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Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
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Crispin: The Cross of Lead (original 2002; edition 2004)

by Avi

Series: Crispin (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
5,5191271,852 (3.69)76
Summary:
This is the story of Crispin, a young boy who recently lost his mother. After the burial, he is accused of murder and theft. He has no option but too run away. He eventually meets a man called Bear. He is an entertainer that takes Crispin under his wing and teaches him his trade. Throughout the book, their is a mystery of what a necklace means that Crispin wears. In the end, it turns out he is from a royal family. But this comes with a frightening price to pay.
Personal Reaction:
I read this story back in middle school. Re reading it was just as exciting as when I read it the first time. The imagination that went into this book is incredible. I would recommend this book to readers interested in this time period who like a little bit of adventure as well.
Extension Ideas:
1. Research the time period. What is the order of the classes?
2. Reflect on how differently the classes lived.
3. In a group, make a small replica of how the town would possibly be set up.
  alexis.smith | Jul 18, 2014 |
English (126)  German (1)  All languages (127)
Showing 1-25 of 126 (next | show all)
Really enjoyed it, will have to read the rest of the series. I felt it was stronger in the beginning, where Crispin behaved in ways that are almost inexplicable by today’s standards( returning home when he clearly should have run) but, as the book progressed, he stated doing things that seemed unlikely for him(sneaking off). All in all though, held my interest ( )
  cspiwak | Mar 6, 2024 |
The Cross of Lead is a good historical fiction YA novel without a gimmick, which, frankly, I'm happy about. I'm a little tired of wizard and dragon schools, dystopian novels that hinge on unique gifts, etc. This is an excellent old-fashioned historical novel set in England's Middle Ages. It was a nice adventure with good pacing.

Now, back to the other YA novel I'm reading about a world where fairies and spirits are trying to kill humans, and the main character is at a school to learn how to defeat them and possibly become queen. I mean, I'm not completely against that type of YA novel, only the bad or middling ones. ( )
  auldhouse | Jan 23, 2024 |
I enjoyed this book very much. It was interesting and kept me curious about how the characters were going to get out of their tight spots. The end was quite a stretch, though. It did drive me a bit crazy that Cripin kept not following directions and getting himself in deeper trouble, but maybe that was an authentic 13 year old boy thing and I am just a cautious grown-up with no sense of adventure. ( )
  mslibrarynerd | Jan 13, 2024 |
Sometimes I ran, sometimes all I could do was walk. All I knew was that if the steward overtook me, I'd not survive for long....

Crispin is a poor thirteen-year-old peasant in medieval England. Accused of a crime he did not commit, he has been declared a "wolf's head," meaning he may be killed on sight, by anyone. He flees his tiny village with nothing but his mother's cross of lead.

In the English countryside, Crispin meets a man named Bear, who forces Crispin to become his servant yet encourages him to think for himself. But as Crispin's enemies draw ever closer, he is pulled right into the fortress of his foes, where he must find a way to save their very lives.
  PlumfieldCH | Sep 22, 2023 |
Set in late 1300's England this is an engaging story of an orphan boy who is, for reasons unknown, targeted for execution by his Lord's steward. I appreciated the characters and the well-drawn setting. I felt the ending was just a tad contrived but it didn't spoil it for me.

