Synopses & Reviews
Catherine Jinks spins a colorful tale loaded with action, down-and-dirty details of medieval life, and a healthy helping of sarcasm sure to appeal to teen readers - especially boys.Down on his luck and kicked in the pants one too many times, sixteen-year-old Pagan Kidrouk arrives on the doorstep of the Templar Knights in medieval Jerusalem, looking for work as a squire. Hes expecting only some protection from the seedier aspects of life on the street and a few square meals. Instead, Pagan finds himself hard at work for Lord Roland de Bram - an exciting life of polishing Lord Rolands armor, laundering his garments, and even training to fight by his side.
But as the Infidel Saladin leads his army to Jerusalem, it becomes more and more difficult for Pagan and Lord Roland to discern what action to take or whom to trust. Neither Saladins army nor the Christian Crusaders offer easy answers. Is a bloody battle for control of the Holy City inevitable?
About the Author
Catherine Jinks is a medieval scholar and author of young adult books - a background that is evident in this first of four stories about Pagan Kidrouk. Catherine Jinkss books have garnered numerous awards, including the prestigious Childrens Book Council of Australia Book of the Year. Pagan grew out of a university course Catherine Jinks took about the Crusades, and her fascination with the real Order of the Templar. She was also heavily influenced by British comedies like MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. She didnt expect, however, that she would end up writing four books about Templar squire Pagan Kidrouk. "He was such a strong character," she explains, "that he sprang into my head fully formed, and wouldnt go away until Id worked out his entire life span. Hes certainly the strongest character Ive ever written about. The cutest, too, I think."
Peter de Sève, who created the striking die-cut cover for PAGAN'S CRUSADE, is a NEW YORKER cartoonist and the Oscar-nominated designer of animated characters for the feature film ICE AGE.