Cadnum's details of the time period are impressive, and smoothly placed, but his focus on detail and history ends up overshadowing any potential depth in character or plot. Even though the book is narrated in first person, and it seems pretty clear we're supposed to see Edmund grow as he becomes a squire, gains responsibility, and travels, there just doesn't seem to be much depth here, and if you're not engaged with the history itself, you're not going to be engaged with the book.

I read this while working with a ninth grade boy who was reading the book for a book report, and it really should have been right up his alley based on his interests in history (this branch of it, in fact); yet, both of us were left less than engaged and, in the end, disappointed. When reading it, I thought perhaps it would engage him in a way it didn't reach me--because of my student's interests, specifically. Instead, I'm only left wondering if this was made a National Book Award Finalist solely based on Cadnum's flair with historical detail.

Well-written and historically detailed? Absolutely. Interesting and engaging as a story with a plot and characters? Not so much. ( )

Taken from his master, who is now dead, Edmund finds himself on a crusade to save the holy land. ( )

Superb historical fiction! ( )

Edmund’s master is punished as a counterfeiter and dies as a result of that punishment. Edmund is then swept into an adventure with knights to fight in the crusade under King Richard.

Michael Cadnum published his historical work, The Book of the Lion with Puffin Books in 2000. Cadnum does an excellent job of creating his historic setting, particularly during Edmund’s approach to London. There is also rich description of Venice, but the description of the other locations falls short. Cadnum also does a good job of creating a voice for his character, leaving no doubt that his story is historically based. Edmund sounds like he belongs in the past. However, he does not sound like a boy in the past. Edmund’s adventures seem to be told at a distance, by a voice that is much too educated to be Edmund’s own. It sounds as though the adventure is being told as a memoir. This gives an unnerving quality to the piece, as though the voice of a sixty-year-old were coming from the mouth of a teenager. Another flaw with Edmund is his lack of development as a character. Readers may expect more of a change in him after he encounters battle. They may also expect more of a conclusion and finale with the plot connected with this character’s development. They will receive neither. Edmund remains as distant from the readers as he was when the story first began. While subtle humor is present throughout the piece, so is violence, which counteracts the humor.