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CJ_D
, April 09, 2007
The seeing stone, by Kevin Crossley-Holland, is a novel to remember. This intriguing book travels into the year 1199 and into the life of a thirteen year old boy and his family. The boy’s name is Arthur and he is the son of a lord. His family runs the manor of Calicot. Arthur is training to be a squire, but he really desires to be a knight like his older brother, Serle.
There are many interesting characters in this novel, including one named Merlin. Not much is known about Merlin, he is very mysterious and lets little known about his past. One day while walking with Merlin, he gives Arthur a mysterious stone. Merlin calls it an obsidian stone and says that it is made of ice and fire. When asked what the stone is for, Merlin only shrugs and never gives Arthur a real answer. So, everyday Arthur begins to peer into his stone and one day something strange happens. The stone begins to show a story! Each day the stone shows more of the story. Arthur doesn’t understand who the characters are or what the story means, but he will find out that it reveals a hidden past.
There are many reasons why this book is great. One is that each chapter is very short, so this book is very fast paced. Another is that every page is action packed so you wont be able to put this book down. Lastly, this book depicts the life of the middle ages very well and you can relate to all the characters even though we are living centuries apart.
I believe that this novel is very historically accurate. For instance, the people in Calicot recite prayers and spells to keep away evil spirits. They also use potions to cure sicknesses. These practices actually took place in the middle ages. Another reason that this book is historically accurate is that Arthur must do yard-work, practice read and writing, and all his different skills everyday, just as people training to be squires really did.
Over all, this was a great, well written novel. I will admit that I had my doubts when I first began reading this book, but they quickly vanished. This book keeps readers going with its fast paced chapters and teaches them at the same times with its historical accuracy.
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