(3/20/2015)
The novel Crispin, by Avi, is full of adventure, action, and plot twists that keep readers on their toes, making it a great book to read. It shows readers the Middle Ages from a perspective that they've never seen before: a serf's. And from this point of view, it explains the hardships and struggles of being a peasant with no land, money, freedoms, or rights to rely upon. Throughout the book, Crispin is faced with immense persecution, very few rights, and great poverty, as well as a burning desire to discover who he truly is. The book had many examples of loyalty, friendship, and self-sacrifice, as well as the usual Medieval torture, oppression, and death. It could be uninteresting at parts, especially in the beginning when there was little happening, and, like most books, it also could be hard to get into. However, overall, Crispin by Avi is a great, interesting, and imaginative story that will educate readers about the life of a peasant during the Middle Ages, but not without adventure, action, and plot twists.