Crispin: At the Edge of the World facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Crispin: At the Edge of the World

First edition cover
Author	Avi (or Edward Irving Wortis)
Country	England
Language	English
Series	Avi's Crispin
Genre	Children's, Historical fiction novel
Publisher	Hyperion Books for Children
Publication date	September 2006
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	234 pgs.
ISBN	0-7868-5152-X (first edition, hardback)
OCLC	65400628
LC Class	PZ7.A953 Cp 2006
Preceded by	Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Followed by	Crispin: The End of Time

Crispin: At the Edge of the World is an exciting adventure novel written by Edward Irving Wortis, who is better known as Avi. It was released in 2006 and is the second book in the popular Crispin trilogy. This book continues the story from Crispin: The Cross of Lead, which won the famous Newbery Medal award. Crispin: At the Edge of the World was also recognized as an ALA Notable book in 2007, meaning it's a great read!

The Adventure Continues

This story picks up right after the first book, Crispin: The Cross of Lead. In that book, Crispin and his guardian, Bear, finally found their freedom. Now, they are traveling together, looking for a safe new place to call home.

• A Dangerous Encounter: As they journey, Bear is attacked by some of his old enemies. These enemies were part of the Peasants' Revolt, a big uprising in England where common people fought for more rights. Bear gets hurt by an arrow during this attack.
• Finding Help: Crispin and Bear manage to escape into a forest. There, they are discovered by an old woman named Aude, who is a healer and midwife. She lives with a young girl named Troth. Aude helps to nurse Bear back to health.
• A New Family: Sadly, the old woman Aude is later killed. This means Bear becomes the guardian for both Crispin and Troth. They are now a small, unusual family on the run.
• Seeking Safety by Sea: Bear is worried that his pursuers will never stop looking for them. So, they decide to board a ship. Their plan is to sail to Flanders, a region in what is now Belgium.
• Unexpected Landing: However, a big storm hits their ship. Instead of reaching Flanders, they end up landing in France.
• Captured by Soldiers: In France, they are captured by English soldiers. These soldiers want to break into a church in a French village to steal its treasures. They threaten to hurt Bear if Crispin and Troth don't help them.
• A Difficult Choice: A fierce fight breaks out between the soldiers and the villagers. Crispin is forced to make a difficult choice to protect himself and his friends.
• Bear's Farewell: Crispin and Troth manage to escape the church and the soldiers. They take the badly hurt Bear with them. Sadly, Bear later passes away from his injuries and old age.

Meet the Characters

• Crispin – He is the main character of the story. Crispin is a 13-year-old peasant boy living in England in the year 1377. He is brave and learns a lot as he travels.
• Bear (Orson Hrothgar) – Bear is a traveling jester and entertainer. He is a big, kind-hearted man who takes Crispin and later Troth under his care. He also teaches Crispin many important lessons about life and survival.
• Troth – Troth is a young girl who lives with Aude. She has a cleft lip. She joins Crispin and Bear on their journey. The word "troth" means to promise to be faithful or loyal.
• Aude – Aude is a wise healer and midwife. She lives in the woods with Troth and helps Bear when he is injured.