Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi, 2002

Brief annotation:

Set in 14th-century England, this Newbery-winning novel centers on an orphaned outcast who gets pegged for murder.

Themes include orphans, hero story, apprenticeships and 14th-century England.

This is a good book for studying Medieval England to get a personal connection to the life of the lower class in the 14th-century. It is a good read with a lot of adventure to keep even reluctant readers interested.

- John Newbery Medal, 2003