Richie's Picks: CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD by Avi, Hyperion, June 2002

CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD is a thrilling and endearing tale, unquestionably my favorite book of Avi's from the bunch I've read. (This is, in fact, his fiftieth book.) CRISPIN is set in 1300s England. Not only is the story steeped in the history of feudalistic medieval Britain, but Avi brings that history to life most vividly without ever once hitting you over the head with it.

"Time was the great millstone, which ground us to dust like kerneled wheat. The Holy Church told us where we were in the alterations of the day, the year, and in our daily toil. Birth and death alone gave distinction to our lives, as we made the journey between the darkness from whence we had come to the darkness where we were fated to await Judgment Day."

CRISPIN is the name of the 13-year-old peasant main character; although, the only name he's known for himself is "Asta's Son." That is until his mother dies, and in his blinding grief he stumbles upon a secret meeting in the woods between John Aycliffe--the steward of the manor--and a wealthy stranger. In a flash he finds himself the target of a plot in which he is falsely accused of a theft and declared a "wolf's head," allowing anyone to kill him on sight. On his way "out of town" the village priest tells the boy his real name, tells him to hide out for 24 hours until he can round up some provisions, and promises to reveal some more vital information the next day. Then the priest proceeds to get his throat slit and Crispin is on the run with the theft AND the priest's murder hanging over him. What happens to him is one of those stories that is so well crafted that you can taste and smell the settings, as well as hear the sinister growl in Aycliffe's throat, as you anxiously wait for something to go right for Crispin.

While trying not to reveal any more of the story, I'll also tell you that there is a character in here who I find darn near as lovable as Hagrid.

I hope that Avi is contemplating a sequel to this one--the end came way too soon for me.

Richie Partington
http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com ( )

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 with interesting pasts that add to their dimensions and create depth for the readers. Crispin is representative of the rural ignoramus who follows religion blindly and wants only to live a poor life without muddying the waters around him. Bear, on the other hand, is bent on social revolution and utilizes his wits to take advantage of those around him, especially the poor dullards he encounters throughout the villages he passes through. The two characters, combined with the overlying social structure that creates the tension and action gives a dual combination of an enrapturing and educational read. I recommend this book to any readers 10 .

-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com ( )

Asta's son has no name. And, after the death of his mother, no family to protect him when he is accused of a crime he didn't commit and he has no choice but to leave his village. All he can take with him on the journey is his newly revealed name - Crispin - and his mother's cross of lead. Travelling without purpose, through a countryside still ravaged by the effects of the plague, Crispin stumbles upon a juggler, a giant of a man known as Bear. Crispin becomes Bear's servant but the juggler is a strange master offering both protection and encouraging Crispin to think for himself. But Crispin is not safe and it becomes clear he is being relentlessly pursued. Why are his enemies so determined to kill him?

This book was a good example of a historical fiction because it dealt with a fictional story but it took place in a specific and historically accurate time period. In this book the main character and narrator is Crispin. Crispin is a thirteen year old boy living during the Fuedalism of England in the 1300s.
At the start of the book Crispin is only known as "Asta's son." But whn his mother dies he is not only turned out of his home, but declared a "wolf's head" by the village steward. This makes it so he is able to be killed without repercussion by any who sees him. Because of this he must flee for his life, armed only with his real name, Crispin, and a lead cross that belonged to his mother. He soon runs into Bear, a traveling juggler, who claims him as a servant, but Bear treats Crispin as more like a son than a servant. Bear is involved in dangerous business of his own and Crispin is still being hunted by the men from his village.
Age Appropriateness: Middle ( )

I am currently teaching this book to my class of 7th graders. They love it, and so do I. It is most often listed as a piece historical fiction, but it also has a great deal of mystery to it - this is what really hooks my students. Crispin is a poor orphan being chased for reasons he knows not. When he runs away, he meets Bear, a juggler, and becomes his servant. In Bear, though, he finds more of a father, teacher, and friend than a master - and it turns out that is just what Crispin needs if he is going to survive. The book takes place in Medieval England following the plague. There is a lot of language that is contemporary to the time, which may throw off some readers, but it is fairly easily understood through context. The "twist" at the end will seem pretty obvious to older readers - but, for the middle school age group, is a great adventure story full of surprises. ( )