Setting

The historical fiction is set in Cordoba, Spain, in 100 AD, the Golden Age when Jews and Moslems together created a beautiful civilization.

Plot

The story is about two families—one Jewish, the other Moslem—who are best friends. Two twelve-year-old girls are fascinated by the mystery of the ruined garden of the deposed caliph.

Characters and Themes

The story includes many actual characters who lived at that time. There is suspense when Lucia's brother and his uncle, Benjamin of Tudela, travel by boat to mysterious Cathay, scene of the pool in the garden.