Kathryn Erskine (Children's Literature)
A rollicking fun ride through the post-Medieval countryside and seas, this fast-paced novel is a gripping read that is hard to put down. We join the story just as the noble knight Michael and somewhat reluctant squire Fisk rescue an innocent damsel in distress. Or is she innocent? Apparently not, as we soon learn, whereupon Michael and Fisk’s new quest is to bring the fugitive damsel to justice. Such is not an easy task when magic reigns throughout the kingdom and people are not necessarily who they seem to be. The colorful, clever vocabulary used to describe the places, creatures and seasons adds credence to the setting while still being easy to understand. While presenting alternating chapters as being narrated by the naïve, well-meaning Michael and the worldly, sarcastic Fisk, the author does an excellent job of gradually revealing the main story as well as the stories of the two young men. While none of the stories are overly serious in nature, there are plenty of serious messages underneath about honesty, loyalty, friendship, and growth. All of these are made more palatable by the humor, pace, and adventure of a wonderful read. An excellent pick for reluctant readers. 2007, Eos/HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 11 to 16.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 16))
Knights errant have been extinct for more than 200 years, but Sir Michael decides it is his chosen profession. With his trusty squire Fisk by his side, the two embark on their first assignment: Rescue a damsel in distress. After liberating the Lady Ceciel, Sir Michael and Fisk learn she was awaiting trial for allegedly poisoning her husband, Baron Mallory. Sir Michael's father Baron Seven Oaks becomes furious over the mix-up and demands that Sir Michael bring Lady Ceciel back for sentencing. Finding the illusive Lady Ceciel proves more difficult than expected, with the lady always one step ahead of them, slowing their progress. Eventually, Sir Michael is captured by Lady Ceciel and it's up to Fisk, a believer in non-violence, to rescue him. Their story unfolds alternately between them. The humorous dialogue and the friendship that develops between the two will make this magical medieval mystery a fun read with the ending open for a possible sequel. 2007, Eos/HarperCollins, 368p, $16.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 12 to 14. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Claire Rosser (KLIATT Review, July 2007 (Vol. 41, No. 4))
There is a knight, and there is a rogue, and they alternate narrating chapters, so we read Michael’s side of the story and also have Fisk’s take on events. Michael is a younger son of a nobleman who yearns for an adventurous life, so he fancies himself a knight errant. He joins up with a young con man, Fisk, and the two of them are quite a team. Their first adventure is freeing a woman from imprisonment--they are told that she has been unjustly treated. This escape starts the story off with a lot of excitement. Just as they are successful, they learn they have been conned themselves, that the woman is a murderer who has killed her own husband. The excitement and action build as Michael and Fisk risk their own lives to right the wrong they have committed. Horses, witchcraft, castles--all the accoutrements of a medieval epic--are part of Bell’s intricate, intelligent story, told for amusement. (A Knight and Rogue novel) Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2007, HarperCollins, Eos, 357p., $16.99. Ages 12 to 18.

Kirby Barnett (Kutztown Book Review, Spring 2008)
A knight and his squire rescue a lady being held prisoner in a tower only to discover that she is actually a murderer. The two are charged to re-capture her, or suffer the consequences. I loved this book. The two main characters make for a comedy that kept me laughing. The honorable knight and his dishonorable squire are constantly at ends about the best way to recapture the murderer. Also, the plot keeps moving and never drags, perfect for keeping the attention of students. Category: Fantasy. 2007, Harper Collins, $17.89. Ages 11 to 14.

Luke Arnold (Library Media Connection, February 2008)
This novel is equally filled with entertainment and valuable messages, and adolescent readers will enjoy both. The story, told in an alternating point of view, follows Sir Michael, a knight errant, and his squire, Frisk. These two teens become a unique pair of heroes. Michael hopes to revive the romantic ideals of the knight errant, while Frisk, in an effort to avoid imprisonment, becomes a reluctant squire. The adventure begins on a rainy night as Michael and Frisk rescue Lady Cecil from a tower. At first the heroes are quite proud of their efforts, but soon they learn that Lady Cecil is more than a damsel in distress, she is an accused murderer awaiting trial. Michael and Frisk race to recapture Lady Cecil. The story is told with fast-paced narration and action. Her use of magica (the author's version of magic) gives the story a fantasy-like feel. In the end, it is the friendship between Frisk and Michael that makes the story most interesting. Readers will gravitate to this relationship, and enjoy the themes of truth and friendship as much as the action. Recommended. 2007, Eos (HarperCollins), 368pp., $16.99 hc.. Ages 11 to 15.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2008)
Sir Michael, accompanied by mysterious squire Fisk, takes to the road to do good deeds. Their first act together is a daring rescue; unfortunately, the damsel they free is a murderess. Bell's plot is nicely inventive, and she writes with a robust cheer and a peppery sense of irony. Michael and Fisk are both appealing, as is the quasi-medieval, magical setting. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2007, HarperCollins/Eos, 357pp, 16.99, 17.89. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Megan Lynn Isaac (VOYA, October 2007 (Vol. 30, No. 4))
Half buddy novel and half chivalric quest, Bell's tale will appeal both to those who enjoy banter and to those who appreciate an adventure. As the youngest of four noble sons, Michael has limited options. Like Don Quixote, he idealistically decides to take up the long-outdated practices of a chivalrous knight. Squires being thin on the ground, Michael pays the debts of a young rogue and acquires his own Pancho Sancha-a reluctant young man named Fisk. Touched by the plight of a damsel imprisoned in a tower, Michael makes her secret rescue his first quest. The adventure goes beautifully until he and his squire are arrested for freeing a murderess awaiting trial. The two are sentenced to recapture the wicked damsel, Lady Ceciel. Their quarry turns out to be a woman of resources and a deep determination to retain her freedom. As the young men extract themselves from one dangerous trap after another, they begin to wonder if she may also be innocent. The adventures serve to strengthen the bond between the young men. Fisk begins to appreciate the code of honesty by which Michael lives just as Michael finds unexpected value in Fisk's many practical talents. This exchange of views is augmented by the fact that the novel alternates the first-person narration from both Michael's and Fisk's point of view. Yet in many episodes, their voices are difficult to distinguish, and this flaw marks the book's most notable weakness. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2007, Eos/HarperCollins, 368p., $16.99 and PLB $17.89. Ages 11 to 15.