Review: Crispin, The Cross of Lead

Crispin and the Cross of Lead  

By: Avi  

Awards:   2003 John Newbery Medal, 2003 ALA Notable Children’s Book

PB:  Hyperion Paperbacks for Children

Main Character:  Boy

 Location:  England, 1377    

Focus:  Freedom, historical fiction, coming -of- age, self discovery, relationships     

Review:  

Crispin is a young boy living in an impoverished village in 14th century England. The plague has wiped out almost half of the British population and peasants and serfs are often ill-treated by the lords of the villages. After the death of his mother he is chased from the village and had to fend for himself. His ignorance of the world is hard for modern day people to fathom, as is his peril. He meets a wandering entertainer by the name of Bear who makes Crispin his servant. Throughout their adventures, Bear helps Crispin to gain confidence in himself and eventually, the freedom he has been craving. Many secrets are revealed and there is plenty of action. The reader gets a sense of what life in this time period was like. With a little research, students can better come to understand the peasant/serf/lord relationships, the Hundred Years’  War, the politics of ruling kings, the Peasant’s Revolt and the role of the Christian (Catholic) church in society. 

Possible Uses:  

Interesting examination of what freedom has meant to different people in different times and how that freedom is achieved.  

Excellent coming- of -age story, learning to know yourself and gaining self-confidence. 

Examine the different relationships during the time period and how modern society has changed. Are there similar relationships in our society today?  

How did Christianity play a part in people’s lives? How was religion used and abused? How is religion viewed in today’s society? Are there groups that are lacking freedoms due to religious interpretations?