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The Unusuals
Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine shares a story of family, prejudice, faith, and unlikely friendship in medieval England, for every child who is more perceptive than they seem, and braver than they know.
Chera, Lummie, and Joan are unusual in medieval Winchester, England. Two girls and a boy, and two Jews and a Christian are not supposed to be friends. Most days, after their studies with Rabbi Baruch, they enjoy scaring themselves in the greatly feared nearby forest, home to ne’er-do-wells and sprites, where they make another unusual friend, a starving outlaw.
But the trio’s fun is shattered when Chera’s grandmother, a wealthy widow, and Joan’s mother, her maid, are murdered. Jurors name a suspect, who flees the city, and he may not have killed them anyway. Almost anyone could have, so just investigating isn’t enough. What’s more, the Unusuals are sure Lummie’s grandmother will be the next to die.
They concoct a perilous plan, which needs allies to succeed, but everyone else thinks their idea is dizzy—crazy. With lives in the balance, this trio of friends must band together against the odds and call on their unusual bonds to help seek justice.
Chera, Lummie, and Joan are unusual in medieval Winchester, England. Two girls and a boy, and two Jews and a Christian are not supposed to be friends. Most days, after their studies with Rabbi Baruch, they enjoy scaring themselves in the greatly feared nearby forest, home to ne’er-do-wells and sprites, where they make another unusual friend, a starving outlaw.
But the trio’s fun is shattered when Chera’s grandmother, a wealthy widow, and Joan’s mother, her maid, are murdered. Jurors name a suspect, who flees the city, and he may not have killed them anyway. Almost anyone could have, so just investigating isn’t enough. What’s more, the Unusuals are sure Lummie’s grandmother will be the next to die.
They concoct a perilous plan, which needs allies to succeed, but everyone else thinks their idea is dizzy—crazy. With lives in the balance, this trio of friends must band together against the odds and call on their unusual bonds to help seek justice.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Gail Carson Levine
59 books9,928 followersJust letting you all know: I'm only going to review books I love. There's enough negative criticism without me piling on. A book is too hard to write.
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Well... this was a bit of a disappointment. I grew up loving Gail Carson Levine. I still love her! But unfortunately I did not love this book.
The book leans heavily into historic realism when it comes to the racism that the Jewish people faced in the British middle ages. It made me feel entirely uncomfortable almost every page. Not only did it display the racism, but some words used just kind of took me back. It felt a lot heavier than a middle grade book with all the hatred and ignorance. I think the only thing keeping it out of New Adult was youth of the main characters.
I'll be honest. I gave this book a lot of tries. I put it down and picked it up about three or four times. Finally I said to myself, I am simply not the audience for this and DNF'D it.
Despite DNFing it I still give it two stars. The writing was incredibly well done, I just didn't enjoy the story. I know it sounds kind of wonky giving more than one star to a book you couldn't finish, but Gail Carson Levine is an absolute master of the craft, and so she really does have a way with words. Just not ones I could fall into this time.
Well... this was a bit of a disappointment. I grew up loving Gail Carson Levine. I still love her! But unfortunately I did not love this book.
The book leans heavily into historic realism when it comes to the racism that the Jewish people faced in the British middle ages. It made me feel entirely uncomfortable almost every page. Not only did it display the racism, but some words used just kind of took me back. It felt a lot heavier than a middle grade book with all the hatred and ignorance. I think the only thing keeping it out of New Adult was youth of the main characters.
I'll be honest. I gave this book a lot of tries. I put it down and picked it up about three or four times. Finally I said to myself, I am simply not the audience for this and DNF'D it.
Despite DNFing it I still give it two stars. The writing was incredibly well done, I just didn't enjoy the story. I know it sounds kind of wonky giving more than one star to a book you couldn't finish, but Gail Carson Levine is an absolute master of the craft, and so she really does have a way with words. Just not ones I could fall into this time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75 stars! The setting of this book was incredible! It reminded me a lot of Robin Hood with all the outlaws and the forest! I love how this book actually had things that they did in the medieval times, like placing day old bread for eating on and two diners sharing a bowl of food. And another awesome thing is that this book is based on a real story!
This book follows Chera, and her two friends Lummie and Joan who call themselves The Unusuals. After their studies most days they go to the forest to scare themselves, but one day someone actually scares them! They met an outlaw and they have tons of fun, until Chera's grandame is murdered. Now they have a murderer on the loose and are trying to figure out who it is!
When I first started reading this, I forgot it was a murder mystery. So, when the first murder happened, I was shocked! I do like mysteries though! I haven't read a mystery for a while, so I loved this!
Chera was such a great character! She didn't like it when she was cautious, but I liked that she was. There always needs to be someone who is cautious. Some of my favorite parts with her was when she was shopping in the market and getting bargains. One thing though, I didn't like when she stole the peppercorns even though she was doing to help her friend. Her two friends, Lummie and Joan, were good friends! Also, Joan better appreciate what good friends she had! Lummie and Chera were always paying Edme for her to go with them.
I like at the beginning of the book that there is a list of characters because I had to look at it several times to remember who this person was. There was a lot of characters to keep up with! It was very helpful having a list of characters! I haven't read a Gail Carson Levine book in a while, so it took a while for me to get used to the writing style. Once I got used to it though, I LOVED it! The ending was awesome! It was action packed (which I love), and everything finally fell together. When I was almost done with the book, I had a suspicion about who was the villain, but I was literally a chapter away from figuring it out.
The characters, setting, vibe, cover, and the time period was so perfect! I loved this book so much! I haven't read such a great middle grade historical fiction in forever.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the author for letting me read this!
