Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Crispin, #1)

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Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Crispin #1)

by Avi

3.55 · rating details · 6,322 ratings · 818 reviews

"Asta's Son" is all he's ever been called. The lack of a name is appropriate, because he and his mother are but poor peasants in 14th century medieval England. But this thirteen-year-old boy who thought he had little to lose soon finds himself with even less - no home, no family, or possessions. Accused of a crime he did not commit, he may be killed on sight, ...more

Hardcover, 262 pages

Published May 3rd 2004 by Hyperion (first published January 1st 2002)

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Community Reviews

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Jun 07, 2010

Greg rated it

Shelves: books-for-kids

AVI2.0 Review: With warnings, gender changes, and a post script!

I just dawned on me that the stupid plot revealing subtitle is there because Avi means for this book to be the start of a series, and a quick check shows that there is a sequel.

Avi has a unique skill at flattening characters. Everyone pretty much sounds the same as every other character. ShHe also has a knack of making ~~her~~his characters unlikable. Not in the I hate them sort of way, but in the why do I g...moreAVI2.0 Review: With warnings, gender changes, and a post script!

I just dawned on me that the stupid plot revealing subtitle is there because Avi means for this book to be the start of a series, and a quick check shows that there is a sequel.

Avi has a unique skill at flattening characters. Everyone pretty much sounds the same as every other character. ShHe also has a knack of making ~~her~~his characters unlikable. Not in the I hate them sort of way, but in the why do I give a (If you are under the age of 17 please look away for one word) fuck what happens to them way.
If I had read this book as a child it would have bored me to death. I would have hated this book. As an adult I could read it in a couple of hours and pass over the dryness with the greatest of ease. There is nothing exciting really in this book. The action is telegraphed so poorly before it happens that there really aren't any surprises.
I'm starting to think now that Avi meant for Crispin to be ~~her~~ his Harry Potter. Orphan kid, mysterious past, befriended by some big oaf of a man, those kind of silly subtleties. I don't have too many (any?) facts to base this on (just like I had no facts to base the idea that Avi was a woman on, but that doesn't stop me from saying things), but there is the feeling that this is Harry Potter with all of the fun vacuum sucked out of it.

Why Avi is critically acclaimed is beyond me. This is the second of ~~her~~ his countless books I have read, and each of them has been blah. The first one I could see appealing to kids, but it was too moronic for me to stomach; and this one I don't see who the audience is, except maybe Middle School teachers always on the lookout for new instruments to torture their students with. The wealth of little historical day to day facts in the book will be fodder for many a (If you are under the age of 17 please look away for one word) crappy teacher to bore the (If you are under the age of 17 please look away for one word) shit out of students for a long time to come.

Post Script, for Children.

I, the author of the review you just read, am sorry if I have been the first to scar your young minds with foul language. It is wrong to curse, and it shows your ignorance, that is until you are older and then it shows your immaturity, but maybe not your ignorance. This is a distinction you will need to face yourselves when you get older. But if you have read this review, let me offer you some words of encouragement that I wish had been offered to me: if your teacher loves this book and you do not love it, don't think there is anything wrong with you. Also do not think that it means you are just not the type to like books, or that there are no books out there for you. This is not a good book. Your teacher by liking this book, is possibly the type of person who deep down knows very little about books. Also there is possibly some unspeakable trauma in his or her past has driven him or her to be a teacher and is attempting to take all the goodness out of books and turn them into something that they feel deserve to be hated and despised. Sadly, teachers are good at ruining things, doubly sadly (don't ever use that phrase yourself, it will make you look stupid, be smarter than me) there are very few good teachers out there. I hope that if you are reading this you have one of the awesome teachers. If you don't have one of them, realize that your teacher is a very disturbed individual, and something happened that either killed his or her desire to live and/or make everyone else in the world see the world as joylessly as they do. Try not to hate them, but feel pity for them. They need love. Don't try to hug them though, that could end badly. Just feel pity and offer them love at a distance.
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Mar 05, 2008

Sandi rated it

Shelves: 2008, books-my-son-liked, young-adult

My sixth grade son made me read "Crispin: The Cross of Lead". He's a really advanced reader, but it's hard to get him involved in books. He'd rather play World of Warcraft or play his guitar. He couldn't put this book down and insisted that I read it.

