Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author: Avi
ISBN: 078682647-9
262 pages
Hyperion Books, 2002 edition

Having heard so much about Avi, and being recommended so many of his works for this assignment, I would be remiss if I did not include at least one review of his work. After reading up on his literary output, I selected 'Crispin' based solely on my own personal interests as the novel that sounded most interesting.

Description:

Asta's son is the only name he has ever been called and after her death, Crispin feels lost in the world. The year is 1377 and the place is rural England. Shortly after his mother's death, Crispin overhears a conversation between the local steward John Aycliffe and a mysterious man, but the two notice him and his flight in terror begins. After narrowly escaping from Aycliffe and his henchman, Asta's son has a bounty placed on his head. A public announcement is made that proclaims Crispin a wolf's head, a persona-non-grata who may be captured, and killed, upon sight. A rogue jester and juggler, nicknamed the Bear due to his great size, is the only person willing to aid Crispin in his flight. The Bear turns out to be a much more complicated man than Crispin had bargained for, and the two make a hasty dash across the English countryside to evade the constant pursuit of Aycliffe and his men.

Review:

A very fast paced tale of flight from one of the biggest figures in children's books, 'Crispin' gives kids a good glimpse into the life of medieval England. Avi gives just the right amount of background information and historical data without making 'Crispin' seem like a history lesson. The characters are vividly detailed, especially the boy and the Bear, and the veil of Christianity shrouds all aspects of this exciting novel. While some might be turned off by the overtly religious nature of the book, it is in keeping with the superstitious and devout nature of people from that time. There is a nice balance struck between making the book realistic and true to its' time period and making the novel palatable for younger readers. The images of torch and sword wielding pursuers come from both the cover and the pages within, and anyone looking for an interesting and exciting book need look no further.