This book follows Chera, and her two friends Lummie and Joan who call themselves The Unusuals. After their studies most days they go to the forest to scare themselves, but one day someone actually scares them! They met an outlaw and they have tons of fun, until Chera's grandame is murdered. Now they have a murderer on the loose and are trying to figure out who it is!
When I first started reading this, I forgot it was a murder mystery. So, when the first murder happened, I was shocked! I do like mysteries though! I haven't read a mystery for a while, so I loved this!
Chera was such a great character! She didn't like it when she was cautious, but I liked that she was. There always needs to be someone who is cautious. Some of my favorite parts with her was when she was shopping in the market and getting bargains. One thing though, I didn't like when she stole the peppercorns even though she was doing to help her friend. Her two friends, Lummie and Joan, were good friends! Also, Joan better appreciate what good friends she had! Lummie and Chera were always paying Edme for her to go with them.
I like at the beginning of the book that there is a list of characters because I had to look at it several times to remember who this person was. There was a lot of characters to keep up with! It was very helpful having a list of characters! I haven't read a Gail Carson Levine book in a while, so it took a while for me to get used to the writing style. Once I got used to it though, I LOVED it! The ending was awesome! It was action packed (which I love), and everything finally fell together. When I was almost done with the book, I had a suspicion about who was the villain, but I was literally a chapter away from figuring it out.
The characters, setting, vibe, cover, and the time period was so perfect! I loved this book so much! I haven't read such a great middle grade historical fiction in forever.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the author for letting me read this!
July 29, 2026
Thank you to Gail Carson Levine and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
This story is not a cozy, feel good read. Going into this book, I was anticipating more whimsy after reading in the description about the children, a forest and sprites. As an adult, this story was hard to get through because of its dark plot line. This story highlights medieval England with strong antisemitism.
I appreciate the author’s history lesson at the end of the book, and how the story was developed. It is well written and researched. I can’t imagine having read this as a middle grade student and am not sure my students would work through the book long enough to watch the mystery unravel.
This story is not a cozy, feel good read. Going into this book, I was anticipating more whimsy after reading in the description about the children, a forest and sprites. As an adult, this story was hard to get through because of its dark plot line. This story highlights medieval England with strong antisemitism.
I appreciate the author’s history lesson at the end of the book, and how the story was developed. It is well written and researched. I can’t imagine having read this as a middle grade student and am not sure my students would work through the book long enough to watch the mystery unravel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Richie’s Picks: THE UNUSUALS by Gail Carson Levine, HarperCollins/Quill Tree, September 2026, 336p., ISBN: 978-0-06-332511-1
“Decrees that ordered Jews to wear special badges for purposes of identification were not exclusive to the Nazi era. Over the course of more than ten centuries, Muslim caliphs, medieval bishops, and, eventually, Nazi leaders used an identifying badge to mark Jews. Decrees ordering identifying badges were rarely isolated acts. They were often part of a series of Anti-Jewish measures designed to segregate Jews from the rest of the population and reinforce their inferior status.”
– Holocaust Encyclopedia
“Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Livin' life in peace”
– John Lennon
“Two men sat on a bench outside the Grey Crane Tavern, holding tankards. One stuck his foot out to trip me, but I saw in time and swerved away. Did he do it to tease a Jew?
After I’d gone only a few more steps I heard a braying cry. ‘Is that Alice’s girl? Oho! Your companion is a boy!’
I ran back. Joan and Lummie faced the men outside the tavern. I stood with them.
The braying man smiled at her, revealing a chipped front tooth under a brown mustache that covered his upper lip. A sheathed sword lay across his lap.
I wished God would make Lummie’s and my Jew badges disappear.
‘Yes, Roger the Fighter,’ Joan said. ‘Alice is my mother.’
‘She’s a pretty lady. Tell her I said so.’ He patted the sword in his lap. ‘Tell her I’ll likely soon be fighting in Wales.’
Joan nodded.
Roger’s friend put down his tankard and stood. He proved to be tall and crooked, with his left shoulder stuck higher than his right. ‘Does your mother know you’re frollicking with Jews?’
‘Yes.’ Joan rose on her toes. I knew she was angry, and she was a spitfire like Grandame.
‘Leave the Jews, girl!’ Roger said. ‘It’s bad enough your mother works for one.’ He reached for her without standing up.
Joan jumped back. ‘I’d rather be with them than with either of you!’ She shouted for everyone to hear: ‘I like Jews!’
I ran again and Joan and Lummie followed. Shoemaker’s Street ended at the city’s north wall near Northgate, where I waited for them. We weren’t supposed to leave the city, but the streets weren’t comfortable for Jewish children. We’d played in the chalkland beyond the gate since last year.
No one was waiting at the gate (really a short tunnel). The toll had to be paid only to enter the city, and children didn’t have to pay at all. The tunnel stank of pigs, sheep, geese, and people who didn’t care much for bathing.”
The self-named group The Unusuals are this trio of super-close friends in 1277 Winchester England. Chera, the granddaughter of a widowed pawnbroker, is the story’s narrator. She’s Jewish, as is Lummie, the grandson of another widowed pawnbroker. Joan is the daughter of Alice, who is Chera’s grandmother’s Christian maid and confidante. Together, they’re the tightest of friends.
According to the author, Winchester, England was once known as the Jerusalem of the Jews in England. THE UNUSUALS is a captivating piece of historical fiction, set in 1277 Winchester, England, that revolves around a real, historic murder mystery.
“In 1277, the most significant and historically documented murders in Winchester, England, were those of the prominent Jewish businesswoman Licoricia of Winchester and her Christian servant, Alice of Bicton. The high-profile unsolved killings sparked a major medieval mystery and remain widely studied by historians. The attack occurred in the spring of 1277 at Licoricia's home on Jewry Street.”