I was surprised at the content of the book. Crispin is the bastard son of an outcast peasant woman who never shows him any affection. He doesn't even know his name until after his mother dies. The revelation of his name l...more

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Dec 03, 2007

Sarah rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: children-historical

“Asta’s Son,” as he is called, is left to his own devices when his mother dies in 1377 in the tiny, poor English village of Stromford. He doesn’t have a family and knows nothing of his father. All his mother leaves him is a cross of lead that he carries with him as he flees his village when declared a “wolf’s head”—a person who can be killed on sight—for allegedly committing a crime. His priest, the one person he trusts, is murdered after trying to help and telling Asta’s Son his real name (w...more

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Nov 26, 2007

Kathy rated it

Shelves: childrens, historical-fiction

Set in 14th century England not long after the Black Death cut the European population nearly in half, this book follows the story of an orphaned peasant boy known only as Asta’s Son. After his mother dies, Asta’s Son learns from the village priest that he has a name, Crispin, and a heritage that has the manor steward wanting to kill him. After barely escaping, Crispin meets a man called Bear (a traveling actor) and sets off for places unknown with him. Along the way he begins to claim an ide...more

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Jan 27, 2011

Joanna VanVleet rated it

I loved this! I was intrigued because it was one more book from the author Angela introduced me to when she told me to read Avi's True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. And this particular book received the Newbery Award in 2003. I have this strong fascination with any books from Medieval time period (like the Pillars of the Earth series) and this book did not disappoint! It is a fairly quick read and one that was hard to put down.

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Apr 30, 2008

Sarah Sammis rated it

Shelves: borrowed

Avi's books seem to be span all genres, the only thing that unites them is the intended audience, tweens. Crispin is somewhere in the range of fantasy and historical fiction, taking place in medieval Europe around the time of the plague. The story cover's Crispin's quest to learn the truth behind his birth after his mother's death.

While the book had it's moments, it didn't capture my imagination like Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? The book borrows heavily on the fantasy genre convention...more

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Dec 21, 2011

Emily rated it

Shelves: children-s-chapter, historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 03, 2011

Debbie Gillespie rated it

Citation: Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi (Scholastic, 2002)

1. Genre: Junior Chapter Book/ Historical Fiction

2. Summary: Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a story set in the 14th century about a boy, who after suffering the loss of his pauper mother, is accused of stealing and forced to run for his life away from the only village he knows. On his journey he crosses paths with an unscrupulous character and eventually learns that his father was a wealthy landowner, ma...more

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Nov 15, 2011

Ashton Livsey rated it

Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Asta’s son, or Crispin as he later learns is his name, finds himself on the run when his mother dies and rumors have made him in to the wolf’s head. When he runs away he meets Bear, a performer, who helps him learn to juggle, sing, play music, and find out who he really is.
Critique: a) This book benefits from the details of history that intertwine with the story, and make the story come alive.
This story would not be what it is without the det...moreGenre: Historical Fiction
Summary: Asta’s son, or Crispin as he later learns is his name, finds himself on the run when his mother dies and rumors have made him in to the wolf’s head. When he runs away he meets Bear, a performer, who helps him learn to juggle, sing, play music, and find out who he really is.
Critique: a) This book benefits from the details of history that intertwine with the story, and make the story come alive.
This story would not be what it is without the details from the time period. The descriptions of the characters, such as having lots of facial hair, long hair, and unclean, because of not bathing, show how the time period people would have looked. The details of the towns they see also help to show the time period. The small towns are simple, dirty, and run down. The large town, or city, are full of people, dirty, and bustling with activity. The story is about a boy who is on the run for something he did not do. He is being framed because he is really the bastard son of a great landowner. If he was to claim this, then he would take over all the land that others want. Making him a murderer, guaruntees that he will not be able to prove he is of a higher position than others. All of this is explained in terms of the past. Headrights, landownership, and birthrights are all talked about in this novel.
Crispin begins the story wearing “a gray wool tunic” and leather shoes (p. 4). This descriptions adds to the details of his position in life. When they reach Great Wexly, Crispin is in awe of the amounts of people, stalls selling “apples, lavender, or ribbons”, and the “foulness lay[ing] on the wide road” (p. 146-147).
Curriculum Connection: This novel has some many adult aspects which may make it hard for children to relate to, or even understand. A teacher would have to be sure a child is at a good age for them to read this. The book touches on religion, murder, and is intense. However, it is a wonderful book to use to teach about the time period. It gives many details on looks, setting, politics, and how different people of different statures would act. (less)

