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book cover of 

The Cross of Lead 

 (Crispin, book 1)

by

Avi

The Cross of Lead

(The first book in the Crispin series)
(2002)
A novel by

Avi

Awards
Newbery Medal
 

Genre-jumping author Avi clocks in here with his 50th book, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, an action-packed historical narrative that follows the frantic flight of a 13-year-old peasant boy across 14th-century England.

After being declared a "wolf's head" by his manor's corrupt steward for a crime he didn't commit (meaning that anyone can kill him like a common animal--and collect a reward), this timid boy has to flee a tiny village that's the only world he's ever known. But before our protagonist escapes, Avi makes sure that we're thoroughly briefed on the injustices of feudalism--the countless taxes cottars must pay, the constant violence, the inability of a flawed church to protect its parishioners, etc. Avi then folds in the book's central mystery just as the boy is leaving: "Asta's son," as he's always been known, learns from the village priest that his Christian name is Crispin, and that his parents' origins--and fates--might be more perplexing than he ever imagined.

Providing plenty of period detail (appropriately gratuitous for the age group) and plenty of chase-scene suspense, Avi tells a good story, develops a couple of fairly compelling characters, and even manages to teach a little history lesson. (Fortunately, kids won't realize that they're learning about England's peasant revolt of 1381 until it's far too late.) (Ages 10 to 14) --Paul Hughes
 
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Used availability for Avi's The Cross of Lead


See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
 

 

Hardback Editions

August 2008 : Library Binding
Cover of ISBN: 1435234839Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 1-4352-3483-9 / 978-1-4352-3483-3
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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December 2004 : Library Binding
Cover of ISBN: 1417745401Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 1-4177-4540-1 / 978-1-4177-4540-1 (USA edition)
Publisher: Bt Bound
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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June 2004 : Library Binding
Cover of ISBN: 0613749650Title: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-613-74965-0 / 978-0-613-74965-7 (USA edition)
Publisher: San Val
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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October 2003 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0439577756Title: Crispin
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-439-57775-6 / 978-0-439-57775-5 (USA, UK, or Canada (English speaking) edition)
Publisher: SIMON & SCHUSTER CHI
Availability: Amazon   
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October 2003 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0689837747Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-689-83774-7 / 978-0-689-83774-6 (USA edition)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   
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July 2003 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0786255013Title: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-7862-5501-3 / 978-0-7862-5501-6 (USA edition)
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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June 2002 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0786826479Title: Cross of Lead, The: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-7868-2647-9 / 978-0-7868-2647-6 (USA edition)
Publisher: Hyperion
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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June 2002 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0786808284Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2003 John Newbery Medal Winner)
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-7868-0828-4 / 978-0-7868-0828-1 (USA edition)
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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June 2002 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0439574676Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-439-57467-6 / 978-0-439-57467-9 (USA, UK, or Canada (English speaking) edition)
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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Paperback Editions

August 2004 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0689837771Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-689-83777-1 / 978-0-689-83777-7 (USA edition)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   
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June 2004 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0786816589Title: Crispin: Cross of Lead, The
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-7868-1658-9 / 978-0-7868-1658-3 (USA edition)
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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2004 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0439574684Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): AVI
ISBN: 0-439-57468-4 / 978-0-439-57468-6 (USA, UK, or Canada (English speaking) edition)
Publisher: SCHOLASTIC
Availability: Amazon   
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June 2002 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0439690277Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-439-69027-7 / 978-0-439-69027-0 (USA, UK, or Canada (English speaking) edition)
Publisher: Scholastic Trade
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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Audio Editions

December 2002 : Audio Cassette
Cover of ISBN: 1402522029Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 1-4025-2202-9 / 978-1-4025-2202-4 (USA edition)
Publisher: Recorded Books
Availability: Amazon   Amazon CA   
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2002 : Audio CD
Cover of ISBN: 1402545533Title: Crispin the Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 1-4025-4553-3 / 978-1-4025-4553-5 (USA edition)
Publisher: Recorded Books LLC
Availability: Amazon   
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Other Editions

June 2004 : Unknown
Cover of ISBN: 0756931878Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-7569-3187-8 / 978-0-7569-3187-2 (USA edition)
Publisher: Perfection Learning
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   
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April 2004 : Turtleback
Cover of ISBN: 0606305556Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Author(s): Avi
ISBN: 0-606-30555-6 / 978-0-606-30555-6 (USA edition)
Publisher: Demco Media
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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