Review: Crusade

Name: Danny;Fiona;Harriet;Jean;Morna;Tim

School: Dunbar Library

Occupation: Young person

Age: 12-15

Book: Crusade

Rating: 9

Review:
The book is set in the Holy Land, specifically Acre, during one of the Crusades. It is a good place to set the story because many people think they "own" the area, which immediately causes conflict and a clash of ideologies between Christians and Muslims. The historical setting makes the tale more appealing and less controversial than a comparative, contemporary setting ever could. The book is about the journey of self discovery of two boys from different cultures who meet at Acre. It tells how Adam and Salim form a bond of friendship over the course of months as the siege wears on. They couldn't be more different in terms of background, religion, continent, race, health and future dreams, however they both care about their families, in which their postions change throughout the book. At first the two boys seem miles apart but drift together slowly and surely and become good friends. Elizabeth Laird shows this by flicking,hopping and switching between them, until by the end they merge. She does this brilliantly. The book is stimulating,very descriptive and easy to understand. This is a book we all enjoyed.