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Oct 25, 2011

Amin rated it

Crispin was one of the few book for me that had a slow start (I like having a fast start) which gave me a bad impression of the book. But as the story goes on, things start to go interesting. The only problem would be the start because the only thing you know is that he is forever alone... But then he finds out secrets.

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Sep 06, 2011

Katlyn Campbell rated it

Genre: History
Summary:
Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a story about a poor boy in who lives in a small English town in 1377. This boy, Crispin, knows virtually nothing about his life, parents, past, and the world when he becomes an orphan and outlaw at the age of thirteen. During his escape he will learn much about the world, his true identity, and the value of friendship.
Critique:
a.This title has great descriptive word use. The people, places, and things are described in g...more

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Aug 07, 2011

Kelly Toshach rated it

Shelves: children-s

I've been pushing this book on my son for years because of his interest in the Middle Ages. Also, it's an award winner, so I figured it has something to recommend it. I eventually purchased it over his protests when we traveled to Europe this summer with plans to visit several medieval castles. I had to compel him and his younger sister to read it through bribe and threat. Neither of them enjoyed the book very much, but I liked it for the perspective it gave. As a work of fiction, the book helps...more

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Jun 15, 2011

Edit rated it

Shelves: ya-historical-fiction

What a great children's book! Although a fair warning: since it takes place in the Middle Ages, it has some historically appropriate, gruesome violence. The author does not dwell on it, but it's there. In spite of this, I would recommend the book for boys in middle grades, if they like adventure and history. Added to Catherine Called Birdie and Midwife's Apprentice, this book is a valuable addition to the Middle Ages historical fiction segment.

I really liked how the author created a...more

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Dec 18, 2010

Zemkat rated it

Shelves: newbery

I read this book as part of my quest to read all of the Newbery books. This was not one of the betters ones.

I can't believe how little happened in this book. It was so slow. There was (at least) one chapter about standing helplessly in the forest for a day, waiting until nighttime so that the plot could move forward. Another chapter about eating lunch. Another about packing up lunch to continue hiking.

I didn't like any of the characters. The protagonist goes from frustr...more

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Nov 27, 2010

Jasmine Giacomo rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Yes, Avi, one word. Like Cher, but with books. And possibly fewer drag impersonators.

Not quite sure where my age-target-group compass is pointing (suffering from Jack Sparrow's undecided compass, perhaps?), I checked out a few YA books from the library a couple days ago. The first one that I read was Avi's Crispin: The Cross of Lead. The third book was on the new fiction shelf, but the library did not deign to carry the 2nd book of the series on its shelves (though it had about twenty ...moreYes, Avi, one word. Like Cher, but with books. And possibly fewer drag impersonators.

Not quite sure where my age-target-group compass is pointing (suffering from Jack Sparrow's undecided compass, perhaps?), I checked out a few YA books from the library a couple days ago. The first one that I read was Avi's Crispin: The Cross of Lead. The third book was on the new fiction shelf, but the library did not deign to carry the 2nd book of the series on its shelves (though it had about twenty of Avi's other books) at that time, so I just got book one. I can't abide reading the first and third books of a trilogy and not know what happens in the second. Drives me batty. I'm still wondering what happened in this one trilogy I read back in college, whose name I've completely forgotten now...

Ahem. The Cross of Lead follows the adventures of a young orphan named Asta's Boy, who soon learns that his real name is Crispin. He lives in a tiny English village in the 1300's, and has never been beyond its borders. Until his mother passes away, and suddenly the authority in the village, the lord's steward John Aycliffe, accuses him of a crime he didn't commit and puts a penalty on his head so severe that any may kill him on sight. What's a boy to do? He must flee everything he's ever known in order to try and save himself, carrying with him only a cross of lead that his mother used to wear.