— Google AI
The book contains a map and a Cast of Characters. (There are quite a few.) It’s important to keep everyone straight as you try to figure out who might turn out to be responsible for the murders.
THE UNUSUALS is both a very fun suck-you-in mystery read for tweens, and a disquieting lesson for young people about how anti-Semitism was and is a seemingly-never-ending prejudice, not just a Nazi-era blight on humanity.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“Decrees that ordered Jews to wear special badges for purposes of identification were not exclusive to the Nazi era. Over the course of more than ten centuries, Muslim caliphs, medieval bishops, and, eventually, Nazi leaders used an identifying badge to mark Jews. Decrees ordering identifying badges were rarely isolated acts. They were often part of a series of Anti-Jewish measures designed to segregate Jews from the rest of the population and reinforce their inferior status.”
– Holocaust Encyclopedia
“Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Livin' life in peace”
– John Lennon
“Two men sat on a bench outside the Grey Crane Tavern, holding tankards. One stuck his foot out to trip me, but I saw in time and swerved away. Did he do it to tease a Jew?
After I’d gone only a few more steps I heard a braying cry. ‘Is that Alice’s girl? Oho! Your companion is a boy!’
I ran back. Joan and Lummie faced the men outside the tavern. I stood with them.
The braying man smiled at her, revealing a chipped front tooth under a brown mustache that covered his upper lip. A sheathed sword lay across his lap.
I wished God would make Lummie’s and my Jew badges disappear.
‘Yes, Roger the Fighter,’ Joan said. ‘Alice is my mother.’
‘She’s a pretty lady. Tell her I said so.’ He patted the sword in his lap. ‘Tell her I’ll likely soon be fighting in Wales.’
Joan nodded.
Roger’s friend put down his tankard and stood. He proved to be tall and crooked, with his left shoulder stuck higher than his right. ‘Does your mother know you’re frollicking with Jews?’
‘Yes.’ Joan rose on her toes. I knew she was angry, and she was a spitfire like Grandame.
‘Leave the Jews, girl!’ Roger said. ‘It’s bad enough your mother works for one.’ He reached for her without standing up.
Joan jumped back. ‘I’d rather be with them than with either of you!’ She shouted for everyone to hear: ‘I like Jews!’
I ran again and Joan and Lummie followed. Shoemaker’s Street ended at the city’s north wall near Northgate, where I waited for them. We weren’t supposed to leave the city, but the streets weren’t comfortable for Jewish children. We’d played in the chalkland beyond the gate since last year.
No one was waiting at the gate (really a short tunnel). The toll had to be paid only to enter the city, and children didn’t have to pay at all. The tunnel stank of pigs, sheep, geese, and people who didn’t care much for bathing.”
The self-named group The Unusuals are this trio of super-close friends in 1277 Winchester England. Chera, the granddaughter of a widowed pawnbroker, is the story’s narrator. She’s Jewish, as is Lummie, the grandson of another widowed pawnbroker. Joan is the daughter of Alice, who is Chera’s grandmother’s Christian maid and confidante. Together, they’re the tightest of friends.
According to the author, Winchester, England was once known as the Jerusalem of the Jews in England. THE UNUSUALS is a captivating piece of historical fiction, set in 1277 Winchester, England, that revolves around a real, historic murder mystery.
“In 1277, the most significant and historically documented murders in Winchester, England, were those of the prominent Jewish businesswoman Licoricia of Winchester and her Christian servant, Alice of Bicton. The high-profile unsolved killings sparked a major medieval mystery and remain widely studied by historians. The attack occurred in the spring of 1277 at Licoricia's home on Jewry Street.”
— Google AI
The book contains a map and a Cast of Characters. (There are quite a few.) It’s important to keep everyone straight as you try to figure out who might turn out to be responsible for the murders.
THE UNUSUALS is both a very fun suck-you-in mystery read for tweens, and a disquieting lesson for young people about how anti-Semitism was and is a seemingly-never-ending prejudice, not just a Nazi-era blight on humanity.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
It is not easy to be Jewish in Winchester, England in 1277, but Chera and her friends Lummie and Joan don't care about the social conventions. Chera's grandmother, Licoricia, is wealthy and well traveled, and employs Joan's mother, a Christian, as a maid. Joan's father has passed away. Lummie lives with his grandmother, Floria. The three study with Rabbi Baruch, and love to roam the fields and woods outside of town, although this can be dangerous. During one of these outings, they come across a beggar. Nicholas was a thief, and now lives in the woods with a band of other outlaws. He warns the children of the dangers, and in turn they decide to bring him food. Unfortunately, soon after meeting him, Chera's grandmother and Joan's mother are brutally murdered. Suspicion falls of Ralph the Saddler, who is run out of town. Even though the children are dealing with loss, they feel compelled to take foro to Nicholas, who informs them that Ralph has joined his band of outlaws, but he doesn't feel the saddler is guilty. Joan goes to live with her aunt and uncle, who don't treat her well. The sheriff's men take Chera's mother and uncle to the Tower, where they must stay until Licoria's estate is settled; King Edward wants to take a considerable cut to fund his war. Chera is sent to live with Rabbi Baruch and his wife Hester, who live next door to Licoricia's house, making it easier for Chera to investigate the murder. Even though the children reconcile with Ralph, they still have to figure out the murderer before others are in danger.
