The Cross of Lead [Large Print] [Hardcover]

All through his life, this boy has been called Asta's Son. That's what everybody called him and knew him as. His tale begins when his mother, Asta, dies. All his mother has ever called him is son. After she dies, Asta's Son and the priest wrap her body in a gray shroud. The next day Asta's Son's steward, John Aycliffe, says he must bring his ox to the manor house tomorrow. If Asta's Son doesn't he will not be able to pay the fee for his mother's death. Asta's Son decides to run into the forest, farther and farther until he sees a mysterious thing going on. He sees John Aycliffe and another man. He hears the other man say, "You must do it now." John Aycliffe replies, "I must? Right now?" Just then, the other man sees Asta's Son. John Aycliffe turns around and sees him as well. John Aycliffe is furious. He is determined to kill him. Asta's Son tries his best to make a run for and soon finds himself tripping over a cliff. When John Aycliffe looks down the cliff, he does not see anything, for it is pitch black. He decides that he is not down there. Asta's Son is relieved, but only for now. The next thing he knows is that John Aycliffe has claimed him a wolf's head. This means that anyone who sees him can kill him. John Aycliffe is also offering much money for the reward. He claims that Asta's Son broke into the manor house and stole some money, which Asta's Son never did. Now Asta's Son has nowhere to go for he is afraid that he might get caught. He only has one place to go to, Father Quinel's church. Late at night, he decides to go there. Father Quinel is pleased to see him. He tells Asta's Son to come to the church tomorrow and meet him. He says that he must escape as soon as possible. just as Asta's Son is about to leave the church, he thinks sees a shadow of a person. The next day when Asta's Son comes to the church to meet with Father Quinel, he finds someone else in his place. His name is Cerdic. He tells Asta's Son that Father Quinel is unable to meet with him and that he us going to take him instead. Asta's Son does not completely trust him but goes with Cerdic anyways. Cerdic follows close behind him. Cerdic then leads him into a trap. Before Asta's Son knows it, he is surrounded by many men. Asta's Son makes a run for it. He runs toward the mill and soon falls into the mill river. Gasping for breath he treads through the water. He tries to tread away from the men as far as he can. When Asta's Son does he stays as still as possible to listen where the men are headed. They decide to look in the ford, where they think Asta's Son has crossed. Asta's Son climbs out of the river and grabs on to the ground. He feels so exhausted and confused. Even though he does, he keeps on running farther and farther away. While he's running, he stops by at the church. Then he sees him. Father Quinel's neck has been slit open. There is blood all over the ground. Asta's Son is shocked by this sight. He makes the sign of the cross and keeps on running. Soon he starts to get hungry. He feels around for the bag of food Goodwife Peregrine gave him before he left. He has lost it. He grabs his mother's cross of lead. He sees that it has words all written over it, but he could not read it, for Asta's Son was never taught how to read or write. Days later, Asta's Son stops by another church. He hears a faint singing coming from inside. He looks inside and finds a man singing. When the man sees him he asks him what he is doing there. Then the man offers Asta's Son some food. He is starving and takes the food thankfully. When he finishes, the man says he must pay for his food. Asta's Son says he has no money to pay him. He tells the man that he is a wolf's head. The man asks him what he has done to become a wolf's head. Asta's Son replies that he stole something. The man asks if he really did it or not and Asta's Son says no. Asta's Son then becomes the man's apprentice. The man gives Asta's Son a new name. Crispin. They escape Stromford together. In the end, they escape Stromford and still live to tell the tale.

I did not dislike or like this book. I thought this book was okay. I thought this book was okay because it did not have a really interesting plot like most books do. For example, when the writer writes, "Feeling much aggrieved, I ate the food, then lay back upon the straw. I was not very happy." This is why I do not think the plot of the story is very interesting.

I also do not dislike or like the book because it has good vocabulary usage. The vocabulary used in this book is very good. For example, "But the day had been long and tumultuous. Despite my intentions, I fell asleep." This is why I do not dislike or like this book. I have good and bad comments as well.

My favorite part in the book was when Crispin and bear escape the gates of Stromford. I like it when Bear battles John Aycliffe and all of his many soldiers. That part has a lot of action going on in it. It is also my favorite part because it makes you want to actually be there in the story. This is why this is my favorite part in the book, Crispin: The Cross Of Lead.

As a teacher, I found this book to be well written with many "teachable moments". Avi's vocabulary is complex, creating a novel that is perfect for upper elementary and middle school children.