5 comments about Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam.

1. When you look at the British involvement in that farcical escapade known as the Crusades, it seems remarkable that ANYONE living today could side with England. I mean, let's look at it soberly. They come into a country in the Middle East, take over huge swaths of it, claim it as their own, are shocked when the residents of the area don't like being oppressed, then set about hacking their way back in only to fail in the end. Just a scant overview of their actions is enough to make them look vaguely ridiculous. Once you start learning a little more about their actions (or rather, the actions of their leaders) you see just how violent and, not to put too fine a point on it, evil they were. Therefore, it's a bit surprising that a popular kid's book about Saladin hasn't been written before now. At this moment in time, circumstances have given kids a chance to learn more about the followers of Islam and their history. It seems fitting, then, that we should look at one of their greatest heroes and grant him the respect he's due. "Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam" does just that.
   
   Saladin was born along the Tigris River well after Jerusalem fell into the hands of the marauding Crusaders from England. As a child, he attended to his studies well and learned the tenants of Islam by heart. All this gave him the understanding he required to be a good and righteous man amongst his people. As a teen Saladin became the chief aide of the Turkish sultan Nur al-Din, a fair leader who earned the respect of his subjects. From him Saladin found his role model and guide. After Nur al-Din's death, he staked his claim on the man's empire and brought together his warring brothers. This allowed him the army he needed to set out to defeat the Franks and to reclaim Jerusalem once more. To do this he faced Reginald of Chatillon, "perhaps the greatest villain in the history of the Crusade" (which is saying quite a lot), Richard the Lionhearted, and other adversaries. The book recounts a myriad of battles undertaken by both the Crusaders and the Muslims. Both sides had their wins and losses. In the end, however, Saladin was victorious and in 1291 (years after his death), "the Franks were driven out of the Holy Land altogether". So well done there.
   
   Though it doesn't look it, this book is an excellent reference for any kid interested in battles and battle strategy. It summarizes the greatest confrontations of both sides and makes them understandable and interesting. There is also no question at any time as to who the heroes are. The Franks (to the Muslims all Crusaders were regarded as "Franks") break treaties, lie, kill for pleasure, and remain the greediest of no-goodniks. Saladin would often spare his captured enemies or give them a chance to pay a price to avoid being sold as slaves. King Richard, on the other hand, was prone to slaughtering three thousand Muslim men when he captured them. A cruel barbarian, he met a violent death, as was his due. Saladin died in his bed, having ended his life to his own liking. Touche.
   
   I suspect that there are people out there who can't imagine a man like Saladin being far more generous and compassionate than a man like Richard. To back up her information, therefore, author Diane Stanley has included an excellent Bibliography for further reading. Terms that might not be readily recognizable to readers are included in a Glossary in the back. Accompanying the text itself are beautiful glossy illustrations that perfectly compliment the book's plot and storyline. All this and the book is respectful to the people of the Islam faith.
   
   Biographies of historical figures well known in their native lands but little known in American schools are difficult to create. With that in mind, Stanley has done a remarkable job. She even ties in the events of the book to the modern day, commenting that, "Two hundred years of Frankish invasion, senseless slaughter, and religious fanaticism left a tragic legacy. A shadow of hatred and mistrust had fallen over this great land, holy to three faiths. A thousand years later, it is still there". And not likely to leave soon. Let us hope then that beautifully written biographies like "Saladin" dispel the myths that remain about the man, his life, and his religion. This book should be in every school library in America.



2. It's a great book, pretty good for kids. The book did overlook the fact that Saladin was also a physician and chemist (or alchemist as they used to be called back then).
   
   



3. This book caught my eye at the library because it has beautiful illustrations, and the title obviously gives away its very positive view of Saladin and the Muslim faith. Given the publication date, it is not surprising that the book presents Muslims and their faith in a positive light; however, the book goes to the extreme in presenting Muslims as good and Christians as evil. Children in this age group are likely to be confused by this portrayal of their faith if they are Christians, while those of a Muslim background could very well see the current atrocities committed by Islamic jihadists as justified. Moreover, children at this age don't have the analytical skills to realize that there is more to the history of the Crusades than is presented here. In my opinion, this book may well be an excellent biography of Saladin, but given the age of the intended audience, the slant of the book gives an inappropriate message.



4. Many people have seen the excellent PBS documentary, "Holy Warriors", about Saladin and Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade. For me it opened up a whole new field of inquiry, for although I am myself an historian, my field is not the Middle Ages. I sought out and read many books on Saladin, and found him a fascinating and admirable character, and an excellent antidote to the hatred of Islam which is presently being fomented by our government. It seemed to me that it was important to get the word out-- especially to the next generation-- about this Muslim whose character was so contrary to prevalent stereotypes. Diane Stanley's book fulfills this need. It presents the true history of Saladin and the Third Crusade in a manner which is readily understandable to children and accompanied by beautiful illustrations. It seems unlikely that any child who has read this book will grow up feeling the hatred that our government wants us to feel for all Muslims, and in that lies its greatest virtue.



5. Once again Diane Stanley has written a splendid, gripping, dramatic history. Once again the illustrations are gorgeous. Once again the book dares to challenge children to grasp complex and deep content. Once again the prose and flow make the book hard to put down.
   
   The author is careful and tactful in handling certain rather gruesome and brutal details. She does not bowdlerize, or skip or gloss over; nor does she dwell on the horrors. They are quietly and neatly related as required to understand the story; then she moves on.
   
   
   Also recommended: by the same author, biographies of Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth

2 comments about Last Crusade Novelization (Indiana Jones).

1. This was a good and interesting book. It was very much like the movie, with the great adventure hero, Indiana Jones, on his new quest for the Holy Grail. It doesn't disappoint! Although the beginning was somewhat boring, the rest will keep you on the edge of your seat!



2. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and, being the type who would just as soon read as watch a movie, looked for this book. Knowing Ryder Windham to be a good author from the Star Wars books he has written, I expected a very good, if not great, book.
   
   I was not disappointed. This is excellent. Appropriate for just about all ages, this book captures the never-ending action of the film while still presenting a clear enough portrayal for anyone to understand. Windham notices little details (which would probably have been overlooked by most watchers) that contribute significantly towards this great novelization. The most noticeable feature of the book is its clarity. I must continue to emphasize how clear and straightforward it is.
   
   In the middle of the book are some pictures from the movie, which younger readers might find adds a lot to it. (I wouldn't say they add too much, but it certainly will be appreciated by many readers.) The consistency with the movie is astounding, as well. Several changes were made to the dialogue (such as the removal of inappropriate language), but otherwise is extremely accurate.
   
   The character portrayal of most of the people in the book is very well done. The only character I would say was not very well portrayed would be Indiana Jones himself--I believe that Ryder Windham assumed that the reader would already understand his personality. (I would agree with him.) Indiana's father, Dr. Henry Jones, was exceptionally well done.
   
   In short, here is my summary:
   Pros: *Clarity,* character portrayal, writing style, accuracy, capture of a scene's mood, details, and clarity once again.
   Cons: Lack of the dramatic music from the film (which can be remedied by getting the soundtrack, like I did), a little too short (I prefer long books--but this seems to be a trade-in to keep the book action-packed), and somewhat bland at times. Not any significant cons.
   
   I would this book 4 1/2 stars only because I like to save 5 stars for the absolutely perfect book. But as far as a novelization goes, I could not ask for a better one. Absolutely wonderful. If you seek a novelization for a great movie, there is none better suited to the job than
   Ryder Windham.
   --A 14-year-old

5 comments about Pagan's Crusade: Book One of the Pagan Chronicles.

1. Pagan Kidrouk opens this novel by requesting to become a squire to the Knights Templar in twelfth century Jerusalem. Taken into the Knights, he becomes squire to Lord Roland, from whom he struggles to get conversation and a smile, but to whom he finds himself looking up to more and more as the story progresses. Through his eyes, we see Jerusalem and its defense against the Lord Saladin, as well as both the privileged and seamy sides of the city.
   
   Pagan's actually fairly typical as far as teens go; he's full of wit and sarcasm and he feels both fearful and invincible. His thoughts definitely give this novel more of a modern feel, and he shows his foolhardy side often enough to make him seem believable. Constantly finding himself in trouble, Pagan's both endearing and exasperating, traits from which most teens suffer.
   
   This is a fun book, with many laugh out loud moments. At times I did find myself a little frustrated with the storyline, hoping it would advance a little more quickly. But in general this is a good work of young adult fiction and a truly enjoyable work of historical fiction. Recommended!



2. Pagan is a 16-year-old boy who was born in Jerusalem during the 1100's. Pagan is half Arab, and he is an orphan. He needs a place to live and money, so he goes to the Knights Templar center to sign up as a Templar squire. He ends up as the squire of Lord Roland Roucy de Bram. They are assigned to escort and protect groups of pilgrims visiting Jerusalem's holy sites. The pilgrims have a very annoying tour guide named Joscelin. Joscelin tells the pilgrims false facts. And then the tourists start playing a game that would likely be called "Name That Saint". It's funny because instead of playing games that we play now, such as "Name That State" it's "Name That Saint".
   
   Near the end of the book the Muslims conquer Jerusalem. The Christians have to pay to be free or become a slave. What I thought was the funnies part was when the Crusaders, Balian, and Lord Roland, are haggling with Saladin over how much a person should be worth to be free. I find that funny because when they are haggling it sounds like haggling over something like a pound of cheese, not a person.
   
   Pagan's Crusade is the first book of the "Pagan Chronicles". One problem with the Pagan Chronicles is that once it gets onto the second book it turns into more like a book for 13-year-olds. The second book has a lot more bad words and a lot more violence. It is kind of like Star Wars, because all of a sudden instead of being rated PG, Episode III is rated PG-13. Pagan's Crusade is funny, exciting, and a little bit informative about the Crusades. It does have some bad words. Little kids SHOULD NOT read this book, especially if they have a brother or sister. There are a lot of mean insults that they might repeat. I am ten, but this book is really for eleven-year-olds.
   
   Ben (age 10)
   May 16, 2007
   
   



