Hilda Van Stockum, well-known children's author, reviews an unusual book for young teenagers.

This book is a fable for modern youth. Dedo, a simple Portuguese peasant boy, who wants to be a priest and who has a wise donkey who talks to him, goes through amazing adventures pursued by an evil Baron.

The latter tries to bribe the boy with promises of great wealth and importance in order to possess him, but is continually thwarted by Dedo's honesty and simplicity. He gives the boy a present, a money-bag (hence the book's title), which he has to wear at all times; it is empty but whenever Dedo needs money, the right currency is always there - except when he wants to be generous to the poor.

The boy is fooled, robbed and exploited but learns to discriminate and to draw salutary lessons from his experiences.

The setting of the story moves around Europe, including London; Dedo also manages to meet the Pope, in a confessional in the Vatican, and the Pope writes a personal letter to the seminary to accept him, despite the machinations of the Evil Baron who wants to prevent it.

Role Model

There is a beautiful religious thread running through the book. The hero is a practising Catholic who likes visiting churches and saying his Rosary and who goes to Confession. He is certainly no sissy; Dedo really experiences the cross, evil is allowed to do a lot of harm to him but he has faith, courage, and common-sense, and a strong hold on morals.

In the end he has been faithful to his Rosary and decides that, not withstanding the "magic" of his money-bag, it is the rosary that has protected him and which has been the true source of his riches.

He is a good role model for modern young teenagers - guarding against exploitation without being rude, learning whom to trust and resisting the attraction of sex.

The book left a good taste in my mouth. Although slow to start, in the end I could not put it down.

Hilda Van Stockum's books are available from Bethlehem Books.

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