Crispin: The Cross of Lead

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Crispin: The Cross of Lead
First edition cover
Author	Avi
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Young adult novel, Historical novel
Publisher	Hyperion Books
Publication date	June 2002
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	262 pp (first edition, hardback, 310 pp (paperback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-7868-0828-4 (first edition, hardback)
Preceded by	none
Followed by	Crispin: At the Edge of the World

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a 2002 children's novel written by Avi. It was the winner of the 2003 Newbery Medal. Its sequel is Crispin: At the Edge of the World.

[edit] Plot summary

Crispin's mother, Asta, dies in the beginning of the story. Crispin lives in a poverty-stricken place, called Stromford, in England controlled by a steward. While Crispin and the priest are burying Crispin's mother, the steward demands a death toll: their ox. Crispin needs the ox to work the fields, so he hides in the forest. The steward (John Aycliffe) declares him a wolf's head, meaning anyone can kill him, and claims that he had stolen from Stromford's lord, Lord Furnival. Crispin flees. Crispin meets an enormous red-bearded man named Bear, who kidnaps him. They go around in Bear's wagon performing tricks and music. In one of the towns that they go through, they learn Lord Furnival has died. Then they arrive at Great Wexly where Lord Furnival and Lady Furnival live. Bear goes about his business, leaving Crispin in his own room for the whole day. Crispin is too impatient and goes out. He sees John Aycliffe at the church and runs. Soldiers follow him, but he manages to hide. Bear later finds him after the town curfew. Afterwards, in a secret meeting Bear goes to the day before they leave Great Wexly, Crispin follows. Crispin sees soldiers and warned the men. Bear fought them off while Crispin and the others escaped. But even Bear can't hold them off. He is taken by the soldiers, most likely to be tortured. Crispin finds where Bear is held and gets inside the dungeon. John Aycliffe meets him there and is walking off to get the soldiers. Crispin, however, has a dagger and presses it against John's neck, making him swear to lead him safely to Bear and let them leave the city in exchange for Crispin keeping his identity secret; he is the son of Lord Furnival and the first lady Furnival. As Bear and Crispin leave, John breaks the oath and almost kills Bear. But his attention is drawn away to Crispin, who picked Bear's fallen dagger. Bear tackles him and throws him in to the soldier's pikes, killing him. Crispin and Bear leave the town, singing.