3. David Kurlander Pagan's Crusade 12/10/07
   Book Review
   Jerusalem, 1187. This is the setting for Pagan's Crusade, a fast-paced and entertaining jaunt through history. The story is simple: Saladin's Muslim army is bearing down on Jerusalem, and our young protagonist, Pagan, is stuck right in the middle of it. A 16 year-old rogue, Pagan runs away from street life and becomes the squire of a powerful and pure knight named Roland De Bram. There is a large supporting cast, filled with interesting and colorful characters. There is Joscelin, the slimy pretender, who sells relics to unaware pilgrims. There is Sergeant Maynard, or Rockhead as Pagan calls him, the bulky and brawny head of Squires who doesn't like Pagan. There is Balian, the strategist who helps the Knights.
   Pagan commands the story with much wit and sarcasm, and as the story goes on he develops a new appreciation for the world around him. Shortly after becoming Lord Roland's squire, the two are sent on pilgrimage escort. They lead the pilgrims to the Jordan River, which leads to an hilarious scene with the clueless pilgrims splashing around in the muddy and oily water, causing a disastrous predicament. After returning, the Knights find out that Saladin's army has crossed the Jordan River, and is bent on taking back all of the cities the Crusaders took from them a hundred years before.
   The entire book is extremely historical, filled with dates and actual leaders. I learned a lot about the Knights Templar and their noble deeds, the twisted and dirty streets of Jerusalem, and the corrupt leaders of Jerusalem. After the two knights returned, they had to get ready to fight, with many visits to armories, the Patriarch's office, and frantic preparations for the battle with Saladin's massive army. Then the army is there, and the fight began. The fight scenes were filled with detail, exciting descriptions of brawls and arrow fights. Many pages of battle later, Jerusalem surrenders, and a select few, including Lord Roland and Pagan, go to meet Saladin personally and negotiate with him. This is a great chapter, chock full with exciting haggling, trying to find a ransom deal. They came to the agreement that every person in Jerusalem could leave if they paid a small fee in dinars, ten for men, five for women, and one for children. Knights had to pay fifty dinars.
   The following chapter set inside Jerusalem is a very tense and fast-paced section. Pagan has his ransom, but Lord Roland, whom Pagan has rather suddenly grown close to, is not allowed to receive ransom from the Templar and has no money of his own. Roland and Pagan go to meet Saladin again to talk about releasing a large number of captives, and Pagan pleads with him to pay Roland's ransom as well. This moment is very intense and powerful. Pagan tells Saladin about all the great and noble things that Roland has done, and Saladin relents, giving Lord Roland his ransom. The mixed and unsure reaction from Roland is also very emotional and true, as he is not used to people helping him and not being controlled by the Church. The two lead a band of pilgrims through Israel, and the book ends with them at a campfire, talking about how everything would be all right.
   Pagan is an interesting and engaging young man. He is a good protagonist, with razor-sharp sarcasm and questionable morals. At the start of the book he is pessimistic about almost everything, be it Christianity, himself, or life in general. However, he maintains a bit of humanity, and manages to save his mentor and friend Lord Roland by the end. Pagan has major work ethic issues near the beginning, and he realistically and gradually becomes an adult, shunning his bratty attitude and adopting an adult and thoughtful one to replace it.
   There is much commentary from Pagan, such as this quote Pagan says to himself. It takes place early in the book on the subject of the pilgrims Pagan is chosen to escort: "Their flocks are nervous and obedient. Not like ours. Ours is full of pious pea-heads who want to linger over every sight." This short quote is full of jealousy and hate. But, as it goes, Pagan evolves into a thoughtful being who chooses his master over himself. The next quote takes place near the end of the book, after Lord Roland receives his ransom but is still angry and puzzled with Pagan for setting him free and saving his life: " `My lord? Don't be angry----please----my lord?' No reply. God, he's going to kill me. But I don't care. I don't care. As long as he doesn't kill himself."
   Pagan's Crusade taught me a great deal about the Middle Ages. It goes into great depth about Jerusalem, the Holy War and Crusades, and The Knight's Templar. I learned about customs of the Church in the Tenth Century, and about Saladin and his great army. I was taught about relics, Patriarchs, and palaces. The descriptions of these are detailed and put you in Jerusalem during the Holy War. The fictional aspects of the book, such as Pagan and most other characters, blend in nicely with the historical parts of the book. There are some updates to make us feel at home in such a foreign and long-ago land, such as a few American names and sayings. However, this is fully to be expected from historical fiction, as it is meant to inform and entertain.
   Overall, Pagan's Crusade is an entertaining and educational look into the Middle Ages. It has its flaws and some emotions don't come across realistically, but I was still engaged throughout the book. Anyone who enjoys stories of Knights in shining armor would enjoy this more realistic and human story of Knights. However, the book is still fun for fiction-lovers such as myself, as it is full of over-the-top characters and clever jokes. I learned a great deal about Jerusalem 900 years in the past, and gained new knowledge about the Crusades and the Knight's Templar. Pagan's Crusade was an endearing and fun book, and I learned from its pages while still having a good time.



4. I got this book because the premise - streetwise orphan boy becomes squire to a Templar knight in crusade-era Jerusalem - sounded like the sort of story I often enjoy reading. Unfortunately, Pagan's Crusade fell far short of what I was hoping for.
   
   The first problem the book has is its lack of adequate historical background. The author, Catherine Jinks, fails to provide any historical context for the story, which given that this book is intended for young adult readers is a serious short-coming. Nothing is explained or shown as to why the Crusaders are there in the first place, why they are being attacked, who they are being attacked by and for what reason, and so on. Jinks does a little better when dealing with the Templars and their role of providing protection for religious pilgrims, and those scenes are better done. But for the story in general, if the reader doesn't already have a grounding in the basic history of the Crusades, little of it will make sense.
   
   The second and equally serious problem the book has is the fact that Pagan, the main character who provides the narrative point-of-view, does not sound even remotely like someone from his place and time. It's like a low-budget historical drama where on top of everything else the main character has been horribly mis-cast. It's hard to believe that this is supposed to be 12th century Jerusalem when you keep reading anachronistic lines like "Hups-a-daisy!", "The helmet's in his office", "You need cash", "out of the gutter", "a paying proposition" and so on.
   
   Pagan's Crusade is readable and does have a few good parts, and Jinks' portrayal of Sir Roland, the Templar knight whom Pagan is esquired to, is the much better done of the two main characters. But on the whole, there are better YA historical novels (and streetwise orphan heroes) around that I would recommend before this one.



5. I pounced on this book the second our YA librarian pulled it out of the box when I saw the cover art by Peter de Seve. Sadly, I think these editions are being phased out - they're worth it if you can track them down, though. Sometimes it's okay to judge a book by its cover, and I was not disappointed by the story. It's extremely witty - many times I wondered about the age level that it was really aimed at - as jokes ranged from silly to complex to vaguely inappropriate. Set in Jerusalem in the 12th century, the book is told from the point of view of Pagan Kidrouk, a wisecracking orphan seeking refuge from his past, who's been appointed squire to a Templar knight, as the army of Saladin lays siege to the city of Jerusalem. In a way, this is also a story of "first love," since Pagan will eventually risk everything he has to keep his "love" alive.

