At the Crossing Places

At the Crossing Places continues the story of thirteen-year-old Arthur de Caldicot in medieval England around the year 1200. The second book in Kevin Crossley-Holland's Arthur trilogy follows the young squire as he begins his training under Lord Stephen de Holt while preparing for the Fourth Crusade. Arthur faces personal challenges as he discovers uncomfortable truths about his family and must abandon his plans to marry Grace. His quest to uncover his mother's identity runs parallel to his duties as a squire and his observations of life in a medieval manor. Through his magical seeing stone, Arthur witnesses the legendary tales of King Arthur and his knights, which mirror and inform his own experiences in medieval England. The narrative alternates between Arthur's daily life and the Arthurian legends he observes through the stone. The novel explores themes of identity, duty, and coming-of-age against the backdrop of medieval society and its complex social structures. The interweaving of historical reality with Arthurian legend creates a rich examination of truth, storytelling, and self-discovery.

Readers describe this second book in the Arthur trilogy as more complex and mature than the first, following both medieval Arthur's knightly training and the parallel Crusades-era story. What readers liked: - Educational value about medieval life and customs - Integration of Arthurian legends with historical details - Character development of Arthur as he faces moral challenges - Handling of complex themes like faith, duty and growing up What readers disliked: - Slower pacing compared to first book - Some found the dual narratives confusing - Less action/adventure than expected from a knight's tale - Medieval terminology can be difficult to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (50+ ratings) Several readers noted the book requires more focus than the first installment. As one Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The split storylines demand attention but reward careful reading with deeper meaning."

The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock A medieval tale follows a young servant on a pilgrimage through France collecting religious relics while confronting questions of faith and identity.

The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland A young squire in medieval England discovers parallels between his life and King Arthur's through a magical obsidian stone.

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman The diary entries of a 14-year-old girl in medieval England reveal her struggles against arranged marriage and her quest for independence.

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman A nameless medieval girl rises from sleeping in dung heaps to becoming a midwife's apprentice while discovering her worth.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli A nobleman's son in medieval England overcomes physical disability to find his place in a monastery and later serves his king.

🏰 The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) ended up attacking Constantinople, a Christian city, rather than its intended Muslim targets - making it one of history's most misguided military campaigns. ⚔️ Medieval squires typically began their training between ages 7-14 and had to master not just combat, but also dancing, chess, and proper courtly etiquette. 📚 Author Kevin Crossley-Holland served as President of the School Library Association and has translated several Old English works, including Beowulf. 🎨 13th-century manuscript lettering often used red ink (called rubrication) to highlight important text, a practice that influenced modern book design. 👑 The book's parallel between its protagonist Arthur and King Arthur reflects how medieval nobles often named their children after Arthurian legends to create symbolic connections to these heroic tales.