Out in the wide world, Crispin stumbles across a plague-dead village from years past, and in it he finds a boisterous red-bearded man in a jester's cap. The man is loud and rough and pushy, and it's clear from Crispin's first hours of reaction to the man that he fears him to be mad, violent, or both. This part sort of took me aback, as from Crispin's POV, the man was horribly rude and possibly dangerous. He binds Crispin into his service, then berates him for being bound by his word.

But this was a clever trick by Avi, who had to let the world open up to Crispin by small degrees. Crispin, who had never seen the dress of the rich or official personages. Crispin, who had never seen a mummer's show. Crispin, who had never traveled, could not sew, could not make snares, could not read or write. Soon enough, I realized that Crispin only knew 150 people in all the world, and none of them dared to reach for such large and dangerous ideas as his new master, Bear the juggler did. Once we see that Bear is a visionary on the cusp of greatness, our fear for Crispin becoming either bait or breakfast are set aside.

Bear teaches him skills both practical (sewing, juggling, playing the recorder for coins) and social (where to look when you speak to people). As they travel cross-country, hoping to avoid Crispin's pursuers, they come to a city in time for a midsummer fair, only to find that their pursuers have come here as well. Much is learned and revealed through secret conversations and through chance encounters inside the city walls, and at the end, Crispin must step into his own and claim his place to save both his own life and Bear's.

You can't have a story like this without a bad guy, but they were pretty shadowy throughout the whole book. Much more was spent on Crispin and his unfolding new personality and skills under Bear's tutelage. It was made clear at the end that the bad guy was the bad guy because he broke his vow (for no good reason other than he was angry enough to), and the good guy was the good guy who (accidentally) dispatched him. Apparently, fighting is the answer in medieval England. I saw a couple more socially acceptable solutions to this one, including dealing directly with a couple of the other "bad" characters in a nonviolent way, but the author chose the fight and flight. It's possible that book two will deal with repercussions of not resolving the inheritance issue completely (at least in the bad guys' eyes). But the heroes did escape from a very claustrophobic scenario and made their getaway, so all's well that ends well.

No fantasy in this one, just straight historical fiction. A good, serious read with fun historical facts and details that really fleshed out the reading experience. I'll be happy to give this one a 4 of 5 stars. (less)

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Nov 03, 2010

Kelsey Carroll rated it

Crispin: The Cross of Lead was an okay book. I do not particularly like books that are Historical Fiction, but I could definitely see how young boys could really find this book interesting. It was about a 13-year-old peasant boy named Crispin. The story took place in the 1300’s in England. Because he had been a peasant his whole life, Crispin had never really seen much of anything except his own village. The story starts off with his mother passing away, and Crispin is left all by himself. He is...more

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Nov 02, 2010

Becca Noelle rated it

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Nov 02, 2010

Lauren rated it

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Nov 02, 2010

Rachel rated it

This book was good, very interesting to me because it is not usually what I am interested in. This is a story about a young boy, Crispin; he encounters a difficult situation when the book begins. He is left all alone; since he is all alone he is forced to leave the village that he has grown up in. After leaving his home he is soon sent into the role of a peasant and he must live as one. As he was living his life he comes across a new friend named, Bear. Bear is peasant as well and must live a li...more

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Feb 24, 2010

Sarai rated it

Shelves: children-s-chapter-books, young-adult-fiction

From Publishers Weekly
Set in 14th-century England, Avi's (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle) 50th book begins with a funeral, that of a village outcast whose past is shrouded in mystery and whose adolescent son is known only as "Asta's son." Mired in grief for his mother, the boy learns his given name, Crispin, from the village priest, although his presumably dead father's identity remains obscure. The words etched on his mother's treasured lead cross may provide some clue,...moreFrom Publishers Weekly
Set in 14th-century England, Avi's (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle) 50th book begins with a funeral, that of a village outcast whose past is shrouded in mystery and whose adolescent son is known only as "Asta's son." Mired in grief for his mother, the boy learns his given name, Crispin, from the village priest, although his presumably dead father's identity remains obscure. The words etched on his mother's treasured lead cross may provide some clue, but the priest is murdered before he can tell the illiterate lad what they say. Worse, Crispin is fingered for the murder by the manor steward, who declares him a "wolf's head" wanted dead or alive, preferably dead. Crispin flees, and falls in with a traveling juggler. "I have no name," Crispin tells Bear, whose rough manners and appearance mask a tender heart. "No home, no kin, no place in this world." How the boy learns his true identity (he's the bastard son of the lord of the manor) and finds his place in the world makes for a rattling fine yarn. Avi's plot is engineered for maximum thrills, with twists, turns and treachery aplenty, but it's the compellingly drawn relationship between Crispin and Bear that provides the heart of this story. A page turner to delight Avi's fans, it will leave readers hoping for a sequel.

