From the back cover: "In 1212 A.D. nearly 50,000 boys and girls rebelled against parents and Church to join a Crusade to the Hold Land...to win by love what their fathers had failed to take by force. But before they even reached Rome--and the Pope's betrayal--nearly all of them had fallen to hardship. Those who went on would pay for their innocent courage in Saracen brothels and slave markets."

Set during the Children's Crusade of 1212 A.D. (which may or may not have actually happened) the novel follows the English Christian Roger, Jonathan, a Jew, and the beautiful French Laurelle. Inspired by child prophet Nicholas, they join the Children's Crusade and are sent to scout ahead through Italy as a sort of advance guard for the main body of 20,000 children marching south from Cologne. They fall prey to various dangers including degenerate monks, greedy noblemen, and slave traders, eventually being bought by the vicious Frizio who becomes obsessed with Laurelle. Although the children do reach Jerusalem, their crusade does not end in the joyous victory they hoped for.