Strengths: If I ever need to go to market and buy meat and cheese in the 1200s, I now have valuable information to guide my purchases! The details of daily life are quite good, and Levine's research into her subject is evident. I can't say that I have ever read anything about the treatment of Jewish people at this point in history; the closest I can think would be the 1492 portion of Behar's Across So Many Seas. The characters are all kind hearted and worried about each other, as well as other vulnerable people in their community. Licorisia, who is based off of a historical figure, had a fascinating life, and I would have liked to hear more about her. There were lots of fascinating things, like Chera's mother and uncle being imprisoned while their inheritance was settled! The mystery isn't front and center, but gives some structure to the story. This was a bit of a departure for Levine, who is best known for fantasy titles like The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Fairest, and Ella Enchanted.
Weaknesses: The mystery seemed to take a back burner most of the time, which is understandable, given the situation that Joan and Chera were in. This gave the book an unfocused quality that younger readers might not like. It was a little confusing when Grandame would talk or yell after her murder; it was just Chera thinking about what her grandmother would have said, but caught me offguard several times.
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of de Angeli's The Door in the Wall or Sands' The Blackthorn Key. I would have loved this as a middle school reader, but think it would be a hard sell with my readers. It would have helped if this had a little more action, like Zahler's The Queen's Granddaughter. If you need more books set in the 1200s to go with Magras' The Mad Wolf's Daughter, Gidwitz's The Inquisitors Tale, or Gray's Adam of the Road, definitely take a look at this well researched title.
It is not easy to be Jewish in Winchester, England in 1277, but Chera and her friends Lummie and Joan don't care about the social conventions. Chera's grandmother, Licoricia, is wealthy and well traveled, and employs Joan's mother, a Christian, as a maid. Joan's father has passed away. Lummie lives with his grandmother, Floria. The three study with Rabbi Baruch, and love to roam the fields and woods outside of town, although this can be dangerous. During one of these outings, they come across a beggar. Nicholas was a thief, and now lives in the woods with a band of other outlaws. He warns the children of the dangers, and in turn they decide to bring him food. Unfortunately, soon after meeting him, Chera's grandmother and Joan's mother are brutally murdered. Suspicion falls of Ralph the Saddler, who is run out of town. Even though the children are dealing with loss, they feel compelled to take foro to Nicholas, who informs them that Ralph has joined his band of outlaws, but he doesn't feel the saddler is guilty. Joan goes to live with her aunt and uncle, who don't treat her well. The sheriff's men take Chera's mother and uncle to the Tower, where they must stay until Licoria's estate is settled; King Edward wants to take a considerable cut to fund his war. Chera is sent to live with Rabbi Baruch and his wife Hester, who live next door to Licoricia's house, making it easier for Chera to investigate the murder. Even though the children reconcile with Ralph, they still have to figure out the murderer before others are in danger.
Strengths: If I ever need to go to market and buy meat and cheese in the 1200s, I now have valuable information to guide my purchases! The details of daily life are quite good, and Levine's research into her subject is evident. I can't say that I have ever read anything about the treatment of Jewish people at this point in history; the closest I can think would be the 1492 portion of Behar's Across So Many Seas. The characters are all kind hearted and worried about each other, as well as other vulnerable people in their community. Licorisia, who is based off of a historical figure, had a fascinating life, and I would have liked to hear more about her. There were lots of fascinating things, like Chera's mother and uncle being imprisoned while their inheritance was settled! The mystery isn't front and center, but gives some structure to the story. This was a bit of a departure for Levine, who is best known for fantasy titles like The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Fairest, and Ella Enchanted.
Weaknesses: The mystery seemed to take a back burner most of the time, which is understandable, given the situation that Joan and Chera were in. This gave the book an unfocused quality that younger readers might not like. It was a little confusing when Grandame would talk or yell after her murder; it was just Chera thinking about what her grandmother would have said, but caught me offguard several times.
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of de Angeli's The Door in the Wall or Sands' The Blackthorn Key. I would have loved this as a middle school reader, but think it would be a hard sell with my readers. It would have helped if this had a little more action, like Zahler's The Queen's Granddaughter. If you need more books set in the 1200s to go with Magras' The Mad Wolf's Daughter, Gidwitz's The Inquisitors Tale, or Gray's Adam of the Road, definitely take a look at this well researched title.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book. My review is based on that copy. The published work may differ from what I read.
Middle grade is not a genre I read much anymore (for obvious reasons), but occasionally a book comes along that draws me in. This covers some heavy topics. Antisemitism in the middle ages is not for the faint hearted. Levine tackles it from the perspective of three eleven year olds and she captures the mentality of that age perfectly. The whimsy and imagination and open mindedness of children is a beautiful thing. For middle grade readers this would be an engaging reading experience. As an adult, I found Levine’s skill at portraying painful realities in a way that is both palatable for children and totally honest to be exemplary. She doesn’t dumb down the topics but approaches them with lightness and grace. There is a respect for her audience but a gentleness in how she writes. It’s a hard balance to strike and she does it well.
The characters are wonderful, from child to adult. The three children are distinct and interesting. The adults are all seen through their eyes and with that curious ability of children to see the truth without understanding all of the nuances that adulthood brings. The trio of friends go through the ringer together. Adult prejudices, manipulations, and greed begin to interject into their lives and pollute the purity of childhood friendship. It made my heart ache while also serving to demonstrate how resilient and forgiving children can be.
As much as I loved many elements of this book, it is slower and darker than I initially expected and much less whimsical than I was hoping for. It’s essentially historical fiction for middle grade readers. There were a few chapters that meandered and slowed the story too much. The entire middle section was so heavy in tone. I wanted some relief from the weight of it. The reality of antisemitism is a relentless experience, and it’s constant throughout the book. The ending was just as heavy and the epilogue too brief. This is the kind of book that should be read by an adult WITH a middle grade aged kid. There will be a lot of questions to be had throughout reading it, and it will provoke some thoughtful, necessary discussions.
