Crusades: Kids at the Crossroads - Softcover

Scandiffio, Laura

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554511461 ISBN 13: 9781554511464

Publisher: Annick Press, 2009

Synopsis

What if kids kept blogs during pivotal moments in world history?

The Internet offers modern kids amazing ways to express themselves and learn about the world. Imagine if the same technology had been available to children during dramatic episodes in history. Welcome to the Kids at the Crossroads series.

Each book is written as an Internet journal, including illustrated snapshots of the action and "links" to sidebar windows providing facts about and images of the era. This innovative blend of history and high-tech storytelling is sure to capture the attention of web junkies and history buffs alike.

Crusades: Kids at the Crossroads logs you on to the blog of 12-year-old Hans, who is destined to march in the 13th-century Children's Crusade. Restless with his duties in his father's wheelwright shop, Hans longs to follow his older brother, Otto, who joined a crusade to the Holy Land two years earlier and hasn't been heard from since. When a mysterious stranger appears in the night and describes new troubles stirring, Hans sees his chance to go after his brother.

Soon Hans has joined thousands of young people, led by the charismatic Nicholas, on a march across Europe. But the journey is more perilous than anyone realized. As the dangers rise, morale plummets, and the crusade breaks apart. Hans perseveres to the Holy Land and to a bittersweet reunion with his wounded brother.

With its innovative blog style, nail-biting storyline and info-packed sidebars about the actual Children's Crusade, Crusades: Kids at the Crossroads is historical fiction at its high-tech best.

About this title

About the Author

Laura Scandiffio is the award-winning author of Escapes! and The Martial Arts Book. She lives in Toronto.

John Mantha has illustrated more than a dozen books, including The Siege: Under Attack in Renaissance Europe. He lives in Toronto.

Review

You certainly can't fault the Kids at the Crossroads series for a lack of originality. The idea is that you're reading (in series nonfiction book form, complete with side boxes, illustrations, and maps) a kid's blog from different historical eras, in this case, the summer of 1212... offering an insider's view of history as it happens.... Here, the blog entries follow 12-year-old Hans as he embarks on what would become known as the Children's Crusade. He falls under the sway of the charismatic leader Nicholas, but Hans mostly just wants to reunite with his older brother in the Holy Land. Hyperlinks lead to side boxes that can, much like a traipse through the real Internet, disorient from the main thread. Though the pace lags at times, this wily blend of fiction and information makes for a most unusual history lesson. (Ian Chapman Booklist 2010-04-05)

Crusades...is a masterpiece of genius. This book is a must-have for any grade 4-6 classroom shelf. (Canadian Materials Reviews 2010-09-24)

(reviewed with Aztec) These clever books tell historically accurate stories in a modern blog-style format. Aztec is about a boy living in the Aztec civilization circa 1519. Crusades tells the story of a boy destined to march in the children's crusade. The format engages young readers and makes the historical tales more accessible. (Metro Family Magazine (Oklahoma))

Crusades...is a masterpiece of genius. This book is a must-have for any grade 4-6 classroom shelf. (CM Magazine 2010-09-24)

This gorgeous volume will appeal to fans who crave information on current stars in both leagues. There are lots of statistical highlights and full color photos. (Vicki Mickunas Dayton Daily News 2011-04-25)

About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1554511461
• ISBN 13: 9781554511464
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 72
• Illustrator: Holdcroft Tina