People with disabilities--Juvenile fiction; Kyphosis--Patients--Juvenile fiction; Orphans--Juvenile fiction; Determination (Personality trait)--Juvenile fiction; Individuality--Juvenile fiction; Princes--Juvenile fiction; Kings and rulers--Juvenile fiction
Long ago, Castle Marlby rang with the comings and goings of kings and princes. Now the castle is a quiet, sleepy place where everyone seems to have forgotten those golden days. Everyone but Hodge, that is. Though his hunched back earns him the unlovely job of mucking out the latrine, he dreams of serving a prince someday. But when one finally appears, he is nothing like Hodge expected.
Prince Leo is kept hidden away behind locked doors, as if he were in terrible danger. Or is he himself the dangerous one? When Hodge discovers the truth, he tumbles headlong into an adventure that proves far more exciting than he could ever have imagined. It will take all his strength to survive—and all his heart. [from publisher's web site]
Winner of the 2004 Middle Grade Literature Award, Association for Mormon Letters