Middle grade is not a genre I read much anymore (for obvious reasons), but occasionally a book comes along that draws me in. This covers some heavy topics. Antisemitism in the middle ages is not for the faint hearted. Levine tackles it from the perspective of three eleven year olds and she captures the mentality of that age perfectly. The whimsy and imagination and open mindedness of children is a beautiful thing. For middle grade readers this would be an engaging reading experience. As an adult, I found Levine’s skill at portraying painful realities in a way that is both palatable for children and totally honest to be exemplary. She doesn’t dumb down the topics but approaches them with lightness and grace. There is a respect for her audience but a gentleness in how she writes. It’s a hard balance to strike and she does it well.
The characters are wonderful, from child to adult. The three children are distinct and interesting. The adults are all seen through their eyes and with that curious ability of children to see the truth without understanding all of the nuances that adulthood brings. The trio of friends go through the ringer together. Adult prejudices, manipulations, and greed begin to interject into their lives and pollute the purity of childhood friendship. It made my heart ache while also serving to demonstrate how resilient and forgiving children can be.
As much as I loved many elements of this book, it is slower and darker than I initially expected and much less whimsical than I was hoping for. It’s essentially historical fiction for middle grade readers. There were a few chapters that meandered and slowed the story too much. The entire middle section was so heavy in tone. I wanted some relief from the weight of it. The reality of antisemitism is a relentless experience, and it’s constant throughout the book. The ending was just as heavy and the epilogue too brief. This is the kind of book that should be read by an adult WITH a middle grade aged kid. There will be a lot of questions to be had throughout reading it, and it will provoke some thoughtful, necessary discussions.
September 18, 2026
⭐⭐⭐
Favorite things:
💜 The history in this book is fascinating. It took me quite a while to realize that many of the characters are historical, and reading about the real-life murder and history of English Jews in the medieval era enhanced my experience.
💜 I loved the concepts of the Unusuals – this group of Jewish and Christian children and a starving beggar in a time where they weren’t really allowed to be together.
Less favorite things:
☔The murders don’t happen until around 22% of the book according to my Kindle, and I think a lot of that could have been cut down. I suspect it was to show what life may have been like for Jews at the time, but it made for less engaging reading overall. As an adult I managed to stick through it, but I know a lot of kids who wouldn’t.
☔ It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by Levine, but she’s written some of my very favorite books of my childhood. I wonder how I’d feel rereading them because the writing style sometimes bothered me. There was a lot of “telling not showing,” like the main character remarking that another character liked what she said. How did she know? How do we know? It was all over the prose, and I found it irritating me.
Overall thoughts:
This can sometimes be a heavy read because of the intense prejudice that is discussed on what felt like every page. It’s not the kind of fun fantasy Gail Carson Levine has written in the past. I also found the day-to-day descriptions and some of the writing style to get in the way of my enjoyment, and I wonder if younger readers would be able to maintain interest.
While the details of daily life can sometimes be interesting (I’m so glad I know how to buy cheese in a medieval market now, I guess), it can feel a little too much. The mystery is sometimes ignored, so it feels more like a slice of life than mystery.
That said, I was glad to learn about elements of history I didn’t know before. I just wish it had been more engaging along the way at some points.
You can find me with more book content on Threads and Instagram at @sailsandscales
Favorite things:
💜 The history in this book is fascinating. It took me quite a while to realize that many of the characters are historical, and reading about the real-life murder and history of English Jews in the medieval era enhanced my experience.
💜 I loved the concepts of the Unusuals – this group of Jewish and Christian children and a starving beggar in a time where they weren’t really allowed to be together.
Less favorite things:
☔The murders don’t happen until around 22% of the book according to my Kindle, and I think a lot of that could have been cut down. I suspect it was to show what life may have been like for Jews at the time, but it made for less engaging reading overall. As an adult I managed to stick through it, but I know a lot of kids who wouldn’t.
☔ It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by Levine, but she’s written some of my very favorite books of my childhood. I wonder how I’d feel rereading them because the writing style sometimes bothered me. There was a lot of “telling not showing,” like the main character remarking that another character liked what she said. How did she know? How do we know? It was all over the prose, and I found it irritating me.
Overall thoughts:
This can sometimes be a heavy read because of the intense prejudice that is discussed on what felt like every page. It’s not the kind of fun fantasy Gail Carson Levine has written in the past. I also found the day-to-day descriptions and some of the writing style to get in the way of my enjoyment, and I wonder if younger readers would be able to maintain interest.
While the details of daily life can sometimes be interesting (I’m so glad I know how to buy cheese in a medieval market now, I guess), it can feel a little too much. The mystery is sometimes ignored, so it feels more like a slice of life than mystery.
That said, I was glad to learn about elements of history I didn’t know before. I just wish it had been more engaging along the way at some points.
You can find me with more book content on Threads and Instagram at @sailsandscales
Did Not Finish
September 19, 20269.17.2926
DNF@10%
Kindle/NetGalley [NLO]
NetGalley Audiobook [Elise Arsenault]
Children's - Middle Grade/Cultural/Historical Fiction/Religion
Thank you to NetGalley, Gail Carson Levine, Elise Arsenault - Narrator, HarperCollins Children's Books/Quill Tree Books, and HarperAudio Children's/Quill Tree Books for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
DNF@10%
Kindle/NetGalley [NLO]
NetGalley Audiobook [Elise Arsenault]
Children's - Middle Grade/Cultural/Historical Fiction/Religion
Thank you to NetGalley, Gail Carson Levine, Elise Arsenault - Narrator, HarperCollins Children's Books/Quill Tree Books, and HarperAudio Children's/Quill Tree Books for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A clever Historical Nancy Drew for middle grade and up!
