Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) — Content Guide for Parents
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Content themes
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
A fourteenth-century English peasant boy is falsely accused of murder in this Newberry Medal-winning, New York Times –bestselling mystery adventure.
"A page turner to delight Avi's fans, it will leave readers hoping for a sequel." — Publishers Weekly
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.
A master of breathtaking plot twists and vivid characters, award-winning author Avi brings the full force of his storytelling powers to the world of medieval England.
"Avi has done an excellent job of integrating background and historical information, of pacing the plot so that the book is a page-turner from beginning to end, and of creating characters for whom readers will have great empathy. The result is a meticulously crafted story, full of adventure, mystery, and action." — School Library Journal
Frequently asked questions
Is Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The narrative includes elements of violence, such as a character being accused of murder and the mention of a throat being slit, indicating a gritty edge to the story. This violence is described as enough to keep readers engaged. The book contains elements that could be considered scary, such as Crispin being hunted and accused of theft and murder, which may create a sense of danger and suspense for readers.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have violence?
The narrative includes elements of violence, such as a character being accused of murder and the mention of a throat being slit, indicating a gritty edge to the story. This violence is described as enough to keep readers engaged.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have scary content?
The book contains elements that could be considered scary, such as Crispin being hunted and accused of theft and murder, which may create a sense of danger and suspense for readers.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have religious themes?
The book contains references to faith, including a mention of St. Giles, which suggests a religious context. However, the specifics of religious practices or beliefs are not detailed in the search results.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have racial/cultural content?
There are no explicit themes of race or racism in the book. The search results do not indicate that race is a central theme or plot point.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have profanity?
No profanity is indicated in the book's content. The search results do not mention any instances of swearing or inappropriate language.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have climate change?
No climate themes or environmental issues are present in the book. The search results do not mention any related content.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is mentioned in the book. The search results focus on adventure and mystery without any reference to sexual themes.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have gender roles?
The search results do not indicate any discussion or critique of gender roles within the narrative. The focus is primarily on adventure and identity rather than gender dynamics.
Does Crispin: Cross of Lead (Newbery Medal Winner) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the book's narrative. The search results reference general information about LGBTQ+ books but do not provide specific content related to Crispin: Cross of Lead.