I will keep an eye out for the sequels! ( )
  fuzzi | Mar 25, 2023 |
Good young adult book, really liked the character of Bear! Young Crispin is raised in poverty in the 14th century England. So much evil abounds and after his mother dies, Crispin must flee for his life. His fortuitous meeting with Bear actually helps him realize new thoughts and dreams for himself. ( )
  LilQuebe | Jun 17, 2021 |
I enjoyed this so much and it's been a pleasure to read and discuss it with my 12-year-old son. It's the kind of book I would have absolutely loved as a boy. Though my childhood was not nearly as difficult as Crispin's, I would have identified with him. And now, as an adult knowing much more about medieval England, I was able to enjoy it for different reasons. I find it quite amazing that Avi included John Ball, the 'mad priest of Kent,' in a children's book! ( )
  bibliothecarivs | May 26, 2021 |
Have to read this for school. It isn't the best book, but it isn't the worst book! ( )
  AlizarinCrimson | Jan 7, 2021 |
Asta's son is a boy living in 14th century England. He is a peasant in the feudal system and knows very little about life or the world, only his own existence. When his mother dies he is unexpectedly plunged into life or death escape from intriguing danger. This book was a slow start but very interesting. ( )
  klnbennett | Oct 7, 2020 |
Crispin and the Cross of Lead is about Crispin, a young boy growing up in medieval England. He lives as a peasant owned by Lord Funival, who is fighting overseas and has left John Aycliffe, a cruel man, in charge. The day after his mother dies, Crispin is declared to be a Wolf's Head, which means that anyone may kill him. Crispin goes to the priest, who gives him his mother's lead cross. He promises to tell Crispin more about his mother and father, who died during the great plague. The next day, Crispin leaves the village, and finds the Priest's dead body near the corner. He then comes across an abandoned town, where a large man named Bear makes him his servant. The two begin traveling towards Great Wexly, a large city, and during their journey Bear makes him only his apprentice, and Crispin grows close to Bear. While there, Bear is kidnapped to lure Crispin in, and Crispin learns that that Lord Funival is dead and that he was his father. Crispin sneaks into the Castle and forces John to let him and Bear go, in return for giving up the cross. When Bear and Crispin are at the gate, John springs a trap. During the struggle, Bear impales John on his fellow soldier's spear, and he and Crispin leave Great Wexly to live out their lives. I enjoyed this book because of it's pacing. It has 58 chapters, and they all aren't the same lengths, making reading them all much easier to read. The book also addresses common medieval themes, like poor waste management, the ineffective surf management, and evil, power-hungry people. ( )
  CMcEwen.ELA4 | May 11, 2020 |
This has been one of my favorite Newbery winners I've read at this point. I really didn't expect much, even though I have always been a fan of Avi. I think it was the setting, the Middle Ages, that I wasn't particularly looking forward to. However, I was greatly surprised. I really did enjoy it. I not only liked the setting, but was pleased with the amount of action and suspense in the story. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. ( )
  BookishHooker | Dec 16, 2019 |
It is medieval times in England. Being a peasant is a harsh life. Known only as "Asta's son" and only having his mother to provide and raise him, this is the only life this 13 year old boy knows.

When his mother dies, life becomes harder, and when he is declared a 'wolf's head' for a crime he didn't commit, life looks like it may be impossible. You see, being a "wolf's head" means that you can be killed on sight by anyone! The only way to stay alive is for "Asta's son" to leave the village and go far away.

Being found by a man whose appearance matches his name of Bear, Asta's son becomes Bear's apprentice. Bear is a travelling entertainer, going from village to village singing, juggling and making people laugh. That is his main occupation. It seems there is also a bit of a secret mission involved.

As Asta's son is swept along with Bear, he also learns of his background; his father, why he and his mother were treated as such and why he was declared a "wolf's head." These revelations are not only surprising but also give Asta's son a new perspective and his true name...Crispin.

