Incidentally, the story was also known as Satanic Mill. I say this because the book is now quite hard to come by and thus, it's a good idea to check for both titles when searching. I'd say that this is certainly one of those must-have books. It is one of those feel-good stories where the main protagonist makes it despite all the odds. Plus there is also plenty of fantasy elements and colorful characters which certainly add to its appeal.

As for the story, it is about a teenager called Krabat who lives in the more rural parts of Germany. He ends up being an apprentice at this strange little Mill. It turns out to be a weird magic school of sorts where, by doing the master's bidding, folks can learn the workings of magic. Unfortunately, students have to pay a high price if they walked this path and poor Krabat learns this soon enough. It becomes, in effect, an inner battle for the boy where he must choose the right path for himself.

That is one of the reasons why this book ended up being so captivating. The entire concept of a young hero striving to do the moral thing, make the right decisions, etc. is a heartwarming sight, especially when he succeeds. The overall tone of the tale is a bit dark which, while is suitable for older readers, might not be ideal for the 11 year old. Then again, young readers are more used to disturbing concepts in modern stories, at least better than we were at their age.