Crispin and the Cross of Lead and Crispin at the Edge of the World by Avi

Astor's son has always lived with his mother on the edge of starvation in a small town in 14th century England.  His mother has been shunned for some reason her son doesn't understand, and he shares in her status.  When she dies of illness, Astor's son doesn't know where to go or what to do, but he soon discovers that the overseer of the manor wants him dead as well.  A kindly priest gives him a cross that used to belong to his mother, tells him his birth name is Crispin, and urges him to flee the city.  Out on the open road Crispin meets a juggler, called Bear, who takes him on, first as a servant and then as an apprentice.  The juggler is also more than he seems, and soon both he and Bear are running from the magistrates.  Will Crispin ever truly be free?

In the second book Bear and Crispin meet a pagan midwife and her harelipped ward. When the old woman is killed by an angry mob lead by the town bailiff, Crispin and Bear take the girl, Troth, under their care and together they flee the town and continue to search for a place where they can live in peace.  The constant stress takes a toll on Bear, and more and more Crispin must step up and make sure they all stay safe.


I read The Cross of Lead because I was considering using it for a Parent/Child book club.  After I finished it I decided to use a different book.  It is well written and the characters are sympathetic, but I think is was a bit too gritty for the age group that comes to my book club.  It also bothered me that they swear by various body parts of Jesus and God throughout.  Although these oaths are perhaps historically accurate, and most people wouldn't think of them as swearwords, that is what they felt like to me. (2002, 268 p.)

When I finished The Cross of Lead, none of the other books I had on hold had come in yet, so I went ahead and read the second book in the series.  I liked it as well as the first, but was a little disappointed to come to the end and realize that the story continues in a third book.  I should have known--book series rarely just come in two.  I may or may not read the third the next time I am between other reading choices.(2006, 234 p)