Cam's Connection

Crispin: The Cross of Lead Book Review by Avi 262 pages, $22.99 Hyperion Books Originally published in Brand New Planet. Crispin: The Cross of Lead, is an interesting historical fiction book set in the Middle Ages (1377, to be exact). According to the judges of the Newbery Medal, it is also the best children’s book in the United States for 2003. It won this prestigious award. The author, Avi, is known for his children’s and young adult literature. This is his fiftieth book! The main character, didn’t even know his own name until his mother had died and the priest at his church revealed it to him. Can you imagine going through your whole life being called “Asta’s son” or whatever your mother’s name was? Crispin’s life had been pretty boring until suddenly, after his thirteenth birthday, his mother dies and he is swept into an intriguing mystery. While walking in the woods, he overhears a conversation between the ruler of his village and a hooded stranger. The ruler, a cruel and hateful man named John Aycliffe discovers Crispin eavesdropping and tries to kill him! Our hero narrowly escapes into the forest and hides there until he thinks it’s safe to venture out. Upon his return to his village he discovers that they have burned his house and accused him of crimes he did not commit – stealing money from the manor and killing the very priest who was going to reveal further secrets about his identity to him! He must flee the village and go on an amazing and eye opening journey through Medieval England to search out a new life, and avoid being captured, because if he is caught, he will be executed. This was a very good, thrilling and often funny story about this boy’s quest. It was amusing to read Crispin’s reactions to things you and I would find completely ordinary. For example, he was shocked at seeing buildings three storeys tall when he visited a town. And he thought that a population in the thousands was humongous! I also thought it was funny how he was so pious and thought that every little thing that happened to him was God’s will. If he stubbed his toe on a pebble he would have thought God was punishing him! I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure, and doesn’t mind learning a little about history and having a hearty laugh along the way!