LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its the best book EVER!!!!!!!!! I liked it because of all the suspense and mild violence. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(heavy violence really.) -a good book.- williamdm.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
(2005, Fiction - Historical fiction)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Start of an exciting medieval adventures series.
updated 01.26.10
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Crispin: The Cross of Lead was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that this is a darker view of Middle Ages serfdom than one usually encounters.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about what life was really like for peasants, and what John Ball tried to do about it.
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More on Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Book Summary
In 1300s England, the night after Crispin's mother dies, he overhears a conversation between John Aycliffe, steward of the manor, and a stranger. Suddenly he finds himself hunted, accused of theft. When the priest who tries to help him turns up dead, Crispin is also accused of murder. Fleeing the village in which he has spent his entire life, he takes up with a wandering juggler called Bear.
Still pursued by Aycliffe and his men, they try to lose themselves in a large town, Great Wexly, where Bear has secret plans to meet with the revolutionary, John Ball. Crispin is thrilled just to see such a big town. But there is more to his past than he knows, and a much bigger reason why Aycliffe is so determined to kill him.
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot here to keep young readers enthralled. The plot is an exciting adventure, with a gritty edge just violent enough to keep the pages turning. The details of the medieval setting are fascinating, and offer a picture of peasant life much more grim than most other books set in this time period.
Crispin is an appealing character, and Bear even more so, and Crispin's progress in learning from Bear to be a juggler and musician is very satisfying. There are mysteries and suspense and plot twists, though alert readers will solve the major mystery long before Crispin does. One odd omission is that there's no Author's Note to explain the historical background, and a map would have been nice as well.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, Publication date: 3/20/2005
Number of pages: 262, Price: $15.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 9+, Read Alone: 10+
Number of pages: 262, Price: $15.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 9+, Read Alone: 10+
Our Members Say
See 24 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
crispin,The cross of lead
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Kids ages: 8, 11
I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
fine for older kids but not ok for tweens
I hated that a new vocabulary word that my son had to learn was B******. And it was so central to the theme of the book that it could not be ignored. The boy does not know who his father is during most of the book--and people are trying to kill him and he does not know why. Finally, it comes out that he is the illegitimate son of the lord of the land--now deceased. It may provide an interesting social commentary of what it was like to live during that time (not a history buff so I can't comment on its accuracy) but some of its themes are too mature for an 11 year old. I can see why some people think it is a good read--it is fast paced and the characters are colorful but I think it would be more appropriate for someone a little bit older.
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
I think this book was okay. It was a bit hard to follow, even for me. However, its a great book if your wanting to get an idea of the midde ages.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Loved this book sooo much!
I had to read it for school, and I thought it was torture at first but towards the middle and end it was great!!! There was some violence that kinda creeped me out but all around good book otherwise.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
a great book for history projects
in the 1400s yes not 1300s a boy named Asta's son is all this boy has been called and when his mother dies ( the only family he has left) he son after gets declared a wolf's head for a crime he did not commit. You go on many adventures with Asta's son and will soon learn his new name. this book is very good it has a lot of facts from medieval europe.
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| 50% | of parents say it's too violent |
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