Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Length: 310 Pages, 58 Chapters

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is set in 14th century England --It is a descriptive account from a young boy's point of view what the feudal system of the middle ages was like to actually live in. the story is historically accurate and set when Catholicism was the strong belief of most people in Europe.
I've taken this except about the book from the following website as I feel it accurately records what the book is about better then I can describe:

http://www.whippersnapperbooks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Crispin&Category_Code=SN&Product_Count=8

"The story is told in the first person by a young boy. As it opens, he and the village priest are burying his mother. There is some mystery about her: she lived in poverty but somehow apart from the other villagers. She was called Asta, but never told her son his name: he was known only as "Asta's son." With her death, the fragile protection she provided for him begins to crumble and he is suddenly attacked by the steward of the land, who razes (sets fire to) Asta's house, accuses her son of thievery and labels him a Wolf's head (someone who can be killed on sight like an animal). The village priest, Father Quinel, hides the boy and is planning to reveal something to him when he is murdered. Before his death, he manages to tell the boy that his mother could read and write and that she had christened him Crispin; he gives Crispin her lead cross, which bears an inscription. This is all that Crispin has, and all he knows, when he flees his village.
Crispin is in a deadly race with his persuers. Can he survive on his own? Can he trust anyone? Can he discover why he is being hunted before someone finds him and kills him for the Wolf's head bounty? We won't reveal more, but this book will keep both kids and adults up late reading -- maybe with a flashlight."

Graphic Classics-The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, Retold by Michael Ford

Length: 48 Pages, Graphic Novel

This graphic novel takes Victor Hugo's favorite story and retells it using pictures and in a graphic format. Unlike the other graphic novels each picture has writing underneath it to fully explain each graphic. The story has several main characters but centers around the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda and the men who fall in love with her. It is set in the Renaissance time period. Esmeralda is wrongfully convicted of a murder she didn't commit. She is rescued by the Hunchback who takes her to Notre Dame Cathedral. Unlike the Disney version this one is true to the original novel and doesn't have a happy ending. The story is grim but still very interesting. The last several pages of the book are filled with information about the author and about the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

Encounter by Jane Yolen

Length: 30 Pages, Picture Book

This book is about the Taino people who came into contact with Christopher Columbus when he landed on their shores. It's told from a young boy's point of view and how he tries to warn the people around him that bad things will happen to them as a result of their contact with the Europeans. It is beautifully illustrated and explains how the age of exploration impacted the natives.

Starry Messenger by Peter Sis

Length: 33 Pages, Picture Book

This book describes Galileo Galilei's interest in the stars and his theory's from a child to an adult. The book describes what Italy was like in illustrations during the time period. There are some large pictures that take some time to locate where Galileo is in the picture. It is a good children's book that describes Galileo's life and the trouble he faced against the Church.

Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press by Bruce Koscielniak

Length: 29 Pages, Picture Book

This book does a good job explaining how books came into being and who was responsible for creating the printing press. It explains how the Chinese and Koreans had a similar process to the one created by Gutenberg. It also explains how books were copied during the Renaissance and Middle Ages by Monks in monasteries. This picture book explains in kid friendly terms how the process of book making began and the different types of methods that were used.

Columbus's Chart by Gerry Bailey & Karen Foster

Length: 39 Pages, Picture Book, Stories of Great People Series

I read this book after Shakespeare's Quill. In this book the brother and sister visit Mr. Rummage at the Knicknack Market. This week Digby buys a chart that belonged to the explorer Columbus. The book again switches between the story and actual facts and information about the time period. It makes the time period relevant and interesting for students learning about the Renaissance and Medieval time period. It has lots of color illustrations and narration. At the end it also includes some facts and fiction and glossary to help students out with the difficult words.

Shakespeare's Quill by Gerry Bailey & Karen Foster

Length: 39 Pages, Picture Book, Stories of Great People Series

I read this book after Marco Polo's Purse and found the same characters are used in this series. Each story begins with a brother and sister that like to visit Mr. Rummage at the Knicknack Market every week. This week Digby buys a feather which is called a quill and holds great significance because it supposedly belonged to the famous playwright Shakespeare. The book again switches between the story and actual facts and information about the time period. It makes the time period relevant and interesting for students learning about the Renaissance and Medieval time period. It has lots of color illustrations and narration. At the end it also includes some facts and fiction and glossary to help students out with the difficult words.