This is an easy read, but there is a lot of excitement, secrecy and action. Though there are no illustrations, the author paints images with his words that I found I could visualize. But then this is the 9th book of his I've read and I enjoy his style. ( )
  ChazziFrazz | Nov 14, 2018 |
This is a good gateway book to a study on Medieval England. Author Avi does a great job of describing the oppressive conditions the serfs lived under during this time and creates a very authentic and heartwarming character in Crispin. He describes the time in great detail and also adds in lots of action and even some humor in order to keep the reader engaged.
  kimjarvis | Aug 8, 2018 |
While Crispin: The Cross of Lead starts off a little slow, it quickly picks up and hooks you. Why is Crispin targeted and hated so by John Aycliffe? As he flees from the village and only life he's ever known, Crispin encounters Bear, a juggler who takes him under his wing. A challenging friendship develops as Crispin learns about a world he's never experienced. Avi allows us to see the world through Crispin's innocent eyes and wonder who will be friend or foe. Two more books round out the series, both recommended. ( )
  gharhar | Jul 16, 2018 |
Ok. Not great. True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is much better. ( )
  valorrmac | May 15, 2018 |
Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.
  unsoluble | Jan 22, 2018 |
Shortly after the death of his mother, an overheard encounter leads to Crispin running for his life in 14th century England. On his journey, he meets a juggler who may be more than what he seems, and he learns about the secret of his own parentage. Avi is an author I never think of as a favorite, but his stories always draw me in. This Newbery winner is tightly plotted and well-researched, and I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy medieval tales. ( )
  foggidawn | Jul 23, 2017 |
Historical Fiction Novel Assignment
  AlecA1994 | Jul 15, 2017 |
It was okay. The chapters were WAY too short for my comfort. The breaks were random and, often, a single scene spanned four or five chapters. Crispin was ENTIRELY too religious for my reasoning. I understand that this was a different time period, but for a poor, shunned farm boy with no education, no family, and no knowledge of the outside world, he was pretty darn knowledgeable about religion, saints, prayers, and whatnot. I get that the priest was one of his only friends, but still it all seemed TOO preachy for me. Also, not a lot happened. From the beginning of the book, there were maybe four or five major events and it took forever to get there. There was little action, little intrigue, and little to motivate me to keep reading other than I really wanted to know what was written on the darn cross. I'll read the second one because my library has it, but as my library does not have the third, unless something miraculous happens, I won't read the third. ( )
  kamikaze2011 | Jun 20, 2017 |
Crispin is an orphaned boy forced to flee from his home town. He meets up with a street performer who is mysterious and knows something about Crispin's past that Crispin does not.
  step36 | Jun 8, 2017 |
Set in the Middle Ages in England, the story follows Crispin, a young boy who is declared a thief and sentenced to hang. Crispin is on the run followed by John, a cruel steward. A political action adventure ensues.
  Jennifer LeGault | Dec 3, 2016 |
In a small town in medieval England lives a widow, Asta, and her nameless boy, known only as "Asta's son." Their life is poor and miserable, even by the standards of vassals in England at the time. But when Asta dies, her son suddenly finds himself pursued, for reason's he can't imagine, by the overlord of the town, and all the soldiers at his command. Forced to flee for his life, he soon encounters a roaming mummer, who seems at first to be a harsh and violent person, but whom the boy soon enough learns has plenty of good in him as well. But no matter how far they go, the overlord and his soldiers seem to still be hunting for the boy. The adventure comes to a head in a large town holding a festival, where Crispin (for that is his true name) learns why he has been sought, and has to make some difficult decisions - something he has never done for himself before. ( )
  fingerpost | Sep 4, 2016 |
This was a sweet story of a young boy struggling with the death of his mother. All alone in the world, Crispin is befriended by Bear who teaches him about friendship, faith and self-esteem. ( )
  HeatherLINC | Jan 23, 2016 |
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
3 stars

Crispin is a peasant boy in 14th Century England. When his mother dies, the Lord of the manor he is bound to tries to have him killed. After being given a cryptic message from the local priest, who is the only person Crispin can trust, he flees with nothing except a lead cross that belonged to his mother. This is a young adult novel and is very heavy with historical information about the period.

Avi is one of my favorite children’s authors, and while this isn’t his best book, the action does draw you in. ( )
  AmandaL. | Jan 16, 2016 |
This is the second book about Crispin, and it picks up right where the first left off. It seems like there is no where in the world Crispin and Bear can go to escape all of their enemies, so they just keep traveling. In the process they pick up a third companion, Troth, a young girl with a deformed mouth (I’m assuming cleft palate here, but since we’re still in the 14th Century, they never call it that).

I didn’t like this one as much as the first book because it just didn’t have the action to keep the plot moving along. I kept losing interest and putting the book down. It wasn’t bad, but there are just so many better books out there. ( )
  AmandaL. | Jan 16, 2016 |
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