This book is a must read if you like: Historical Fiction, mysteries, clever writing.
I was so excited to read the new Gail Carson Levine. I was not expecting to have a 1277 AD murder mystery on my hands. The FMC is an amazing example of a strong female character. Also, she experiences a lot of loss early in the book but instead of letting it crush her she leans on her memories (and some voices in her head) to keep her going.
This book started pretty context heavy at first with a lot of world building and establishing the complex world these kids lived in, but it picked up quickly and I couldn’t put it down.
I really love Gail Carson Levine. While I don’t usually read historical fiction, but I really liked how she wove in so many genres.
There are so many things that makes this book unique. I haven’t heard of any other YA historical murder mysteries set in 1277. Also, this is based on a true story. Also, I think what this book shows about friendships bridging gaps in social, religious, and financial differences is sorely needed today.
There are so many clever one liners in this book. One of my favorites is “Jews are supposed to rest on Shabbat, but I don’t know if a person can rest and worry at the same time.”
Something for parents to be aware of: It is written for middle grade readers, and I think all the violence stays appropriate for this age group, but it is a murder mystery so be careful with sensitive little readers.
I was so honored to read this book early. It is so clever, immersive, and hopeful. I will be getting it for all the middle grade readers in my life when it comes out! But even if you are older than that, you will LOVE this book.
This book is a must read if you like: Historical Fiction, mysteries, clever writing.
I was so excited to read the new Gail Carson Levine. I was not expecting to have a 1277 AD murder mystery on my hands. The FMC is an amazing example of a strong female character. Also, she experiences a lot of loss early in the book but instead of letting it crush her she leans on her memories (and some voices in her head) to keep her going.
This book started pretty context heavy at first with a lot of world building and establishing the complex world these kids lived in, but it picked up quickly and I couldn’t put it down.
I really love Gail Carson Levine. While I don’t usually read historical fiction, but I really liked how she wove in so many genres.
There are so many things that makes this book unique. I haven’t heard of any other YA historical murder mysteries set in 1277. Also, this is based on a true story. Also, I think what this book shows about friendships bridging gaps in social, religious, and financial differences is sorely needed today.
There are so many clever one liners in this book. One of my favorites is “Jews are supposed to rest on Shabbat, but I don’t know if a person can rest and worry at the same time.”
Something for parents to be aware of: It is written for middle grade readers, and I think all the violence stays appropriate for this age group, but it is a murder mystery so be careful with sensitive little readers.
I was so honored to read this book early. It is so clever, immersive, and hopeful. I will be getting it for all the middle grade readers in my life when it comes out! But even if you are older than that, you will LOVE this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review!
3/5 stars
I really love Gail Carson Levine’s books, so I was excited to read her newest title! In some ways, it really didn’t disappoint. Levine has always been good at crafting plucky heroines and lovable supporting characters, and that really shined in this book. Chera is extremely likeable and believable as the lead in the story. She isn’t perfect, but that’s what is wonderful about her. Her friends, Lummie and Joan, the titular “Unusuals,” were also likeable and great as a group.
I think where this story felt a bit flat was actually the plot. I had heard of Licoricia of Winchester once before, in a podcast, so I was excited about the real-world inspired story. However, I think that it’s let down slightly by the powerlessness of the main trio. For a lot of the book, the mystery of who killed Licoricia feels like it takes a backseat, so the story drifts at times. Chera and co. are much more concerned with day-to-day occurrences, like shopping for meat and cheese and Joan dealing with her horrible aunt and uncle.
The research that Levine did was clear – the world felt very realized and I loved the amount of detail that she put into it. I like when places feel lived-in, and this felt like a real world. It wasn’t enough to save the story for me though, and I was left feeling like it wasn’t super memorable as a book.
3/5 stars
I really love Gail Carson Levine’s books, so I was excited to read her newest title! In some ways, it really didn’t disappoint. Levine has always been good at crafting plucky heroines and lovable supporting characters, and that really shined in this book. Chera is extremely likeable and believable as the lead in the story. She isn’t perfect, but that’s what is wonderful about her. Her friends, Lummie and Joan, the titular “Unusuals,” were also likeable and great as a group.
I think where this story felt a bit flat was actually the plot. I had heard of Licoricia of Winchester once before, in a podcast, so I was excited about the real-world inspired story. However, I think that it’s let down slightly by the powerlessness of the main trio. For a lot of the book, the mystery of who killed Licoricia feels like it takes a backseat, so the story drifts at times. Chera and co. are much more concerned with day-to-day occurrences, like shopping for meat and cheese and Joan dealing with her horrible aunt and uncle.
The research that Levine did was clear – the world felt very realized and I loved the amount of detail that she put into it. I like when places feel lived-in, and this felt like a real world. It wasn’t enough to save the story for me though, and I was left feeling like it wasn’t super memorable as a book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beware, this one is A Bit of a Bummer. The cover had me ready to head into an enchanted forest full of the Magic of Friendship. Gail Carson Levine is known for medieval-ish fantasy settings, but this one deeply researched historical fiction.