I listened to this on CD in my car, a habit which I am quickly becoming addicted to! The reader's voice sounded vaguely familiar, though I did not recognize his name. Overall, the reading was good, though there were lines I would have emphasized differently.

The book itself, I enjoyed far more than the other Avi novel I have read (Midnight Magic). Crispin is an endearing young man, scared and knowing no other way than to be honest and God-fearing. Bear becomes a father-figure and friend to him, teaching him juggling and music and laughter. Their relationship is one of the best parts of the story and you see the progression and the beginnings of trust and reliance. Highly recommended.

Amazon recommended for ages 10-14; Publisher's Weekly recommended for ages 8-12.
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Nov 05, 2009

NSAndrew Liebergen rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction

The Cross of Lead is a very interesting book. I liked it, but I don’t know if it is for everyone. It is kind of a tired story line about being accused of a crime he didn’t commit, reminded me of the fugitive. His arch-enemy is John Aycliffe, who for some reason does not like Crispin. I found the English phrases interesting, such as the term Wolf’s Head, meaning that anyone who sees the boy can kill him. There is some mild violence of Father Quinel having is throat slashed while helping Cris...more

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Apr 11, 2009

Lindsey rated it

Most of the time, the Newbery isn’t awarded to books that have edge-of-your-seat plots that chug along and keep the reader nearly breathless page after page. The reason for that is because pop fiction page-turner typically don’t have the necessary elements to make them award winning. However, in the case of this text, Avi is able to cleverly combine a fast-paced story with multifaceted details about the world of England during the 14th century.

Crispin and Bear are complex characters w...more

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Apr 07, 2011

Josiah rated it

Who, since the days of the legendary Robert Louis Stevenson, has wielded more ability in the telling of gripping adventure stories for young readers than Avi? Infused continuously with realistically told elements of the rich history of medieval England, Crispin: The Cross of Lead is an enthralling tale of adventure and mystery that cuts to the heart of greed, power and betrayal at the highest levels of royal authority.

Crispin, age thirteen, is left all alone after the death of his mo...more Who, since the days of the legendary Robert Louis Stevenson, has wielded more ability in the telling of gripping adventure stories for young readers than Avi? Infused continuously with realistically told elements of the rich history of medieval England, Crispin: The Cross of Lead is an enthralling tale of adventure and mystery that cuts to the heart of greed, power and betrayal at the highest levels of royal authority.

Crispin, age thirteen, is left all alone after the death of his mother. Tied to the land by the unfeeling rigors of the feudal system, Crispin expects his life to be able to continue in much the same way as it always has, but much more is at play now then just the life of a young serf. Dark secrets of Crispin's past, secrets that he himself knows nothing about at all, have mounted up to the point of required action to be taken against him. Out of the blue, John Aycliffe, steward of the land on which Crispin lives and works, the land of Lord Furnival, falsely accuses Crispin of multiple crimes, and sets upon him the dreaded mark of the "wolf's head". Now anyone may kill Crispin on sight for the crimes of which he has been accused, and with a public reward of twenty shillings (equal to half a year's wages) on the books, Crispin's life is in grave jeopardy. The only way that he can hope to live another day is to flee his home and attempt to outrun the dogged pursuit of the enraged John Aycliffe, who clearly will go to any lengths to ensure that Crispin ends up dead. But why? Why should a plain serf boy without a family or discernible past be the target of such anger and vindictiveness for a noble like John Aycliffe?

