages.  Ms. Murdock really reveals the tone and attitude of this time period.  Well researched.
I was going to have my eleven year old read this book this coming school year, but after reading it, have decided against it.
Points to discuss/warnings: the power of relics; salvation via making pilgrimages; vulgarity-piss; Boy has no genitals and hopes that Saint Peter will heal him and make him a boy; thievery; the place hell is mentioned quite a few times (Secundus is from hell but escaped).