NO ESCAPE FROM THE ALHAMBRA

A teen’s school trip takes a literal approach to hands-on learning in this translated title from Germany.

Boston is a short, blond German boy being raised by a struggling single mom; he was named after the hometown of the American father who doesn’t know of his existence. On a class trip to Spain, he’s occupied with seeing the sights and trying to fit in with cooler classmates who mock him. While in search of a birthday present for his mother, Boston touches a magical tile and is transported to the year 1492, just as Queen Isabella has decreed that Jewish residents of Granada must convert to Catholicism or leave—without any of their belongings. Amid this religious persecution, Boston encounters some unlikely friends and must find a way to return home before it’s too late. Boie skillfully interweaves historical facts, creating a novel that gives equal attention to the three religious communities of 15th-century Spain. The language used by Moorish characters, who frequently refer to Christians as pork-eaters, unfortunately feels caricatured at times. However, the individual characters are developed sufficiently to move the largely predictable plot forward. Boston consistently seems to be at the mercy of other characters, always getting rescued from hopeless situations. This ineptitude comes off as slightly unbearable instead of endearing. Still, the novel’s compelling side characters and well-researched historical backdrop are redeeming enough to make it attractive for fans of this genre.

A straightforward time-travel story that never quite fulfills its potential.