5 comments about The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail: Book 1.

1. THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR: KEEPER OF THE GRAIL
   MICHAEL P. SPRADLIN
   Historical Fantasy YA
   Putnam
   
   Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
   
   When the Knights of Templar arrive to spend the night at the St. Alban's Abbey, young orphan Tristan couldn't know his life is about to change forever. But he soon agrees to become the squire of the kind Sir Thomas; and not soon after Tristan is the victim of a violent attack in the stables and that's all before they've left for Dover, a short stop before they begin their trek to Outremer, the Holy Land.
   
   I absolutely loved KEEPER OF THE GRAIL. It really felt like you were going back in time to the time of King Richard, the Lionheart and the Crusades. Tristan is a wonderful character, very brave and adventurous. I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding his real identity, the odd way the King looked at him, what Sir Thomas really knows about him. Sir Hugh was truly an evil villain, with his ire for Tristan visible almost right off the bat when the poor boy hadn't done anything wrong. The rest of the characters are equally strong and well done.
   
   One of my favorite scenes in the book takes place shortly after Tristan becomes squire to Sir Thomas. In the midst of a training session with his new friend Quincy, the awful Sir Hugh approaches and tries to `teach Tristan a lesson', the young squire manages to evade the brutal attack until Sir Thomas approaches and pulls Sir Hugh away. That's when Tristan overhears the first hint that there's more to his real identity than he knows or could even suspect. This is a wonderfully detailed, exciting adventure guaranteed to keep you turning the pages till you reach the very last word. If you love historical YA, this is one book you don't want to miss. Look for the second in the series, THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR BOOK TWO: TRAIL OF FATE coming in Fall 2009.
   
   Michael P. Spradlin is the author of more than a dozen books for children. When not writing, he enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with his family and worrying over the fact that he really should be writing instead of doing other stuff. He lives in Michigan with his wife Kelly, son Michael, daughter Rachel and two dogs Willow and Apollo.
   
   To learn more about THE YOUNGEST TEMPLAR, visit Michael's website:
   [...]
   
   Lisa
   Enchanting Reviews
   November 2008



2. Well written book with a good story, but be warned that this book has no sense of resolution at all. It stops (not ends) at a cliffhanger and says "to be continued." What a letdown. I think good authors can continue a series without abruptly chopping a story in mid-chapter--this is purely a money-making gimmick.



3. Tristan has a story, but he doesn't know it. As a babe he was left on the monk's doorstep. Now 15years later he's recruited by Sir Thomas as a squire. Immediately he makes an enemy of Sir Hugh, although it's not clear why Sir Hugh hates him so. When war falls upon the city of Acre, Sir Thomas sends Tristan out with the Holy Grail in his care. He's to take it to safety. In his travels, he meets up with Robard, who funny enough reminds me of Robin Hood, and then with Maryam, interesting again. The 3 travel to Tyre to deliver the Holy Grail and news of the fall of Acre. Upon arriving Tristan soon discovers Sir Hugh is alive and well, he apparently fled Acre looking to protect his own hide. After imprisonment, the trio makes another new friend, a stray dog. They hire a ship to sail to England and storm attacks.
   
   This book started a bit slow; I had a little trouble sticking with it. However, once Tristan was given the Holy Grail I was hooked. It was a fast read and it ends on a cliffhanger. Tristan goes overboard and is hit by part of the boat. To be continued. I look forward to the next book and I recommend this book to everyone.



4. When I was (finally!) able to get a copy of this book to review, I found it to be well worth the wait. The first in a series, the "Youngest Templar" chronicles the adventures of a 14-year-old orphan named Tristan and his adventures among the legendary Knights Templar.
   
   Although the book falls in the "young adult/fantasy" book genre, there is much to commend it for readers of all ages. From the prologue to the last chapter, the adventures of the story's young protagonist will enthall boys and girls alike. If you have young readers in your household (or just want to re-experience the joys of summer reading as a kid again), I recommend this book highly.



5. Over all, this was an okay read. I felt that it had more questions, than there were answers.
   
   Tristen was dropped off at a monastery when he was a baby and a note was with him. He was raised by Monks. Fourteen years pass, and some Knights of the Templar came for shelter, and one of the Knights liked him, Sir Thomas, and one of them didn't, Sir Hugh. There was a lot of tension between Sir Hugh and Tristen, but as a reader, we're never told why. We think it's because of something that happened to Sir Hugh's horse, and he blamed Tristen. I felt that was sort of an overreaction from Sir Hugh. Battles are fought and Sir Thomas tells Tristen, he has to take the Holy Grail to a place and protect it. Along the way, Tristen hooks up with two people, that help him, but they don't know what Tristen has. As said by other reviews, this does end with a cliffhanger.
   
   I did have some problem with this. We're lead to believe that Sir Hugh knows of Tristen's past, and "who he really is", but as the reader, we have no clue who Tristen really is. We don't even hear of rumours of who Tristen could be. It would be nice if he had some hint of who he could be or really is.
   
   The part of the grail also seems to come from nowhere. All of a sudden Sir Thomas has the grail. As the reader, we're not teased that Sir Thomas has something. Tristen should have seen Sir Thomas with it, but not know what it was. That way, the reader is hooked in with Tristen and wonders what Sir Thomas has.
   
   The author seems to like Robin Hood as well, some names from Robin Hood come into play. It just seemed out of place.
   
   Overall, it wasn't a bad read, just I wish the author did some things that would let the reader in on what was going on. I do plan to read the rest of the series.
   
