The Unfortunate Son / Constance Leeds / 302 pages

Historical fiction set in 1500's France and Tunisia.  Luc is born without an ear and cast aside as an abomination by his evil father, the Duke.  Beatrice is left an orphan when the Duke publicly executes her father and her mother abandons her.  Beatrice is raised by her loving governess in a small fishing village while Luc is given to a family with an abusive father.  Eventually they meet and become good friends but then Luc is abducted by pirates and sold into slavery to a Muslim scholar.  A good story though it seems like two separate stories...before pirates and after pirates.  Readers will get a good view of the contrasts of the two cultures.  The ending leaves you thinking there will be a sequel.  Grades 5-7.