Crispin sets out on his own not as much to find the answer to the riddle that his life has become as to just survive another day, to distance himself from the lethal metal that now follows him everywhere he goes. His chances of ultimately making it are slim, with no experience living on his own and not a single weapon with which to defend himself, but circumstances shift for Crispin when he happens upon a "ghost town" that has in the recent past been emptied of its denizens by the onset of the merciless black plague. Emptied, that is, of all but one: the strong, forcefully spoken traveling jester known as "Bear" for his monstrous size and temperament. After hearing of Crispin's plight, Bear forces him to become his servant, as can legally happen to any person who is a "wolf's head", and demands that Crispin come with him as he travels, looking for villages in which to perform. It seems that Crispin has escaped the call of certain death only to fall into the vice-like grip of slavery for life, but not all is quite that clear-cut when it comes to this giant performing jester.

What Bear proceeds to introduce Crispin to is an enormous world of far more magnificent scope than Crispin ever knew, living as he had been on his lord's small parcel of land. It's a world of nobility in places both high and low, of honesty and treachery, of schemes to subvert the course of justice or to uphold the rights of the downtrodden serfs, who toil away in service to their lords with little recompense for all that they do. Bear, himself, is an intricate part of the underground movement to one day reform the land of England into a nation run by the will of the people, a democratic form of government that will prevent the rise of cruel despots and distribute the power of decision-making and individual freedom to all, not just the wealthy lords of the land.

However, Crispin's dark past will not quit in its pursuit of him. When John Aycliffe tracks Crispin to the village of Lord Furnival's primary manor, action explodes as Crispin, as a "wolf's head", is once again is subject to being killed by anyone at any time. Only by discovering the layered secrets of his own surprising past and choosing to remain loyal to the man who has become almost like a father to him can Crispin stand in the face of John Aycliffe without flinching, and confront the evil that this man has brought down upon him.

As Crispin follows the road to learning about the deep secrets of his own life, Avi creates a sort of journey within a journey, as Crispin absorbs the wisdom that Bear has himself attained over the course of his adventurous life. We watch as Crispin begins to comprehend that he isn't just a piece of property owned by Lord Furnival, good for nothing but to work the land as free slave labor. Bear is not always a friendly keeper to Crispin, but it's his words and actions, always meaning something important, which give Crispin a hand up to realize what he, himself, is, and that no matter who his parents are or where he may have been born, he is a person like any other. This understanding gives him the courage to bravely confront the enemy when everything is put on the line, the ultimate test of whether or not Crispin will be willing to stand up for himself against the tyranny that now haunts his every move.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a good, strong story with well-defined characters and a plot that never seems to stop unfurling. The adventure treads with the quick pace of light steps, fluid and always unpredictable, casting a final path that churns with the historicity and emotion of the moment. I can see how this book would have received recognition from the Newbery committee for its unique style and always skillful writing. (less)

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Jun 17, 2010

Lila rated it

Shelves: older-kids-teens, award-winning-book, historical-fiction, british-author-or-setting, medieval-era, mystery-suspense

*Newbery Award Book*
There are some Newbery Award winners that I hesitate to recommend to young readers. Sometimes, I feel the award says far more about the award committee than it says about the winning book-- they want to honor a book that makes THEM look well-read, or brave, or creative. They choose books that have more appeal to librarians and educators than their (supposed) intended audience. I am a librarian and I have been an educator, and Crispin has all the elements I look for in...more

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Aug 25, 2010

Jill rated it

Recommends it for: kids 10-12 who like adventure stories

Shelves: newbery-medal

I don't care much for Avi's writing style. He uses a lot of dashes which breaks up the sentences to the point of making the book a choppy read. Thankfully the chapters are short!

Crispin is a devout Christian at the beginning of the book. Religion is mentioned on almost every page which seems overdone, even given the time period this is meant to take place in.

I do like that throughout the book Avi talks about the idea of owning your decisions, not just leaving things up ...more

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Dec 26, 2008

Jill Williamson added it

Review by Jill Williamson

Asta’s son has never had a name. But now that his mother has died, a priest tells him his name is Crispin. Accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Crispin flees his village home. On his journey he meets a juggler named Bear, who teaches him the ways of entertaining, self defense, and snaring rabbits. At first Crispin is afraid of Bear, but the man takes care of him and teaches him to think for himself.