   3 stars, not a bad read.

2 comments about You Wouldn't Want To Be A Crusader!: A War You'd Rather Not Fight (You Wouldn't Want to...).

1. This book is a little bit slower going than other You Wouldn't Want to books, but just as informative. It does a good job clarifying difficult vocabulary and the students always get a kick out of the pictures, which ultimately hooks them into reading the book.



2. I bought this book because I thought that I could use it in the classroom but unfortunately it was not that type of book.It is more of a silly type comic/picture book that is presented in simple format.It gives some explanations about the Crusades but nothing in depth.

3 comments about The Boy Knight: A Tale of the Crusades (Dover Value Editions).

1. This is exactly the same book as "Winning His Spurs." It was retitled for this new publication.
   
   When this adventure begins, Cuthbert is a boy of fifteen living at home with his mother in Norman England. He hears information and is able to warn the outlaws living in the forest, among whom he has relatives, of an impending attack by the Earl of Evesham, who resents their killing his deer without permission. The forest men are reconciled to the Earl, however, when Cuthbert summons their help to rescue the Earl's daughter from a kidnapping by a nearby vindictive Norman nobleman. After Cuthbert participates in the victorious siege of the latter's castle, the Earl of Evesham, who is himself a distant relative of Cuthbert, promises to take him with him when he next rides off to battle.
   
   Neither had any idea that they would be going off to battle so soon. King Richard the Lionhearted was gathering troops to set off on another crusade, and Cuthbert gets to go along, and be a party to major historic events. He witnesses the French and British rivalry, rescues a princess, wins a duel, fights the Moorish pirates, is knighted for saving King Richard's life in a battle, escapes Saracen captivity, visits with a Dead Sea hermit, and returns to Europe with King Richard.
   
   When the Earl of Evesham was mortally wounded, he begged the king that his estates, title and daughter would be granted to Cuthbert. After Cuthbert and his faithful men make their dangerous journey across the snowy Alps and hostile European cities with many narrow escapes, they find themselves rather unwelcome in England. There he leads a Robin Hood style life, and with Robin Hood, no less! They finally see that Cuthbert's mother and fiancée are in safety, and Cuthbert goes with Blondel to discover the place of King Richard's imprisonment, and arrange for his ransom.
   
   This is one of the more exciting Henty adventures, and any lover of Robin Hood will certainly enjoy this tale. Cuthbert's presence of mind and common sense, his loyalty, honesty, valor, and quick wits are all characteristics that make us and his authorities in the book admire and respect him. If it were a movie, you would find yourself holding your breath, but by the time you're halfway through the book, you will be confident that Cuthbert can extricate himself and his friends with honor and distinction from any kind of sticky situation. Find a comfortable seat and enjoy!



2. We purchased "Winning His Spurs" and "The Boy Knight" for Christmas. What a disappointment to find out they were the SAME book!! Don't make the same mistake, you've been warned!!



3. This is a good book but a little to hard to understand for my 4 and 6 year olds. I think we'll wait a few more years to pursue reading. :o)

5 comments about Blood Red Horse.

1. This book has a little something for everyone: a strong young female character, two boy protagonists (one more flawed than the other, but both likeable), history, The Crusades, Medieval castles and chivalry and a great horse story to boot! Told from both sides of the conflict during the Third Crusade, Grant weaves the two tales together with a horse as the connecting thread. Overall, this is a well-spun novel that moves along with grace and speed, pulling the reader in from the very first page.
   
   The intelligent reader will enjoy the evocative language and sweeping scope of this novel as it moves from England to Holy Land and back. However, there is one point of contention for me that should lead to some lively discussions for a classroom or dinnertable. Saladin is portrayed as having the greater benevolent nature over Richard the Lionheart, which may or may not have been the case, but in the instance of the book, is posited against the truth of the historical record.
   
   For instance, Richard's 1191 massacre of 1000 unarmed Muslim prisoners at Acre is portrayed as the horribly unchivalrous and brutal act that it was. But no mention is made of the fact that Saladin had done almost the identical thing in 1187, killing about 1000 unarmed Christian prisoners. Instead, Saladin is shown not lowering himself to the barbaric Christian level (pp 160-161). This smacks of PC propaganda attempting to continue the new crusade of portraying Islam (radical jihad) as a peaceful religion.
   
   That said, while there were absolutely horrid atrocities on both sides during the Crusades, it is also true that historians view Saladin in much the same light as Erwin Rommel or Admiral Doenitz of WWII -- that while the enemy per se, they were men of certain character and quality. Keeping that in mind, I found the inaccuracies mostly forgivable in the context of the well-told tale.
   
   Responsible readers should always remember that historical fiction is just that -- FICTION. Get your history from more reliable sources. And teachers and parents should be ready and able to engage in the spirited discussions this book is sure to spark.



2. I was excited about this book initially, but unfortunately such great potential was never truly realized. The story and action were mainly glossed over, saving the most time and attention for displaying the static perfection of Will and his horse, Hosanna. Will is, at very best, a very boring male Mary Sue, who makes the right decisions and serves as the story's moral focus through the horrible climate of the Crusades. His horse is essentially an equine version of him, and while they go through their trials and tribulations, rest assured that they do it with a little too much dignity and divine favor. There was so little character growth for Will that he never grabbed my attention, as how could he? Perfection is never interesting. After a while, I couldn't help favoring Gavin, the flawed older brother, Will's foil. Mostly, Gavin is a collection of dishonorable mistakes and human reaction to war, but in this book it's displayed in a way that is less than desirable. You're supposed to love Will, but Gavin showed the sparks of personality, and it would be expected given that almost every major plot point effected him, whereas Will kept skipping along, perfect as ever, totally annoying, praising his horse like he's second only to God. Then there's Kamil, the Muslim version of Will. Sure, his attitude is blood thirsty through most of the novel, but with a little trial and error Kamil turns out to rival Will's squeaky clean boredom by the end. A weird historical novel, probably a little too politically correct (A Christian knight randomly asking a Muslim enemy where Mecca is in order to pray for the life of a horse in the middle of a battlefield? Is this at all likely?), and very two dimensional. The villains slink and twirl their mustaches, the hero could never possibly be tarnished, and the most interesting guy (Gavin, but then that's just my opinion) gets the short end of the stick because after Will there can be nothing left for him. Unlikely, vaguely irritating, could have been much better.



