Avi does a fine job of painting life in the Dark Ages. The reader experiences, with frustration, the injustices of the times in which a peasant’s life, full of hard labor and crushing poverty, can be thrown away at the whim of the rich and powerful, The church, powerless to resist or help, offers only the promise of reward in the afterlife, if in this life peasants do as they’re told.
I didn't find the adventure and mystery in Crispin especially gripping; Crispin’s true identity seemed rather obvious through much of the book .The story is sometimes monotonous (oh--Crispin is discovered by and escapes from the villain--again!) and the ending was not wholly satisfying. The book’s merit is in the beautifully developed relationship between Crispin and Bear, whose rough exterior masks a kind heart, and in the way Bear helped Crispin see his worth, take charge of his decisions and learn to value freedom
Christian parents will find here much fodder for discussion about religious institutions, rituals, misuse of power, superstition, spiritual deception and the rightful role of clergy.
I enjoyed the tale but did not find it exceptional. I’ve read a number of similar stories, (Adam of the Road, for example) that were as engaging. I found Crispin a worthwhile and enjoyable read, with some valuable historical background, but not one that compels me to rave.