Episode 237: Dr. Paul Fox on his book A Boy-Sized Cross: St. Louis Ibaraki (December 30, 2025)

In this episode of The Catholic Bookworm, Kiki Latimer interviews Dr. Paul Fox on his book A Boy-Sized Cross: St. Louis Ibaraki, the Youngest of Nagasaki's Twenty-Six Martyrs.

In a time when being Catholic in Japan could cost you everything, ten-year-old Louis Ibaraki has more questions than answers. Orphaned, proud, and struggling to trust, Louis is thrown into a world of strange Latin prayers, secret Masses, and quiet heroism. Then he meets Maxium Tayeka—a swordsmith's son with a steady heart and a quiet strength—and everything begins to change.

As the two grow in faith and friendship, so does the danger around them. When Japan's rulers turn against the Church, Louis and Maximus must decide what they believe—and how far they are willing to go to stand for it.

Based on the true story of St. Louis Ibaraki, the youngest of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Nagasaki, A Boy-Sized Cross is a gripping historical novel of courage, sacrifice, and the surprising power of childlike faith.

This is not just a story about dying for Christ. It's a story about living for him—even when the world tells you not to.

https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Sized-Cross-Paul-Fox/dp/1594175640