3. This is an outstanding book. I'm a kid, and when I first picked up this book I wasn't so enthusiastic. I normally find all those historical fiction war books pretty dull and boring. This? This book makes you seriously love the characters. I love how each character is potrayed so you understand where they're coming from. And throughout the book you can see why the Christian and Muslim people are doing the things they are. And they have many fights and differences, even inside their own groups, but they're all brought together by the beautiful horse Hosanna. It makes you see that we're all human beings. This book has a lot of suspense and adventure with shocking twists at every page that make you addicted to the book. I also love how this book is a great adventurous tale, but it also realistic. THIS BOOK CAN BE A LITTLE SAD, so watch out for that, but it's a good kind of sad. It makes you appreciate each character even more. I loved the blood-chilling suspense. This is THE EPIC ADVENTURE of the year. I couldn't put it down. This isn't a boring war book that makes you cry. This is a serious adventure of peace, love, faith,sorrow, betrayal, loyalty, and happiness. Blood Red Horse is a blood-chilling Masterpiece.



4. Will is a young noble growing up in England, where he knows two things: he must follow King Richard in the Crusades, and he needs an amazing warhorse to accomplish that. When his father finally gives him the chance to pick a charger, something draws him instead to a small red horse. No one expects this horse, named Hosanna, to be much of anything; some mock him for making the choice to take such a puny horse into battle. But time and time again Hosanna saves not only Will but those around him. He has a miraculous quality about him, one that calms and soothes the spirit as well as gives courage to men going into battle. The English warriors look to Hosanna for strength, until one day he is taken from Will. My brother suggested this book to me, since he knows I'll read almost anything and I'm a sucker for a medevial adventure. This book will not disappoint for those fellow lovers of all things medieval. However, if you're looking for much romance or anything like that, I wouldn't read this book. Although the blurb suggests some romance between Will, Ellie, and Gavin, there isn't a whole lot in this book. The sequel gives more strength to the relationships.
   
   I really did like this book. It's not a favorite; not one I'm going to be buying anytime soon. I couldn't help but fall in love with Hosanna, or the title's blood red horse, just as everyone in the book has their heart's softened by the creature. He really is unbelievable, but he never does anything totally out there. I thought Hosanna would be saving people left and right, talking, and whatnot when I went into the book, but he never did anything out of the ordinary for a horse. The power he sent people, however, had me wishing for a horse like him. Hosanna is probably the best character in this book. Will and Ellie are both very likeable, with more depth than I expected from a Young Readers book. I even came around to liking Gavin towards the end, but I still have mixed feelings about him. He never is just one sort of person; I can't categorize him, and he never does what I think he will, so Gavin was also a nicely developed character.
   
   This book is more plot based than character based. Blood Red Horse moves constantly through with action. Not many parts (and those aren't very long) are filled with Will hanging around, being bored. It shifts constantly between battle to battle, from Ellie back home in England fighting her own wars with enemies at Hartslove, and from a young Muslim man who enters the story once the Crusaders enter the Holy Land. Even though the story was meant to be 'non-stop action', there were times when I felt bored especially with the fight scenes. It got a little old after a while. Maybe this is just me, because I can easily get bored with any battle. 300 and Gladiator don't impress me much. If you enjoy lots of details of war without too much gore, Blood Red Horse is definately for you.



5. Imagine paying $20 and selecting "expedited shipping" because you need the books in a hurry yet they arrive 4 business days later. You will get charged $20 even though what they ship to you only costs under $5. And when I inquired why they weren't sent "expedited" I was told that it wasn't one of their shipping options. Then why was it a choice when I paid? Don't pay for expedited shipping from this vendor because they will take your money and ship it first class mail anyway. Perhaps this is the way Amazon works yet I had no idea. This isn't a very customer-friendly way to find out how shipping works on Amazon. Don't pay for expedited shipping.

5 comments about Slaughterhouse-Five (or The Children's Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death).

1. Fantastic! I've read everything this man ever published and have never been disappointed. What a great mind!
   
   Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel



2. When I saw Ethan Hawke was the reader for this classic, I couldn't wait to check it out. When I brought it home and hit play, I was confused. Ethan reads the ENTIRE book an a near monotone WHISPER! I don't know if he was whispering because it was a stylistic choice, or because he wanted to save his voice, but it ruined the book. As a comparison, there is a clip of Vonnegut reading after a short interview at the end of the book, and it was a tremendous improvement.
   
   I was heartborken such a gifted actor delivered such a terrible reading.
   
   Do not buy!



3. Slaughterhouse-Five the wrenchingly sad tale of Billy Pilgrim, tells the story of a man whose experience in WWII haunts him for the rest of his life. When the book was published, most middle-aged American men were veterans of WWI. Billy's nightmarish flashbacks, his contempt for women and his desire to live a middle-class life must have seemed familiar to many of them. Slaughterhouse-Five was a valuable attempt to shine a cartoonish light on the horrible memories that veterans carried in their hearts. It was a counterpoint to the myth of WWII, popular at the time, that WWII was a "good" war, and that the horrors of real war had not existed.
   