The story is inspired by the real-life mystery of the 1277 murder of Licoricia of Winchester, considered by some historians to be “the most important Jewish woman in medieval England.” Licoricia was a widowed businesswoman at a time of tremendous oppression shortly before the mass expulsion of Jewish people in England. The novel expands on the known facts to flesh out a satisfying mystery, told through the eyes of three children, the unlikely friends who call themselves the Unusuals. They’re quite easy to love— I have a soft spot for girl characters that don’t think of themselves as brave. The friends navigate a confusing world where adults are often cruel and the future for the Jewish characters is uncertain. And then there’s a grizzly murder. Tough stuff.
The tale is engaging, but the book is overladen with characters and historical details. I was often confused by the names, and I imagine a middle grade reader might become bored or overwhelmed. It was missing the spark of mischief or drama that draws the reader in despite the heavy subject matter. Still, it’s a lovely story about friendship and community and perseverance amid injustice.
The story is inspired by the real-life mystery of the 1277 murder of Licoricia of Winchester, considered by some historians to be “the most important Jewish woman in medieval England.” Licoricia was a widowed businesswoman at a time of tremendous oppression shortly before the mass expulsion of Jewish people in England. The novel expands on the known facts to flesh out a satisfying mystery, told through the eyes of three children, the unlikely friends who call themselves the Unusuals. They’re quite easy to love— I have a soft spot for girl characters that don’t think of themselves as brave. The friends navigate a confusing world where adults are often cruel and the future for the Jewish characters is uncertain. And then there’s a grizzly murder. Tough stuff.
The tale is engaging, but the book is overladen with characters and historical details. I was often confused by the names, and I imagine a middle grade reader might become bored or overwhelmed. It was missing the spark of mischief or drama that draws the reader in despite the heavy subject matter. Still, it’s a lovely story about friendship and community and perseverance amid injustice.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE UNUSUALS went in directions I did not expect, and I was fully vested from the beginning.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Audience: Middle-grade (about 10-14ish)
Setting: Medieval England, 1200s
Pressure Point: Distrust and hatred of Jews
Three children are best friends and are facing the prejudice of their town. But it gets much worse.
A starving outlaw stops them in the woods.
Jews are murdered (based on a historical incident)
And the guard is more crooked than the outlaws.
Oh, and Chera has the ghost of her grandmother and the maid talking to her.
There were a lot of layers in this book. It is very driven by the children needing to solve the problems. It also highlights the tensions between Jews and Christians in the 1200s. Solving the murder was scary!
The cover gave me more of a fantasy vibe than strictly historical fiction. It's a challenging book with the number of characters and events. A family or classroom could easily use it as a way to start a dialogue about prejudice, kindness, respect, and choices.
Happy reading!
My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Audience: Middle-grade (about 10-14ish)
Setting: Medieval England, 1200s
Pressure Point: Distrust and hatred of Jews
Three children are best friends and are facing the prejudice of their town. But it gets much worse.
A starving outlaw stops them in the woods.
Jews are murdered (based on a historical incident)
And the guard is more crooked than the outlaws.
Oh, and Chera has the ghost of her grandmother and the maid talking to her.
There were a lot of layers in this book. It is very driven by the children needing to solve the problems. It also highlights the tensions between Jews and Christians in the 1200s. Solving the murder was scary!
The cover gave me more of a fantasy vibe than strictly historical fiction. It's a challenging book with the number of characters and events. A family or classroom could easily use it as a way to start a dialogue about prejudice, kindness, respect, and choices.
Happy reading!
My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A very interesting look at life in 13th century England, particularly the status and treatment of Jews. This was shortly before Jews were banished from England entirely, and it's sad to see how they are treated by many non-Jews. The book doesn't say it explicitly, but Jews were considered to be the property of the King, they could not be citizens. I wish we had come further from this in the past 750 years than we have . . .
So, this book is, for all its approachability, pretty dark in a lot of ways. Several murders take place amongst the inner circle of the book's characters; survivors are imprisoned just for being Jewish; a lot of ill-treatment. Definitely not for a tender-hearted child to read, at least not without an adult supporting them and talking about events as they take place. I learned a good bit from it, and most readers will learn new things along the way.
Definitely a good middle-grade read, just not a light or easy one.
So, this book is, for all its approachability, pretty dark in a lot of ways. Several murders take place amongst the inner circle of the book's characters; survivors are imprisoned just for being Jewish; a lot of ill-treatment. Definitely not for a tender-hearted child to read, at least not without an adult supporting them and talking about events as they take place. I learned a good bit from it, and most readers will learn new things along the way.
Definitely a good middle-grade read, just not a light or easy one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a middle grade murder mystery set in medieval times. This novel was very well-written and well researched. After finishing the book, I read the About at the end, and it was fascinating to see the research and real history that tied into this. This book has a very heavy topic that is at the forefront, which is antisemitism, and this was very real for the time and place of this novel. Seeing this through the eyes of three children (11 years old), all of whom have great unique personalities and deal with different situations, would be helpful for the age of reader this is geared towards. I really enjoyed reading this and will be putting this on a list for my children to read at the appropriate age and hopefully when it ties into what we are studying.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC Ebook!
Notes for my future self: antisemitism, murder (off page), trials, talk of death penalty by hanging, child abuse (Joan), death of family, runaway.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC Ebook!
Notes for my future self: antisemitism, murder (off page), trials, talk of death penalty by hanging, child abuse (Joan), death of family, runaway.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book!
The Unusuals is an exciting middle-grade story of three best friends (two Jews and one Christian) set in medieval England at a time where the small population of Jews is barely tolerated. A series of unfortunate events (aka murders) befall the families of these three friends, and they're determined to figure out who did it and bring justice to their family and friends.
I did find the first bit of this book to feel a bit slow and hard to understand (there are so. many. names.), but once you get about halfway in you start to remember who everyone is and appreciate that you had to really get into it at the very start. Things get really exciting towards the end of the book when the real action starts happening, and we get to find out who really did what.