Crispin’s enemies continue to pursue him. Crispin...more

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Aug 24, 2011

Laurel Bradshaw rated it

Shelves: childrens-fiction, historical-fiction, medieval, newbery-medal, england

I downloaded this as an ebook from the library onto my new color Nook, just to try out the Overdrive service. I'll definitely be reading more books this way!

I loved medieval stories when I was a child and that hasn't changed any! I love all of Avi's books and this one won the Newbery medal in 2003. The ending was a bit implausible, but otherwise 14th century England came alive in a way that I think children can relate to. The characters are appealing and the action moves along. I di...more

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Jan 22, 2011

Stacy Ford rated it

Shelves: hist-fic, newbery-winner

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Nov 09, 2011

Wendy rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction

I'd like to give this Newberry winner by Avi 3.5 stars but that's not an option. So, when forced to choose, I'll go with three. This is Avi's 50th book (amazing!) and is historical fiction based on research. Avi did research into the time period and one of the characters, John Ball, is based on a real person. At the end of the book Avi explains his interest in the period began in college when he read about the Peasants' Rebellion and a series of lectures he attended on the late Middle Ages. This...moreI'd like to give this Newberry winner by Avi 3.5 stars but that's not an option. So, when forced to choose, I'll go with three. This is Avi's 50th book (amazing!) and is historical fiction based on research. Avi did research into the time period and one of the characters, John Ball, is based on a real person. At the end of the book Avi explains his interest in the period began in college when he read about the Peasants' Rebellion and a series of lectures he attended on the late Middle Ages. This interest in the time period is evidenced particularly at the beginning and middle of the book. For those less familiar with some of the feudal terms, a glossary is provided at the end.

From the start of the book Avi situates the reader into a feudal time period in which England is still reeling from the impact of wars and the plague, is rife with political and church corruption, and in which a majority of the people are living in impoverished conditions. Crispin, the main character, lives a life of poverty with little hope or expectation for betterment in this life. He is bound by religious doctrine and societal expectation that teach one to accept and not question.

This is a story of morality and change. It questions what is family, demonstrates the corruption of unchecked power, and ultimately offers a glimpse of hope through change (personal and societal). Avi's end of the book interview explains that he is seeking to write a story that is a prelude to (and ultimately window into) the reformation of a culture and how difficult change is. As you read the story it is clear that the ruling class live a very different life and wish to maintain it at an enormous cost to the serfs who live as slaves. Avi also indicates that he is seeking to emphasize a "philosophy for change." He states that if we understand that change is part of history (of the human experience), then change is something that is a thread through time and that we are capable of creating & engendering change.

The reason this is important in this review is that while the beginning of the book appears to be realistic for the time, the end of the book does not appear to be realistic. (Hence the 3 star review). How the book wraps up does not seem to be authentic, regardless of the change that has occurred within Crispin. That said, I did enjoy the book, but I think that a caveat of unrealistic ending needs to be articulated. The book is certainly in line with Avi's stated philosophy of change, but the authenticity, particularly at the end, is somewhat compromised.

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Oct 22, 2010

Joan Innes added it

This story is set in the barbaric conditions of medieval Britain. A young nameless boy and his mother are subjected to the unjustness of a hard-hearted overlord/landowner. After the mother's death, with his ownly memento, a lead cross with an undecipherable writing on it, the young teenager takes us on a winding journey through circumstance and providence.

The strong distinction is shown through the story of the keen distinction between the luxuries, titles, privileges and pomposi...more

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About Avi

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use."
Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and The Crispin series. His work is very much desired by readers young and old.

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Quotes from Crispin: The Cross of ...

“I kept asking myself if I felt different, if I was different. The answer was always yes. I was no longer nothing…
How odd, I thought; it had taken my mother’s death, Father Quinel’s murder, and the desire of others to kill me to claim a life of my own.” — 8 people liked it

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title link	preview: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
avg rating	preview: Crispin: The Cross of Lead Goodreads rating: 3.55 (6322 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/353342.Crispin?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174014123m/353342.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/353342.Crispin?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi[/url]

Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Crispin #1)

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