(3) YA Thirteen-year-old noblewoman Elinor flees an arranged marriage by disguising herself as a male troubadour. But in thirteenth-century France being a wandering poet can also mean being a spy, and Elinor must rely on new friends in order to survive. Hoffman provides readers with painstaking historical details, political intrigues, and engaging characters.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess

(4) 4-6 Youngest Templar series. Shipwrecked in France, Tristan--Knight Templar and keeper of the Holy Grail--falls in love with a Cathar girl. With his companions, archer Robard Hode and assassin maid Maryam, Tristan helps defend the Cathar fortress Montségur. Meanwhile, grail-hungry Sir Hugh is still on his trail. The expansive plot is heavily contrived at points, but fans will enjoy the fast-paced action and sassy comic dialogue.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA Vicious Catholic clergymen persecute benevolent Cathars in thirteenth-century France as two childhood friends, Peter and John, explore the philosophies and futures each sect offers. Despite an intriguing topic, this exploration of faith and power ends up being too superficial. Wilson's prose is descriptive of the time, but can be plodding.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Youngest Templar series. Abbey-raised orphan Tristan joins crusading Templar Knights bound for the Holy Land. After Acre falls to siege, Tristan is entrusted with the Templars' greatest treasure: the Holy Grail. Joined by a king's archer and a girl assassin, Tristan must keep the Grail from his nemesis, Sir Hugh. Uneven in tone and narration, the book nonetheless contains enough adventure to hold readers' interest.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA Intricate details of late-eleventh-century life enrich this story of religious prejudice, unfaltering courage, and the friendship between two girls, one Christian, one Jewish. Leeds's emotive narrative centers on the 1096 Crusades and their catastrophic consequences for Jews inhabiting towns and villages on the Rhine River in what would become Germany. A map, author's note, and list of foreign phrases are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(4) YA Rulers of the Middle Ages series. These volumes introduce four personalities of the Middle Ages, each of whom had a profound impact on his or her own time and on history. Decorative borders and some papers, maps, and reproductions reinforce the particular nature of the historical period. Plenty of subheads break the narrative into manageable chunks. The writing, though clear, is unexciting. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Rulers of the Middle Ages titles: William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, and Saladin.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) YA Rulers of the Middle Ages series. These volumes introduce four personalities of the Middle Ages, each of whom had a profound impact on his or her own time and on history. Decorative borders and some papers, maps, and reproductions reinforce the particular nature of the historical period. Plenty of subheads break the narrative into manageable chunks. The writing, though clear, is unexciting. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Rulers of the Middle Ages titles: William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, and Saladin.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) 4-6 King Richard's twelfth-century holy crusade draws young de Granville brothers Will and Gavin and their cousin Ellie into the horrors of battle and exposes them to its repercussions, which, with the help of Will's blood-red stallion, they are able to overcome. This fast-paced story rides smoothly, except when twenty-first century ideas sneak into dialogue and motivations.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(1) YA In the final installment of the Arthur Trilogy, Arthur de Caldicot, thirteenth-century namesake of the legendary King Arthur, arrives in Venice, ready to join the Fourth Crusade. Crossley-Holland captures the whole vivid sweep of the experience in a novel of extraordinary richness and wisdom, satisfactorily resolving all plot lines while releasing Arthur into a somewhat unpredictable, but hopeful, future. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2005

(3) 4-6 Translated by Gillian Rosner. During the time of the Crusades, a French Jewish community in which the famous scholar Rashi lives is threatened by anti-Semitic violence. Rashi's spirited granddaughter Elvina protects one of the crusaders, a risk that later saves her father's life. Told in alternating first and third person chapters, the novel introduces readers to an unusual setting and important historical period. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) YA Great Battles through the Ages series. Actium is more a history of the consolidation of power in Rome from the Republic to an empire than about the actual battle. Crusade details the first two Crusades and then concentrates on Richard I's and Saladin's actions and tactics. Although diffusely focused, both books are liberally illustrated and offer detailed accounts of the times. Timeline. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Great Battles through the Ages titles: Battle of Actium and The Third Crusade.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(2) YA In the time of the Crusades, sixteen-year-old Pagan, a smart-mouthed orphan, applies to the Templars, the order devoted to protecting travelers. Assigned as a squire to a paragon of knightly virtue, impious Pagan ducks his chores and tries to provoke Lord Roland into cracking a smile. With such lively and engaging characters as these, readers will be glad to see there are three books of their adventures yet to come.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2003

(4) 4-6 In World History series. In ten chapters based on substantial sources, the authors discuss King Richard I of England's career as a military leader in the Crusades. Background about the Middle Ages, especially Christianity's important role in it, is supplied. Although the book foregrounds Richard's bravery, it also acknowledges the circumstances of political intrigue in which he operated. Dark black-and-white prints illustrate the text. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Dorling Kindersley Discoveries series. Illustrated by Peter Dennis. Various topics are covered on two- or three-page spreads, with brief introductory text and detailed captions for each of the numerous maps, pictures, and photographs. The book design is crowded, but the information will fascinate young readers. One noteworthy feature is the small scroll on each page containing a primary source quote related to the topic. Ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(2) YA Apprentice Edmund narrowly escapes having his hand struck off when a crusader who's joining Richard the Lionhearted agrees to take him along as squire. Edmund's journey across Europe and the subsequent siege are rich in incident and historical detail and charged with frequent violence. With skill and perception, Cadnum holds to Edmund's medieval world view and never ascribes anachronistic feelings about war to the characters.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2000