About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager begins questioning the morality of authority or struggling with the weight of past mistakes. This historical novel follows Edmund, an apprentice who narrowly avoids a brutal punishment for a crime by joining a knight on the Third Crusade. It is a dense, atmospheric journey that explores how a young person finds their identity and integrity in a world governed by violence and rigid religious expectations. While the setting is the 12th century, the emotional core is deeply modern, focusing on the internal conflict of a boy trying to determine what it means to be 'good' when the adults around him are engaged in a supposedly holy war. It is an excellent choice for mature readers who appreciate realism over romanticism. Parents should be aware that the book provides an unvarnished look at medieval combat and the physical toll of life on the road, making it best suited for the middle to high school years.
