Name: The Unfortunate Son
ISBN: 9780670013982

Constance Leeds

Luc, a youth born with one ear and raised by a drunken father in 15th-century France, finds a better home with fisherman Pons, his sister Mattie and their ward Beatrice, the daughter of a disgraced knight, and even after being kidnapped and sold into slavery in Africa, he remains remarkably fortunate.

The Unfortunate Son

Amanda Kordeliski

** spoiler alert **
           There will be spoilers in this review.


I enjoyed this story for the most part but looking at it critically I have several issues. Salah is supposed to be one of the most well traveled and well educated men in all the world. Versed in philosophy, medicine, astronomy as well as many other things yet all the way to the end of his life he strongly believes in slavery and mocks Luc for remembering his life among the "infidels" before he was a slave. I find it a difficult pill to swallow in a children's book that one of the messages I feel is conveyed is that as long as you believe you are doing something that will better a person, the ends justify the means. Yes, Luc can read and write and speak another language after he was stolen into slavery but does that mean his life was not of value before? Salah thinks so and in the end I believe Luc believes so as well. Luc equates the fact that because now he wants something different out of life than to be a fisherman, it was ok that he was kidnapped and sold. 

I also took issue with the fact that Salah KNOWS Bes is mistreating Luc the entire time and justifies the behavior because Bes felt his place in the household was threatened.

This story is as much about Beatrice as Luc and I did not have issue with her story until the last few pages. When Beatrice goes to the castle and all is revealed I was left with uncomfortable questions. Clearly the Count was half in love with Beatrice and knew she cared for Luc. How is this going to work now that Luc is back and better than ever? 

I really did like the story. Reading this story or recommending it to a middle school child gives me pause unless I think they are able to think critically enough to evaluate all aspects of the book, including the fact that they do not portray slavery in a poor light at all.

The Unfortunate Son

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