Avoid Fighting in the First Crusade!

You Wouldn't Want to Be ...

by Fiona Macdonald (Contributor)

An ideal text for shared and guided reading for Key Stage 2 pupils within the framework of the National Literacy Strategy, this book provides an interesting insight into the First Crusade, including the historical and geographical context; the principal figures; and the main events.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Medieval, Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Fiona Macdonald studied history at Cambridge University and at the University of East Anglia. She has taught in schools, adult education and university, and is the author of numerous books for children on historical topics.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You Wouldn’t Want to be a Crusader!” places the reader in the midst of the action. As the son of a senior servant living in England in the 1400s, the reader opts to become a knight. Macdonald describes the training and tools of knights, with insight and humor. Young readers may find this introduction to the Crusades and knighthood an inspiration to make connections between the Crusades and modern times through geography, politics, and religious studies. Young readers may be hooked by the cartoon-style illustrations, but as they work through the text, they will also absorb vocabulary and may informative facts.

[AmyintheWind · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "You Wouldn't Want to Be a..." books are some of our favorites for studying history! This one gives a pretty clear (and sometimes gross and nasty) idea of why you wouldn't want to be a crusader. Brief background is given on why Jerusalem was considered an important city by so many people and how they ended up fighting over it. Some famous figures throughout Europe are mentioned. The reader gets a solid understanding of how wars were fought back then, what kind of equipment was available, what people wore, what they ate & how they traveled.

[Bruce Nordstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very brief book aimed at younger readers, telling them that the good old days were not always so great. I like this approach. The Crusades was one of the greatest, and most bloody accidents in history, and this book points out time and again. This is a relatively new approach to history, and I hope it last.

Good book, lavishly, and comically illustrated. Insightful. Quick reading for adults and insightful for children.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining resource. Useful to give a brief outline of the First Crusade. Clever illustrations. Written from the point of view of a young knight in France who leaves his young family behind to fight for his church then ruled by Pope Urban II. Gives the reader a brief insight into why Jerusalem is having the problems it does today.

[Duane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great series of books, and this book does a great job of informing the reader about the Crusades and the reason why it happened. Filled with great illustrations, the reader will enjoy the humor along with the useful information. It's geared for any age reader.

[Ubalstecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent entry into this series from Scholastic. This one takes a look at the actual historical hardships that Crusaders endured. Again, this book does veer into the gross out factor a lot, but that is what the kids like. Good for those children studying the middle ages.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very fun to read but still, it is not for people who are my age. I think this book is for someone who is about 7 or younger because it is a very good history book that is not that boring and it would be very easy to read.
This book is about the crusade or the fight for Christianity.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative overview but not nearly as entertaining as some in this series. I think the crusades may be just too in depth of a subject for a quick and quirky children's book.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the many battles.

[Jared Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really cool and I liked the battles and stuff in it.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good when you're sick to have a few of these around. This one, like the medieval knight, had a lot of info about the armor and clothing but it had some of the reasons why the crusades happened.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice history that in no way glamorizes riding off to war in the Crusades. Fantastic illustrations make this book (grim though it may be) a fun read!

[Kelly Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides a factual history of the crusades and how religion played an important role in this war.

[Russ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Entertainingly illustrated but revisionist history intended to indoctrinate children with the silliest kind of misinformed and overly simplistic anti-religious bigotry.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I overall like this book because it has great graphics and tells a very interesting story that makes you think of all of the dangers of being a crusader.

[Megan B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Jeremy Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it but it portrayed Christians wrongly.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the humor in history it gives

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Avoid Fighting in the First Crusade!: The Danger Zone”
***
“I'm off to the Crusades, so I hope I'll be rewarded in heaven.”
“Remembered for the wrong reasons? Will your name mean only terror to peaceful people in the Holy Land? Will they tell their children sad stories about the suffering caused by the war?”

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confirms my notion that the Crusades were the height of stupidity and arrogance.