I would definitely recommend this to any younger readers interested in a good medieval murder mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book!
The Unusuals is an exciting middle-grade story of three best friends (two Jews and one Christian) set in medieval England at a time where the small population of Jews is barely tolerated. A series of unfortunate events (aka murders) befall the families of these three friends, and they're determined to figure out who did it and bring justice to their family and friends.
I did find the first bit of this book to feel a bit slow and hard to understand (there are so. many. names.), but once you get about halfway in you start to remember who everyone is and appreciate that you had to really get into it at the very start. Things get really exciting towards the end of the book when the real action starts happening, and we get to find out who really did what.
I would definitely recommend this to any younger readers interested in a good medieval murder mystery!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With an author like Gail Carson Levine, I come to her books with expectations based on previous (good) experiences. Because of those expectations, The Unusuals was somewhat disappointing for me.
Here's what it did well: historical research and details about life in 1277. Interesting insights into Jewish culture and tension with surrounding predominantly Christian culture. Vivid setting.
Here's what disappointed me: characters felt underdeveloped. So much time went into portraying the setting that it felt like the characters didn't get the page time that I would prefer. I also felt an odd tension with the murder mystery. It's very gruesome and would be terrible for the children. Yet somehow, it's handled coldly and almost clinically, with portrayals of different Jewish and Christian burial customs etc. taking up too much time. It feels like so much space is used to explain monetary systems, or wonder about dishonest butchers, or other details, that the story gets kind of lost.
Here's what it did well: historical research and details about life in 1277. Interesting insights into Jewish culture and tension with surrounding predominantly Christian culture. Vivid setting.
Here's what disappointed me: characters felt underdeveloped. So much time went into portraying the setting that it felt like the characters didn't get the page time that I would prefer. I also felt an odd tension with the murder mystery. It's very gruesome and would be terrible for the children. Yet somehow, it's handled coldly and almost clinically, with portrayals of different Jewish and Christian burial customs etc. taking up too much time. It feels like so much space is used to explain monetary systems, or wonder about dishonest butchers, or other details, that the story gets kind of lost.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - NOT RECOMMENDED
APPEALS TO: SOME
11yo Chera and her two best friends enjoy a lot of freedom in 1277 England, going as far to venture into the nearby woods, where outlaws roam and they befriend a thief. When Chera’s grandmother, a Jewish moneylender, is murdered along with her maid, who is Joan’s mother, the trio are caught up in more intrigue than they may be able to handle. Betrayal and double-crossing await them as they investigate the murders.
Considering the adults in Chera’s life have their name, their relationship moniker, and job titles (and some of these are the same), I found it impossible to keep track of the characters without taking notes. Plus the grandmother and the maid appear as ghosts (no one can see them), adding more confusion. I do’;t think my readers will endure the confusion, especially as the murders are not the main plot of the book.
APPEALS TO: SOME
11yo Chera and her two best friends enjoy a lot of freedom in 1277 England, going as far to venture into the nearby woods, where outlaws roam and they befriend a thief. When Chera’s grandmother, a Jewish moneylender, is murdered along with her maid, who is Joan’s mother, the trio are caught up in more intrigue than they may be able to handle. Betrayal and double-crossing await them as they investigate the murders.
Considering the adults in Chera’s life have their name, their relationship moniker, and job titles (and some of these are the same), I found it impossible to keep track of the characters without taking notes. Plus the grandmother and the maid appear as ghosts (no one can see them), adding more confusion. I do’;t think my readers will endure the confusion, especially as the murders are not the main plot of the book.
September 24, 2026
The Unusuals is not something I would expose a child to. The realism of this historical middle grade book is likely too harsh for the intended audience. I struggled to listen to the audiobook all the way through. I only persisted because I had requested it through Netgalley.
The friendship between Jewish and Christian children is unusual, hence the name. The murders of Jewish community members and the grandmother of the main child Chera are starkly described.
The author note at the end describes the reality of the way she wrote the book and how the main adult Jewish woman in the story is a real historical figure.
This seems like a departure from the author's usual writing for children. I'm afraid i don't recommend it.
The narrator did a good job with the story.
The friendship between Jewish and Christian children is unusual, hence the name. The murders of Jewish community members and the grandmother of the main child Chera are starkly described.
The author note at the end describes the reality of the way she wrote the book and how the main adult Jewish woman in the story is a real historical figure.
This seems like a departure from the author's usual writing for children. I'm afraid i don't recommend it.
The narrator did a good job with the story.
September 17, 2026
I knew going into this that it was about Jewish life in the 1200s in England, featuring a trio of 11 year old friends. I did not realize that it was a murder mystery. There is a lot about death, murder, outlaws, and punishment. More than I expected. It also shows an interesting slice of life at the time -- shopping in the market, studying with the Rabbi, wearing badges on their cloaks marking them as Jewish, and the distrust and hatred they faced from the Christian community. Pair this with Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale for another trio of friends (one of whom is Jewish) in the 1200s. Recommended for grades 5 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss and NetGalley
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss and NetGalley
September 8, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While this book covered an interesting historical set of events, I found it hard to follow and keep the characters straight.
While this book covered an interesting historical set of events, I found it hard to follow and keep the characters straight.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Darker and heavier than I expected for MG but I enjoyed Chera’s perspective and think The Unusuals would get along great with the Mystery Inc. Gang
not-released
September 4, 2026Review coming at Gabic Reads. eARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thanks to the author and/or publisher for my advance copy.
September 16, 2026
Couldn't get into this one.
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