   Slaughterhouse-Five is not about the bombing of Dresden. nor about the German people who were killed or survived the bombing. It is about the way the war can destroy a life, even after it is over. Billy Pilgrim, witnesses very little in Dresdin, but sees many horrible things during the war. During the bombing Billy was being is in a meat locker. When this book was published, the most shocking thing about the story was the coverup of the Dresden bombing by the American government.
   
   Slaughterhouse-Five depicts war as awful and senseless. But beyond that, you can't read Slaughterhouse-Five and not feel the loathing that the author had for women. Female characters are viewed by the narrator the way a twelve-year-old boy might treat them--at his worst. Its a kind of objectification that has gone out of style in American literature.
   
   For me the one dimentional, comic book style characters were more depressing than humorous. Billy goes though life in a dream that has little to do with the complexity of the human experience.
   
   There are much better books that describe the horrors of war.



4. As always Vonnegut is a master of the succinct sentence and sublime art of maintaining one's attention. This book is wickedly funny, delightfully sarcastic, and honestly heart-wrenching. It is neither as insightful or well-written as Cat's Cradle, but it is far more touching and it takes a far more realistic view of life. In all, this is a great book, and I highly recommend it.



5. Simply put one of the most important books by one of the Centuries greatest authors. If you want a chance at understanding Vonnegut you must study this work. Yeah, you hear it over and over but in this case it is true. Read it and make your own conclusion, which is one of the wonders of this masterpiece.

5 comments about There Will Be Wolves.

1. I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't the best i've ever read. To me, it seemed more like a first-time author book. Though it did open my eyes about the People's Crusade and the Crusades in general. I always thought about the fighting and killing in Jerusalem, I never thought about the fighting and killing on the way there.
   All in all, i enjoyed it and recomend it and the other two in the Crusades trilogy-Shadows on and Sword and Lionheart's Scribe-to any lover of midieval books.



2. i had to read this book in my humanities class, so of course i HAD to do a huge report on it, but in general the book was okay. in some parts it was very predictable, but in others, i had no clue what was going to happen next. i wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesnt like medival history, but for anyone who does like books like this one, it would be great. it tells you a lot about what happened on the Crusades.



3. There are scores of childrens books out there that are well-written and engaging enough to be enjoyable and entertaining for adult readers as well: Harry Potter, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Robin McKinley's Beauty, etc. This book does not find itself among their ranks.
   
   The premise is rather interesting: it follows the experiences of a young girl on the People's Crusade and is very concerned with the moral inconsistencies of the crusades. The crusaders are on a misson of God and will be absolved of their sins for participating, yet plunder, pillage and murder their way through the country side. In the end, the mission is one of glory for the nobles and the poor folk who come along for the ride bear the brunt of the devastation.
   
   That said, the characters are completely flat and lifeless. The main action of the plot begins before we have a chance to get to know and care about the main characters, and I'll echo everyone who pointed out that Bradford does more telling than showing. Ursula is as cliched a strong girl heroine as you can get- proud, brave, thinks being independent means not relying on even those who love you until she learns that it's ok to be vulnerable. Her speech and mannerisms stand out at times as anachronistic in a jarring way, and I was surprised that the book seemed to end as quickly as it did because I was waiting for some depth and development for any of the characters.
   
   It is certainly not the worst thing I've read, and young readers (I would say not above 12) will find the reading manageable, but I'm quite curious now as to what exactly the Canadian Library Association was thinking in awarding this book the Young Adult Book Award. Maybe it was a year of slim pickings. Borrow it from the library before investing in your own copy.



4. In the epic book There will be Wolves, Ursula always seems to have trouble around the corner; here are some things that happen. First at her hometown, Cologne, she finds a dog with a broken leg and heals it. She meets a man Bruno who helps carry the dog to her house. Oh, and later Ursula almost gets burnt, that's kind of important. People of the town accuse her of being a witch, and she can't prove herself guilty. Her father, Master Williams, convinces the Count to set her free. Next her house burns down and her only way of survival is on a "Holy Crusade". Master Williams is like the Counts maid, giving him medication mostly, and Master Williams doesn't care. Master Williams is old and forces Ursula on the Crusade with him, Bruno comes too. Half way through the story, about 80% of the crusaders are killed. Robbers and bandits come and kill Ursula's horses and rob Ursula of her supplies. Master Williams gets sick from doing all the things the Count demands him to do. Then, Ursula's group reach they're final destination to find a battle with the Turks. The Turks are warriors of Turkey. The Turks end up slaughtering the crusaders and kill the Count; Ursula is left with a dead father, who died from a bad sickness, Bruno and a dog. I wonder why the book is called There will be Wolves when there are actually no wolves in the book.



5. There Will Be Wolves by Karleen Bradford
   Stars: ***1/2
   
   This book is the 1992 winner of the Canadian Library Association Youg Adult Book Award.
   
   Summary: The daughter of an apothecary and the owner of a secret book of healing arts, Urusla is determined to become a great heler - but her ambition makes her an outsider in the Holy Roman Empire. When she is accused of witchcraft and sentenced to burn at the stake, she is given one chance to save herself: she must march in the People's Crusade to the holy city of Jerusalem. Along with her father and her friend Bruno, Urusla joins thousands of other pilgrims on a harrowing journey, which will expose the dark side of the "glorious" Crusades, and change her life forever.
   
   Taking place in 1096 AD, this could have been read for the Back to History challenge too. It's definitely the oldest time period I've ever read about. It was interesting to read about life back then, although not a lot of it was shown, mostly that of the apothecary, how they handled criminals and the Crusade.
   
