Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi copyright 2002 Newberry Award winner
I read this book a month or so ago. I found it at the Scholastic book fair at my children's school. Although labeled a "children's" book, I enjoyed it. There is a lot of good to be said about a quick read. The setting is medieval England countryside. The story begins with a thirteen year old boy burying his mother in a pauper's grave with only the town priest in attendance. The boy doesn't even know he has a name other than "Asta's son" which is what people have always called him. He is the lowest of the low on the social rungs of the little country town social ladder. One might think that he would just fade away for lack of a way to support himself, but rather than shrink into nothingness, the boy becomes the object of intrigue and must run away. Before he does, the priest tells him his name and tries to help him, but the priest is killed for his trouble.
The story moves along at a brisk pace with Crispin running for his life, finding a friend and protector and finally learning why he is in trouble in the first place. Although the storyline would like be more developed if it were a book written for an adult audience, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I think there is a sequel, but I haven't located it yet.
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3 comments:
Another book aimed at children but which I think you might enjoy is 'The Boy with the Monkey'.
Here in Great Britain we have a problem with white boys being illiterate and generally uninterested in reading. Consequently I have started producing short, in the first person, stories aimed at boys 9 - 12.
'The Boy with the Monkey' is set during the Second World War when the Japanese over ran the Malay peninsular capturing all before them. The European men they sent to POW camps, but unsure what to do with the women, they marched them from place to place. One unfortunate group walked for two and half years. 80% died, but so did their guards, and sometimes groups ended up in the bizarre situation of being prisioners without jailors.
10 year old Lawrence is in such a group, and it falls to him to learn how to fish to keep the group alive. Having lost his mother and baby brother he has difficulties forming relationships, but he does fancy having one of the wild monkeys as a pet.
Currently only available as an e-book, a paperback version is planned for the spring.
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/TheBoyWithTheMonkey.html
I've read other books by Avi and have liked them. I'll have to give this one a try.
I read this a few years ago when I was still teaching and thought it was great. Good pick!
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