Parents' Guide to

Crusader

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Racism, mystery, murder, and politics ... at the mall.

Book Edward Bloor Contemporary Fiction 2004
Crusader Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

T Shirt
T Shirt Parent
March 5, 2019
age 10+

I dont know how this is a follow-up

its fun.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Roberta cruises passively and seemingly without emotion through her lousy life. Her mother was killed seven years ago, her father is rarely home, and she works after school and weekends for no pay at the family's failing arcade in a dying mall frequented by skinheads. During the course of the novel two more people to whom she is close die, one a gruesome suicide right in front of her. The only person who seems to care about her is the old lady who runs the Hallmark store in the mall. But when she meets an undercover detective investigating hate crimes at the mall she begins to emerge from her passive shell to stand up to her school, a local lying politician, and finally her father, as she finds clues that lead her to a series of devastating revelations about her mother's death.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):

No one will ever accuse Edward Bloor of a lack of originality. His rich and complex novels, though in need of tighter editing, have characters, settings, and situation far from the usual YA literature. Roberta's story ping-pongs all over the place, between uncaring adults and burned-out teens whose lives are unprobed mysteries to their self-involved parents. Among the multitude of characters, only a very few are decent, caring people, though even they hide their hearts under masks of cynicism.

Though the story meanders, it holds the reader's interest throughout, though at times it's the fascination of an accident, making one want to turn away as much as look. It's a not very appealing look at aspects of our culture most of us would rather not see, dark, gritty, and very real. Teens will love it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the book's title. Why do you think Bloor chose to call it Crusader?

  • This book involves a murder -- and also deals with some heavy topics like racism. What was it that drew you to this book? Were you interested in the mystery -- or the issues? Or maybe both?

Book Details

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