   As I've stated before, Historical Fiction is not really my Genre and since I know absolutely nothing about the Crusades and what they were about, I had a hard time following the book. The prologue tells the basic story of how the crusade came about but even when I'd read it 4 times in a row, really slowly, I still wasn't sure I understand what it was all about. I was confused mostly, I think, because they were (I think) trying to get rid of the Jews from Cologne (now ??) to Jerusalem, including Constantinople (Now Istanbul, Turkey) This was confusing to me because Jerusalem is the home of the Jews now.
   
   Anyways, the story was well told, even when I was confused, I kept reading. I did have trouble putting it down a few times. Karleen Bradford did a good job of making us feel like we were indeed in the 11th century since the characters talked differently.
   " I would see the dog again" meaning I would like to see the dog again.
   "Good even, mistress" meaning Good Evening Mistress (not that we'd say Mistress at all today)
   
   As I said, it was a good book and I'm sure a good introduction to the People's Crusade. It would have recieved four stars if I liked Historical Fiction more.

5 comments about Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor.

1. 
   Lewis Hine was a photographer who took pictures of young children at work. There were many different jobs that children held during the late 1800's into the early 1900's. Hine's photographs were extremely powerful. Each photograph provided information about the types of jobs children held and gave some family history. The majority of the children had little to no education because their parents relied on them to work and earn an income. Many of the factories preferred the work of younger children compared to adults because the children were quicker and were too young to complain. Hine has displayed photos in this book of children as young as four years old shucking oysters. The most dangerous job that was portrayed in the book was coal mining, unfortunately it was also the best paying job; a child had to be at least fourteen to perform the tasks. Parents often lied about their child's age to get them into the mines. The book would have been just as powerful without any of the information. The pictures were enough to convey the children's stories. Russell Freedman has done a wonderful job putting this book together. Seeing the children physically working was moving and emotional, which helped the author get his point across.



2. This soft-cover book is written like a children's textbook, but Hine's photos look great all throughout. There are quite a few full-page prints, roughly 8x6 sized. I'm very satisfied with the purchase; only Aperture would print a book with better quality reproductions, and that's out of my price range right now.



3. As a little girl this book was one of my favorites. It also changed my life. When I grew up I knew because of this book I'd want to be a photographer and help the poor.
   I know am a photographer and an inner city teacher along with working with street kids.
   
   The black and whites in this photo I still study. They are mouth dropping!



4. I found and bought this book at the Goodwill and thought it would be nice for looking at the photographs, since we like to look at real historical photos in our homeschool. Well, I decided to start reading the book and couldn't put it down. It didn't take long to finish it and I really enjoyed it. It was a real eye-opener. How interesting that Hines had to sneak around and often hide in order to get his photographs. He might tell a shop owner that he needed a photograph of a machine, but then asked the child worker to stand next to it so people could see the large size of the machine. Of course, he was really showcasing the child who had to run the machine. He knew exactly how many inches from the ground each button on his vest was, so a child could stand next to him and he could quickly tell how tall they were. When most of the photos in the book were taken, there were over 2 million American children younger than 16 who worked 12 or more hours a day, 6 days a week, for pitiful wages under unhealthy and hazardous conditions.
   
   My youngest child is 5 and many of the photos were of children the same age, and younger, working in places like cotton fields or in spinner factories, many with bare feet. What a tragic life these children had, most not living very long. How would you like to work in a glass factory with the temperature in the building 100 - 130 degrees? The molten glass they worked with was 3,133 degrees! These glassblower assistants made about 65 cents a day; a pretty good wage back then. But, because it was so hazardous and unhealthy in the glass houses, these assistants usually didn't live past the age of 42 (I just turned 42 this year!).
   
   How sad to see pictures of the breaker boys in the coal mines hunched over, all day long, picking the slate and stones from the coal. The foreman would hit them on their heads or shoulders with a broom handle if he thought they weren't working hard enough. If they fell into the coal chute, they would quickly be smothered to death. Do you think shucking oysters or peeling shrimp would be easier? The shrimp oozed an acid that would eat holes in leather shoes and tin pails, yet children had to handle these with their bare little fingers. 4-year old Mary could shuck two pails of oysters each day, making 10 cents. One mother and her 4 children worked in their tenement apartment making paper forget-me-not-flowers. All 5 of them sat working every day, all day long, working by the light of a kerosene lamp. The youngest, Angelica, was 3-years old and could make 540 flowers a day, earning her family 5 cents.
   
   I think most children and adults today have no clue what life was really like for people back then; how hard they had to work for such little pay. I can't imagine my 5-year old doing what these kids were forced to do, let alone go without Nick Jr. for one day. I think this is an excellent book for children and adults to read and discuss. I plan on having my 14-year old read it this year for school. It's a book definitely worth reading and looking at.



5. A sadly little known fact: 100 years ago children in this country followed Africans and immigrants as the slaves du jor. Who was their emancipator? Public school teachers, and specifically Lewis Hine, whose photographic work has had a comeback thanks to Neil Peart and Rush using modified photos of his in one of their videos (Working Those Angels). While the TV keeps lying about teachers and schools being the enemy (because educated people don't buy their crap or watch many of their shows), the descendants of those mine and factory owners get their revenge through their lackey politicians that continue to undermine schools financially, institutionally, and culturally (No Child Left Behind, less funding, name calling, etc.). This book will hopefully wake people (especially children) up to what 80% of the world faces to this day and make us realize we are the luckiest people in the world to have a school system where a child can choose whatever they want to be (unlike the so-called superior European and Asian school systems). The only other solution to this flood of ingratitude would be expatriation or time travel, both of which are impractical. Remember the true heroes, the ones who keep civilization afloat, who risked the death penalty teaching slaves, who are always targeted first in a military dictatorship. Stop the negativity and remember who the real bad guys are--anyone who denies you an education.