false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174014123m/353342.jpg 353342 15 Genre-jumping author Avi clocks in here with his 50th book, <I>Crispin: The Cross of Lead</I>, an action-packed historical narrative that follows the frantic flight of a 13-year-old peasant boy across 14th-century England.<p> After being declared a "wolf's head" by his manor's corrupt steward for a crime he didn't commit (meaning that anyone can kill him like a common animal--<I>and</I> collect a reward), this timid boy has to flee a tiny village that's the only world he's ever known. But before our protagonist escapes, Avi makes sure that we're thoroughly briefed on the injustices of feudalism--the countless taxes cottars must pay, the constant violence, the inability of a flawed church to protect its parishioners, etc. Avi then folds in the book's central mystery just as the boy is leaving: "Asta's son," as he's always been known, learns from the village priest that his Christian name is Crispin, and that his parents' origins--and fates--might be more perplexing than he ever imagined.<p> Providing plenty of period detail (appropriately gratuitous for the age group) and plenty of chase-scene suspense, Avi tells a good story, develops a couple of fairly compelling characters, and even manages to teach a little history lesson. (Fortunately, kids won't realize that they're learning about England's peasant revolt of 1381 until it's far too late.) (Ages 10 to 14) <I>--Paul Hughes</I> 1374812 book 2002 Crispin: The Cross of Lead total:2715|5:31|4:57|3:63|2:14|1:2| 2715 9728 3339 414 4 2 false false Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Mar 05 07:36:51 -0800 2008 Wed Mar 05 07:36:51 -0800 2008
I was surprised at the c...more...]]> 2 1 false false Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Dec 03 12:21:09 -0800 2007 Mon Dec 03 12:21:51 -0800 2007 more...]]> 3 1 false false Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004 Mon Nov 26 19:50:12 -0800 2007 Mon Nov 26 19:51:16 -0800 2007 more...]]> 2 1 false false Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 11 20:51:35 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 30 13:01:44 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 05 10:10:42 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 05 10:24:20 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Apr 11 20:10:10 -0700 2009 Sat Apr 11 20:10:58 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 1 false false Fri Dec 26 13:55:49 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 26 13:55:49 -0800 2008
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 entertain...more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Oct 30 15:13:29 -0700 2009 Sun Nov 08 15:53:02 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 15 20:50:58 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 15 20:52:29 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false true Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Jul 24 13:29:23 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 24 13:29:38 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Tue Mar 17 10:37:52 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 17 10:49:45 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Oct 31 09:33:36 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 31 09:40:15 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 4 false false Wed Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 17 17:51:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 22 07:28:56 -0700 2009 Avi has a unique skill at flattening characters. Everyone pretty much sounds the same as every other character. S...more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 26 06:57:00 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 26 07:12:34 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 10 21:34:24 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 10 21:37:34 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false true Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 08 15:56:51 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 08 16:02:02 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Apr 05 05:12:06 -0700 2008 Sat Apr 05 05:12:35 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Tue Sep 01 09:49:18 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 01 09:49:40 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sat Feb 28 20:27:07 -0800 2009 Sat Feb 28 20:35:36 -0800 2009 2 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon May 04 13:47:12 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 14:12:41 -0700 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=353342